We've all come across flaky and unreliable players before, but I was wondering if you've ever come across an unreliable DM. Just had a DM who was planning and organizing a game with our group just vanish. As a forever DM myself it leaves a bad taste in my mouth because I've never seen anything like it before. Have you had to deal with this before, and what did you do?
Everyone at the table is human, even the DM. Those who spend time investing in the game world are usually going to be more reliable, but there are lots of reasons that someone might vanish. Perhaps they are a new DM and bit off more than they could chew. Perhaps they have drama in their personal life that took priority.
In the end, the best thing to do is practice patience and compassion. Assume the DM has a good reason for their behavior, forgive them, and move on.
There's not a lot to do. Just don't be upset by it and move on. Unfortunately, it's just how things are. People can be flaky - justifiably or not - and sometimes they happen to be the linchpin. Just let it go and start another game, if you can.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Stuff happens, and real life is more important than D&D (as much as my players and I joke it isn't). Sometimes, a DM bites off more than he or she can chew, or goes through a tough time and has to go radio silent to focus on priorities. Sometimes, however, people are just flaky and immature.
I've had games stall after a DM went off-grid. A few times, actually. In all cases, it ended up being life circumstances making D&D impossible to run (overloaded work schedule, moving houses, DM's wife expecting a baby, etc.). When it was a sudden disappearance, I tried to reach out to make sure everything was fine. While we waited for answers, I organized one-shots or straight up invited players to join a campaign I've been running. When the DMs finally reestablished contact, then we were able to figure out how we could move forward together, and how I could help. A little patience, communication, and willingness to adapt goes a long way for mature groups. And the DMs who just flake and pretend like nothing happened when they do come back? Probably not worth being in their campaign in the long-term, anyway.
I had a fm disappear on me. Was about to start the campaign and then they poofed and I was left looking for another one. Not a great first impression on DnD players as a whole for my first dm to bolt before session 1
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Royalty among the charge kingdom. All will fall before our glorious assault!
back when pandemic and lockdown were the big talking points (2y ago), I tried to learn Roll20 as a DM. I ran a session with players who were local but obviously were all shut-in at the time. I was also dealing with stress from work as well as trying to learn a VTT and it didn't go nearly as well as I wanted. In fact, I had so much anxiety that I didn't go back. I nearly threw in the towel and almost gave up D&D completely. Couldn't do it online. Couldn't do it in person due to isolating ourselves, and I thought I was done. I shuttered that Discord account without a word to my table.
Sometimes anxiety gets to people, or other situations.
I say that to say that fast forward to now, and I'm DM'ing in person a closed table and open tables at my local gaming store.
We've all come across flaky and unreliable players before, but I was wondering if you've ever come across an unreliable DM. Just had a DM who was planning and organizing a game with our group just vanish. As a forever DM myself it leaves a bad taste in my mouth because I've never seen anything like it before. Have you had to deal with this before, and what did you do?
1 shot dungeon master
Everyone at the table is human, even the DM. Those who spend time investing in the game world are usually going to be more reliable, but there are lots of reasons that someone might vanish. Perhaps they are a new DM and bit off more than they could chew. Perhaps they have drama in their personal life that took priority.
In the end, the best thing to do is practice patience and compassion. Assume the DM has a good reason for their behavior, forgive them, and move on.
There's not a lot to do. Just don't be upset by it and move on. Unfortunately, it's just how things are. People can be flaky - justifiably or not - and sometimes they happen to be the linchpin. Just let it go and start another game, if you can.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Stuff happens, and real life is more important than D&D (as much as my players and I joke it isn't). Sometimes, a DM bites off more than he or she can chew, or goes through a tough time and has to go radio silent to focus on priorities. Sometimes, however, people are just flaky and immature.
I've had games stall after a DM went off-grid. A few times, actually. In all cases, it ended up being life circumstances making D&D impossible to run (overloaded work schedule, moving houses, DM's wife expecting a baby, etc.). When it was a sudden disappearance, I tried to reach out to make sure everything was fine. While we waited for answers, I organized one-shots or straight up invited players to join a campaign I've been running. When the DMs finally reestablished contact, then we were able to figure out how we could move forward together, and how I could help. A little patience, communication, and willingness to adapt goes a long way for mature groups. And the DMs who just flake and pretend like nothing happened when they do come back? Probably not worth being in their campaign in the long-term, anyway.
basically half the pick up games on roll20. Either the DM doesn't show up or the players leave right before the game or mid session.
Er ek geng, þat er í þeim skóm er ek valda.
UwU
I dont do online pickup games (entirely for that reason) but I've heard that a lot of people on it ghost on you.
If you were playing online, then that was probably the reason.
BoringBard's long and tedious posts somehow manage to enrapture audiences. How? Because he used Charm Person, the #1 bard spell!
He/him pronouns. Call me Bard. PROUD NERD!
Ever wanted to talk about your parties' worst mistakes? Do so HERE. What's your favorite class, why? Share & explain
HERE.I had a fm disappear on me. Was about to start the campaign and then they poofed and I was left looking for another one. Not a great first impression on DnD players as a whole for my first dm to bolt before session 1
Royalty among the charge kingdom. All will fall before our glorious assault!
Quest offer! Enter the deep dungeon here
Ctg’s blood is on the spam filter’s hands
back when pandemic and lockdown were the big talking points (2y ago), I tried to learn Roll20 as a DM. I ran a session with players who were local but obviously were all shut-in at the time. I was also dealing with stress from work as well as trying to learn a VTT and it didn't go nearly as well as I wanted. In fact, I had so much anxiety that I didn't go back. I nearly threw in the towel and almost gave up D&D completely. Couldn't do it online. Couldn't do it in person due to isolating ourselves, and I thought I was done. I shuttered that Discord account without a word to my table.
Sometimes anxiety gets to people, or other situations.
I say that to say that fast forward to now, and I'm DM'ing in person a closed table and open tables at my local gaming store.