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GMs - What are your methods to mitigate no-shows? (lemmy.today)

submitted 3 weeks ago by Fletcher@lemmy.today to c/rpg@ttrpg.network

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When I write as a GM, I incorporate all of my players into the story and evolve the narrative around their characters' backgrounds, actions, etc. So, when a player doesn't show up regularly, it has a tendency to disrupt or even halt the game's progress. The smaller the group, the more serious this issue becomes. I've had gaming groups implode over this.

So what sorts of rules or understandings does your group have in place to offset the void left when a player doesn't show up to the game? Does the absent player become an NPC under the GM's control? Do you just ignore the fact that the PC carrying the magical Orb of Whatsit is off on holiday when the king demands the Orb to save the kingdom?

Obviously, we all have real-life stuff that crops up from time to time that can prevent us from playing, but if I can commit to writing and running the game each week (barring life's little emergencies), I don't feel I'm being unfair to expect the same from my players.

So, GMs...what are your thoughts?

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[–] Fletcher@lemmy.today 4 points 3 weeks ago

This makes sense to me. I like the idea of playing the absent player's character by committee. I don't usually run the kinds of games where just anyone can hop in or hop out of the game (I always have story arcs), so having the group take over an absent player's character seems like a logical method to mitigate their absence. Thanks so much for sharing!