What to do with my PCs?

[dreaded_beast]

Last session, only 2 players showed. Our gaming group is composed of 5 regular players and set in the Scarred Lands.

The 2 players explored the well within the fort they are staying at, which is an outpost of the Calstian military. The fort is on a tiny island located within the island chain southeast of mainland Calastia. At the bottom of the well, they discovered it to be infested with black serpents, spawn of the titan Mormo. However, at the end of the session, they were brought down to negatives, and their bodies sucked down into a magical watery vortex. Fortunately, they both stabilized, but they still got sucked in.

Keep in mind that next session, the other 3 players should be showing up. Now I have a split up party, hehe.

I have an idea in mind of what I am going to do, but I am throwing this out there for what the rest of you might want to add.

 

[Piratecat]

Why did only two show?

 

[Crothian]

Start the group of three out and hevily hint at what happend to the other two. Did others at the place know where they went or at least that they explored the Well?

 

[Piratecat]

You'll need to switch rapidly back and forth between the two groups, or you'll have some bored players on your hands. Every 10-15 minutes, maybe?

 

[dreaded_beast]

Why did only two show?

Something came up with 2 players and another player got grounded last minute.

Thanks for the input so far guys.

More ideas appreciated!

 

[Philip]

Something came up with 2 players and another player got grounded last minute.

Thanks for the input so far guys.

More ideas appreciated!

Next time, have a backup plan. Just play another adventure, another game entirely or go watch a movie.

About your current situation: let the other players be in charge of the monsters and/or NPCs. You could combine this with switching back and forth, if you like.

Even more practically:

1. Just let the other players be sucked in (with appropriate saving throws) by another watery vortex and end up next to the two stabilized PCs.
2. Let them previously absent group encounter some black serpents that slither away as soon as they are encountered. If the others follow them they are led to the place where the two other PCs.

Usually I take the players apart and inform them that they have (as a player) have an obligation to provide fun for all players, and that this is difficult to do when the party has split up. Their characters should use any and all convenient excuses and methods to rejoin the others, even if this might go against their characters 'personality'. Its up to the players to find good role-playing reasons to rejoin the others as soon as possible. As a DM I will provide ample opportunities to do so.

 

[Bendris Noulg]

Here is the story of three players and one busy GM...

Unable to lock down his work schedule (his job wanted him flexible around his college schedule), Player A could only show up on random days that could only be determined about a week and a half.

Player B wanted to game a lot. His work schedule was identical with mine.

Player C wanted to game a lot, wanted a solo game, and, being my wife, wasn't going to settle for less.

The entire group forms what we call "Big Group", although, with 3 people, it's not that big.

Player B and Player C formed a group together ("The Nobles", although being Noble Born in their culture isn't that glamorous, it's just full of responsibilities and often dangerous).

Player B got his solo game.

Player C got her solo game (a given, eh?).

On average, "The Nobles" gathered every-other week. Solo-B was gamed 2-3 times a month. Solo-C was gamed every week. "Big Group" gathered 1-2 a month except in the summer (Player A being free of college, "Big Group" went to every-other week and everything else was in-between).

While this keeps one busy, it provides several safety nets...

1. Someone who's schedule is erratic has a game he never misses a session of.

2. Those that can show up regularly have a game that is consistant without being "on hold" for weeks at a time.

3. The GM can work on larger-scale plots permitting multiple parties to complete multiple tasks related to the same goal.

Hectic at times, but it was well worth it.

(FYI, due to the relocation to Florida, "The Nobles" are dissolved, Solo-B is now PBEM, "Big Group" meets 4x a year when Players A and B come down between semesters, and Solo-C is the "primary game" at the moment, being played weekly, proving that, in the end, one's wife always gets what she wants.)