I am currently the DM for a very big group (we are currently eight people including the DM) but it's not a problem since most of the time we don't have every player present. We play every Thursday since that works best for most people. Unfortunatly one of my players have activities on Thursday so she can only be there for around half the session most of the time. She is fine with this and think we can keep playing after she leaves but in this campaign I want every character to get some kind of arc. But the problem is that if I introduce characters from this player's backstory they will mostly be characters for the rest of the team. I was thinking that her character could be kidnapped or something and brought to the fey realm (her character is from there) and when she play her character is in the fey realm and the other characters do other things on the material plane. I'm just worried that the other players will get bored (they are quite patient but I'm still concerned). Does any more experienced DMs have any ideas or suggestions? Thank you in advance to anyone who answers and sorry for my grammar.
Perhaps I misinderstand what you're saying, but it sounds like she leaves halfway through each week, let's say a four hour session. You want to have her not be with the party for those two hours, but instead either have it be about her character or be switching off her scenes with their scenes. I really recommend not to. Splitting the party is really bad for fun and either you'll be making her segments really short and so she'll get frustrated because she can't meaningfully progress, or the rest of the party will get bored waiting for her turn to end.
Splitting the party is really not recommended, in large part because of the frustration caused by what I just talked about. It's enough that it can easily get to the point of people leaving over it unless you're particularly skilled at juggling the needs and priorities of the players.
If you can't make your schedules work and you can't figure out a way to resolve her backstory in a meaningful way... I'd just drop the idea of the backstory - or at least, not keeping it in reserve for solely when she's playing. If she loses her arc...unfortunately, that's just how it is if she can't commit. If I'm only able to commit to the first part of a session, then I wouldn't expect any special accommodations. I come in, roll a few dice, then split. If she decides later that no, your D&D group is the way and wants to attend a full session, then develop her arc.
Having a split party or dedicating a large block of time for her is to penalising to the rest of the party, in my opinion.
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I am currently the DM for a very big group (we are currently eight people including the DM) but it's not a problem since most of the time we don't have every player present. We play every Thursday since that works best for most people. Unfortunatly one of my players have activities on Thursday so she can only be there for around half the session most of the time. She is fine with this and think we can keep playing after she leaves but in this campaign I want every character to get some kind of arc. But the problem is that if I introduce characters from this player's backstory they will mostly be characters for the rest of the team. I was thinking that her character could be kidnapped or something and brought to the fey realm (her character is from there) and when she play her character is in the fey realm and the other characters do other things on the material plane. I'm just worried that the other players will get bored (they are quite patient but I'm still concerned). Does any more experienced DMs have any ideas or suggestions? Thank you in advance to anyone who answers and sorry for my grammar.
My recommendation is don't.
Perhaps I misinderstand what you're saying, but it sounds like she leaves halfway through each week, let's say a four hour session. You want to have her not be with the party for those two hours, but instead either have it be about her character or be switching off her scenes with their scenes. I really recommend not to. Splitting the party is really bad for fun and either you'll be making her segments really short and so she'll get frustrated because she can't meaningfully progress, or the rest of the party will get bored waiting for her turn to end.
Splitting the party is really not recommended, in large part because of the frustration caused by what I just talked about. It's enough that it can easily get to the point of people leaving over it unless you're particularly skilled at juggling the needs and priorities of the players.
If you can't make your schedules work and you can't figure out a way to resolve her backstory in a meaningful way... I'd just drop the idea of the backstory - or at least, not keeping it in reserve for solely when she's playing. If she loses her arc...unfortunately, that's just how it is if she can't commit. If I'm only able to commit to the first part of a session, then I wouldn't expect any special accommodations. I come in, roll a few dice, then split. If she decides later that no, your D&D group is the way and wants to attend a full session, then develop her arc.
Having a split party or dedicating a large block of time for her is to penalising to the rest of the party, in my opinion.
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.