Hi Guys.

Been thinking about this question for a week or two.

Remember more than a year ago I asked for advice for making a D&D 3.5 style Bard? Yeah well that campaign finally ended or 'imploded'. The DM twice showed up and said basically this: "Um, I was too stressed to make anything for tonight. Sorry, let's watch movies...or something."

He says this, but STILL has a shitload of D&D books with him. (I could have run a quick encounter/adventure with half the shit he brings...more on that later)

One of these two times that he pulled that stunt was a night that I was hosting the game at my place. In 20/20 hindsight it made me pissed off - because I had spent two days cleaning the room we were going to game in and making sure I had everyone'e favorite drink in the fridge (or something very close) and he shows up ..and then 'doesn't feel like it".

There were SIX people, including me, there to game, the waffly DM was the seventh person there. The group was 4 women and 3 men . (Two married couples in the group)

SO....RECENTLY....

One of the players in that D&D campaign is also  in my STAR TREK campaign and I tell her that the night at my place I was on the verge of saying to the group: "Fine, he doesn't feel like it or didn't have time to make stuff up? My books are all here . You guys are all here - I'm going to run something - Who wants to play?"

She told me that it was probably a good thing that I didn't - because the other DM has ego or other issues.  (Yeah, whatever)

Basically it boils down to she told me that I was more ADAPTABLE in general than many GMs and Reffs that she has run into over the years.

QUESTIONS:


1) How ADAPTABLE are you?


2) Could you Run a Game Session at your own House with less than 20 minutes notice?


3) Should I have just done my first choice impulse and Run an impromptu session anyway? - Stepped on that guy's toes and such?


4) What would you have done in a similiar situation?


- Ed C.

Quote from: Koltar;592756QUESTIONS:

1) How ADAPTABLE are you?

I'd like to think very adaptable. Sometimes I end up being more so than the group. I need to get a feel for the table to know where my limits are.

Quote from: Koltar;5927562) Could you Run a Game Session at your own House with less than 20 minutes notice?

Easily.

Fifteen of those minutes would likely be The Table Talk narrowing down what genre and style we feel like that session, what are the group's assumed party dynamics and boundaries, and then digging out the core book. Give me five minutes for a spread of premises to choose from and I'll world build on the fly. It's all Terra Incognita until you pay attention to it, kids!

Quote from: Koltar;5927563) Should I have just done my first choice impulse and Run an impromptu session anyway? - Stepped on that guy's toes and such?

I'd be strongly tempted to, personally. I mean, egos are easily bruised and all, but there's six other people whose time is also valuable. If the lackadaisical GM just wants a bullshit session, a few movies, and a slice o' pepperoni pizza, he should be quite upfront about it.

However, then there's also long term friendships and other relationship dynamics. If your wife said it is best this way, perhaps she's reading something in the winds you're not. My time is important, but so are my friends. And as much as I may want a game, I prioritize my friends and enjoy what time I get with them.

Barring other information, I'll follow your wife's lead here (based on the completely sexist notion that she's likely paying more attention to back-room drama and social politics to know how best to decorously maneuver through this).

Quote from: Koltar;5927564) What would you have done in a similiar situation?

Really depends on my group of friends. I will have a chat with the guy in private to see if he's in a funk or whatnot, and whether he's amenable to rotating the GM responsibility. Like in any relationship we say it's 50/50, but it often ends up being 40/60 or 70/30 and flux back again. So some days we need to lean on our friends for support.

However, I eventually end up being a tactless, upfront ass when my patience is blown. I'll be honest, at some point I'd just come out and ask that if anyone else feels like a game I'll just run one on the fly immediately. Twice is enough to raise eyebrows, dig any back story, and have "The Chat"; three or more and I'm going to offer my alternative in front of him at the least.

Adaptability
Being able to just run anything at the drop of a hat is something I aspire to but I am not quite there.

For an active, ongoing campaign, I can probably get a game going with 20 minutes notice. It may not be my best session it is doable.

For a one shot I could probably swing a short notice game for something like ICONS mostly relying on resources I have already handy for that game from like published adventures I've read, adventures I have already run or random notes for for other stuff I was planning.  The character generation application also cuts down prep time.

Coming with fresh material for a one-shot is hard as involves thinking up a strong premise, interesting NPCs and situations. I can't do that in 20 minutes, and I rather not run a game than run something lame. I guess I suffer from misplaced GM-pride.

I have a few no-prep games like 3:16  and Mythic but I find I don't enjoy running them very much.


Gaming etiquette
Gaming etiquette varies between groups. With us it is perfectly normal if the GM says "Sorry guys I'm not really up for running a game tonight" for someone else to step up. But then always been in groups with multiple GMs so we are used to taking turns and sharing the coveted GM role.

It has also happened that the filler game, if successful, goes on to become the regular game for a while and the previous campaign never really recovers, but that's the evolutionary force of the free market ensuring that the games that please the most players get played more.

Other groups may be different. There people who really only ever want to be GMs and if they put a lot of effort recruiting new players to run a campaign. I can why said person might not take kindly if someone else takes over as GM. But even then,  that might be a sign that the GM was underperforming.

What you don't do is as player deliberately undermine the current GM's game in order to plug your own game. But then that kind of individual is going to be toxic to the group regardless and in the your example it clearly the GM who is undermining himself.

Quote from: Koltar;5927561) How ADAPTABLE are you?

Very very adaptable. I can run any game I know at the drop of a hat.

Quote2) Could you Run a Game Session at your own House with less than 20 minutes notice?

Totally, without a problem.

Quote3) Should I have just done my first choice impulse and Run an impromptu session anyway? - Stepped on that guy's toes and such?

Absolutely. As long as the guy has said that he didn't have the time, there's nothing improper with you proposing a game for the evening.

Quote4) What would you have done in a similiar situation?

I would have run something.

Quote from: Opaopajr;592763However, then there's also long term friendships and other relationship dynamics. If your wife said it is best this way,....

Huh...what?  My Wife?

QuoteBarring other information, I'll follow your wife's lead here (based on the completely sexist notion that she's likely.....

OOPS!! - And there it is again.

The woman or female friend I am referring to is in or played in both RPG campaigns. She's been one of my most loyal and best players for more than a decade. HOWEVER - we're NOT married. She plays RPGs, her husband does not - tho he is socially friends with the game groups that his wife tends to play with.
She is more like a 'big sister' to me because of age difference. Tho, your guess about her personality/psychology skills isn't too far off - she has had professional training as a counselor or therapist and is pretty good at reading body language and other non-verbal signals.

She's also a damn good player in most RPG campaigns...

- Ed C.

1) Fairly adaptable. If I know the system well then I can easily create adventures on the fly.

2) Yep. I could but probably wouldn't. This isn't due to unpreparedness, I just wouldn't have a housefull of people coming over to game without giving my wife fair notice.

3) Certainly. You looked forward to an evening of gaming and I'm sure the other players were too. Offering to run something for the evening if the regular GM isn't ready isn't stepping on anyone's toes. It isn't like you were planning on taking over that GM's campaign or anything. Anyone butthurt by someone running a one shot would be welcome not to participate.

4) I would have run something fun, and easily playable in a single session that included pregens.

This reminds me, I need to start on next week's SWN adventure. And do the other session write-ups.

Quote from: Koltar;592756QUESTIONS:

1) How ADAPTABLE are you?

Not very. If I can bring in some Insane Aliens the players have to deal with - like the Stryxis from 40k, for example, who are mad hoarder/inventor/genius/retards in my 40k universe - then I can fill up a session with lunacy, and amuse players, but that gets old really fast (A session a year, at most). I'm not good at making something utterly up on the fly, though.

Quote2) Could you Run a Game Session at your own House with less than 20 minutes notice?

Haha, fuck no. I'm not that good and I wouldn't even pretend to be - A week is barely enough time for me (Of course, that includes fitting session planning around relaxing from work, dealing with the baby and girlfriend, studying, working...).

Quote3) Should I have just done my first choice impulse and Run an impromptu session anyway? - Stepped on that guy's toes and such?

I think so, yeah. If I'd shown up to play, I'd be unhappy about not getting to play. As adults, there's so much time pressure to do boring adult things, organising a steady game is a nightmare. Losing a night just to hear some guy say "oops, I didn't write anything, soz peeps" would piss me off.

Quote4) What would you have done in a similiar situation?

If it had been me, I'd have been a bit unhappy, and probably suggested some manner of board game or something to fill the evening.

1) How ADAPTABLE are you?
On a scale of 1-10, I'd probably say pretty adaptable. Impromptu is not my first choice of DM'ing styles, but adults living real lives causes it to happen more often than I'd like, so I'm comfortable doing it.

2) Could you Run a Game Session at your own House with less than 20 minutes notice?
Sure. It won't be as good as the game that I have ample time to prepare, but I'll run it, no question, and it will not totally suck. Only real downside is that I might not have enough beer for everyone with only 20 minutes notice.

Note, this is where having a megadungeon comes in handy. At the drop of a hat, you can throw guys right into the action and already have a map, a key, etc. In 20 minutes, I can easily update an area for new monsters or draw up a simple key for an unkeyed area.

3) Should I have just done my first choice impulse and Run an impromptu session anyway? - Stepped on that guy's toes and such?
I think you probably could have found a tactful way of running an impromptu session. Something like, "Hey, well, because everyone's here, we might as well do something. I'll take a stab at an impromptu session - DM X can take a breather this week and the rest of us can still game a little bit."

4) What would you have done in a similiar situation?
See above.

Quote from: Koltar;592771Huh...what?  My Wife?

Awwww.... And you didn't even invite me to the wedding!


For the record, 20 minutes is quite sufficient for a 3.x game. Like any good GM, I have several adventures that have already been designed and printed, so it would be simply a matter of choosing one that would fit with the players that showed up.

It would probably take the players longer to get their characters ready.

For 0D&D, no prep time needed.

For Spycraft, no prep time needed.

For Terra Incognita, No prep time needed.

For Traveller, No prep time needed.

For New BSG, mmmm... maybe 15 minutes.

For Gurps: Alpha Centauri, no prep time needed.

For Star Wars... 20 minutes would be sufficient.

Metamorphosis Alpha, no prep time needed.

Gamma World, no prep time needed.

Twin Crowns, no prep time needed.

Aces & Eights.... Maybe an hour.

Castles & Crusades... No prep time needed.

Really, most real GMs have one or more adventures ready, if not, any decent GM would have at least purchased one or more adventures or supplements so they could run a game without much prep.

I wouldn't consider a "player" with the GM books a GM, unless they could and did run an adventure on fairly short notice.

As long as I know the system, I can run on the fly. The prep I do is setting design, which I then run as a sandbox. I have a few settings in my back pocket.

All I need to start is some sort of event or crisis, and the game proceeds from there.

Quote from: Koltar;5927561) How ADAPTABLE are you?

Very.  My players tell me that I'm at my best when I'm just making shit up on the fly.  That being said I think they're wrong and I absolutely hate to do it.  Mostly because I'm not going to remember what I said five minutes from now.

I typically always use my 'on the fly' creativity to put things back on track, back in my comfort zone.

Quote from: Koltar;5927562) Could you Run a Game Session at your own House with less than 20 minutes notice?

Yep.  Multiple systems, too.  But a lot of that is preparation.  I have a zillion modules that I haven't yet ran, and could dust one off and wing it.

Quote from: Koltar;5927563) Should I have just done my first choice impulse and Run an impromptu session anyway? - Stepped on that guy's toes and such?

Um, I like the impulse, but you said yourself that you were miffed about it.  I'd wait a day or two and then give him notice.  "Look man, I understand how much work it is to run a game, but next time you're not ready, I'm going to offer."  Something like that.

Quote from: Koltar;5927564) What would you have done in a similiar situation?

First time it happened, I'd have done what I advised above.  We used to trade GMs all the time back in the day, and it works really well for this kind of thing.  It's a go-to for me, for sure.

1) How ADAPTABLE are you?

Insanely. Probably my greatest strength as a gm.


2) Could you Run a Game Session at your own House with less than 20 minutes notice?

Yes, I have learned a few tricks to create a quick session work without prep.


3) Should I have just done my first choice impulse and Run an impromptu session anyway? - Stepped on that guy's toes and such?

As long as its a oneshot, sure. probably don't want to freak out the unprepared gm that you might replace him.


4) What would you have done in a similiar situation?

Been annoyed, but done whatever the majority prefered.

Quote from: Koltar;592756Hi Guys.

Been thinking about this question for a week or two.

Remember more than a year ago I asked for advice for making a D&D 3.5 style Bard? Yeah well that campaign finally ended or 'imploded'. The DM twice showed up and said basically this: "Um, I was too stressed to make anything for tonight. Sorry, let's watch movies...or something."

He says this, but STILL has a shitload of D&D books with him. (I could have run a quick encounter/adventure with half the shit he brings...more on that later)

One of these two times that he pulled that stunt was a night that I was hosting the game at my place. In 20/20 hindsight it made me pissed off - because I had spent two days cleaning the room we were going to game in and making sure I had everyone'e favorite drink in the fridge (or something very close) and he shows up ..and then 'doesn't feel like it".

There were SIX people, including me, there to game, the waffly DM was the seventh person there. The group was 4 women and 3 men . (Two married couples in the group)

We've run into similar situations. The general problem is a lack of decorum on behalf of the storyteller (the person flaking on you, despite you providing the location), as he is clearly displaying a lack of concern for the effort and generosity that you (the host) have put into the evening, not to speak of your time and the time of others.

I have personally, often noted that people who are out of work, or do not work, regular or not, for some reason--people with unlimited free time--have less, if any, regard for the time of others.  They will look at an evening that six other need to plan around as just another night, and if they flake on you, in their mind, there's no qualms, as they can always do it later. The best thing, IMHO, is to explain that your time is valuable, and that you aren't going to put up with no-notice flaking.

That isn't to say that nobody ever has problems, but unless there is some clear medical issue that hit them suddenly, giving 48-hours of notice is not unprecedented.

We initiated a 'three strike' rule because of these situations. The first time someone flakes, we accept it; the second, we have a talk; the third, and they are barred from offering to run any events for one year. (We define 'flaking' as canceling an event without 48-hours of notice, unless eternal influences entirely beyond your control are the cause.)

QuoteSO....RECENTLY....

One of the players in that D&D campaign is also  in my STAR TREK campaign and I tell her that the night at my place I was on the verge of saying to the group: "Fine, he doesn't feel like it or didn't have time to make stuff up? My books are all here . You guys are all here - I'm going to run something - Who wants to play?"

She told me that it was probably a good thing that I didn't - because the other DM has ego or other issues.  (Yeah, whatever)

Basically it boils down to she told me that I was more ADAPTABLE in general than many GMs and Reffs that she has run into over the years.

Hogwash! You were well in your rights to request to not waste your evening. A good storyteller can produce material off the cuff, with zero planning, be it fantasy, science-fiction, space opera, drama, mystery, or what-have-you. I ran a game the other night with no planning. It took longer (about 10 minutes) to set up the characters, and another 5-minutes of background information than it did for me to piece together a suitable mystery scenario.

Obviously, some people will need more or less time, but to be honest, you need to spend more time on long tales, than on short stories, as you will need to do more layout in advance; and then toss it when that part of your story is skirted by clever play.

Typically, I generate game elements, spending most of my time on detail on-the-spot, and don't go nuts making any locked adventures. I let people do what they want--or try to, based on the character and setting, and common sense--establishing key story points they they may follow, or not; consequences follow action and inaction alike.

I've received what I deem praise by several players, one of which had nightmares after a session, dreaming about being devoured by a giant brain. Another, in the latest sorry, got tense t o he point of trembling over a mystery in the style of Agatha Christie, set in space. The fear of his character (for his life) bled through to the player. I set that story up in about two minutes, and played the details on the spot, to the point of creating NPCs by name and personality, and playing them set in the situation (method acting).

Naturally, not everyone can do this but there is no excuse to require days of set-up to tell a story. In fact, I have found that most storytellers that do this are shocked and disappointed when the players avoid their carefully-mapped dungeons or intricate planned encounters. I ha a GM literally go ballistic once, as he spent two months designing a dungeon, and we elected not to go there, as the description of it made it sound like suicide, with no benefit to us for bothering. He spent all that time on layout, but had no story presentation that would make anyone want to play the situation.

Games that use dungeons on a regular basis may need some set-up, but if the storyteller wants to run and doesn't have his labyrinth or castle ready, he can use one of the thousands of modules from any system, and quickly adapt it to his story. I have done this on many occasions and players become bewildered when what they thought was entirely my creation came from a module. Once in a while, they layer read the module and pose 'How did you get that, out of this?', as I normally use the layouts, but not the story of the boxed-adventure, although I pick and choose the elements that I keep and those that I replace as needed to meet my goal.

The only time a storyteller truly requires more time is when they are establishing a key plot point toward which, the characters are moving, and then only when the story cannot progress without it.

Of course, if you are in a futuristic setting, you can always zap people back in time and use a mythical or historical module, or sideways through time for any time period, to an alternate reality for a quick adventure out of the box as well. There are always options when you need material: handing the reigns over to an assistant GM is another.

Letting one of you players GM a few sessions of your game, while you play one of your NPCs can put a new face on the story, and allow you to be on the flip-side, to enjoy new details in your own setting.

I will also mention that the time it takes to start a game on the fly is more based on player familiarity with the system and character generation, than on my familiarity. I rule that my decisions stand, and if a rule exists that would make them not stand, that it should be directed to me when I am not in the middle or a situation, unless it puts the life of a character in jeopardy

After-with I will adhere to the rule if I think it is reasonable and fitting, but I will not retcon an event because of it,. This makes the story more fluid, and prevents halts for trivialities. I will often rule in favour of the player if they pose an objection that is logical.

Thus, the slow part is not creating a setting or story: I have those floating in my head at all times. It is getting players ready to go with one. Therefore, if your group is ready to begin, there is no reason for you not to run.

Honestly, what it comes down to is that your pal was infringing on your space, generosity, liberties and personal enjoyment of your evening. Before you are afraid to let him know how you feel, bu considering his feelings, ask yourself if he is thinking about your own. Talk about the situation with reason and logic, but make it clear that you won't let it continue happening, and if he needs time to do what he wants, then he should take a 3-to-6 month hiatus, come up with his material, and then resume when he is set with enough scratch to last for a good, long while.

Quote from: Koltar;5927561) How ADAPTABLE are you?

One time to test myself I took three small levels dungeon (10 room each) and made everything up on the fly. Everybody had fun including me. Although afterwords. it was pain in the ass trying to write down everything I came up with. Especially next session when the players lost the treasure list.

It about the Bag of Stuff that I keep talking about in my sandbox campaign posts. The bigger and more diverse your Bag of Stuff then better able you are to just throw something together at the last minute.

Quote from: Koltar;5927562) Could you Run a Game Session at your own House with less than 20 minutes notice?

Sure, the problem it if its something I have be consistent with later.

The downside of on the fly material is that you have no time to reflect on your ideas, which hurts consistency and continuity. This is also one area where experience dominates natural talent. The average 15 year old starting out refereeing is going to find doing this way harder than a 45 year old who been doing this off and on for 30 years.

Quote from: Koltar;5927563) Should I have just done my first choice impulse and Run an impromptu session anyway? - Stepped on that guy's toes and such?

4) What would you have done in a similiar situation?

It a group of friend, a social group. If the main activity is cancelled then consensus should rule. The referee abrogated his leadership when he decided to cancel the game  If he feel threatened by your ability as a referee that on him. However if you like the guy you could causally talk about it if he looks bothered.

1) How ADAPTABLE are you?
I am sandbox style, so extremely. I ran a D&D Mythic Greece campaign that ended up in Egypt within 10 minutes. The 9th Plague and the Exodus happened.

2) Could you Run a Game Session at your own House with less than 20 minutes notice?
20 minutes before everyone shows up, then 20 minutes after.

3) Should I have just done my first choice impulse and Run an impromptu session anyway? - Stepped on that guy's toes and such?

No, I would have fired him. "You clearly don't really want to do this, so I will. Okay, guys, let's talk about a new campaign." This guy's ego shouldn't protect him from being a flake.

Also consider that if he was all tired and stuff, he could have sent out an email to that effect that morning. Instead he waited until everyone got there.

4) What would you have done in a similiar situation?

See above.