Pen and Paper RPG
I'm having a bit of a problem. You see, I'm starting to get tired of Pen and Paper RPG. I had to take this weekend off, and I found that I enjoyed it. I took stock of the situation afterwards, and realized why. I've got so much other stuff on my plate that I look forward to more, that Gaming has just sort of become a bit of a chore. At home I
( Read more... )
The problem here is really the group dynamic, attendance, and how that's affecting me.
When I'm excited about a game it clicks. There's a lot more fighting and action and I move the plot ahead a lot faster. Sitting around the table doesn't really change matters - I've tried both over the years - it's the group, not the position. Maybe it made a difference psychologically with your old group?
Group dynamic is an issue, really. The players have chosen characters that don't "mesh" well together. Which means that they spend more time sniping one another than gaming. Ross is probably the worst offender here.
Attendance also doesn't help matters. Everyone's put the game so low down their list of priorities that folks just never get together. Because of this we're always missing people - so the dynamic is never stable. It makes it hard to consistently get anything done. It makes planning for fights virtually impossible (more on that below).
Both of these factors affect my own enthusiasm for the game. It's hard to get excited about it. I go through spurts where it's interesting, but by and large it's easy to let it go, subconciously, simply because so few of the players really seem to give a damn. Matt and Keith are still pretty excited and I go through highs and lows. The last couple of games with the Coalition were pretty darned exciting and that helped.
Another factor that you so clearly pointed out is simply the change in your life. You've got a lot more "real world" on your plate. Things like your daughter and your career must, naturally, take precedence over things like a hobby. Some part of the back of your mind is letting you know that. Am I surprised that a game (and not even a really top flight one) cannot compete with a father's love for his wife and daughter? Nope. Not really. You've got your priorities straight and that's hardly a crime. Indeed, I'm glad you do - too many in our selfish society don't.
It'd hurt to lose you to be sure. Perhaps we can breath some more life into this enough to make it worth the trouble and perhaps not. Really, that's only partly up to me. I can't work without players. If I set up a big combat that needs most of the players there and two show up - my hands are tied. If I set it for two players and everyone shows up, it'll be no challenge.
I understand your frustration and share it. I just really don't know what to do about it, other than scrap the game and start all over. We will be having a new player soon. Perhaps that will ease things?
Wish I could say I had better news, Shae.
Mike
Reply
Leave a comment