Breaking the news [Archive] - Wizards Community

Breaking the news [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SmithyW
12-10-05, 10:55 PM I have come to a decision, not lightly, to put and end to my home D&D game. This was a difficult decision to come to, but my "hobby" is starting to cause me stress rather than relieving it. Two of my players cannot give a definate answer on when/if they will be at game until the day before it is sheduled, and often the group is forced to make last-minute adjustments to our plans (like who's house will it be at etc. etc.). Other players seem to have an aversion to learing the rules for themselves, and I'm tired of constantly reschooling them on the basic abilities their characters have (example: one player knows the basics about movment and attacks, but still isn't sure what their fighter's Power Attack feat does :tantrum: )
It's not worth my time to run a game for these people until they can schedule more reliably and can learn the rules. There is one great player in the group that has given me no reason to cancel, and one social gamer (but I don't think he'll be affected either way). Without going into the long list of things I've tried to do to solve these problems, let's just say I am exausted with the situation, and it's not fun anymore. Time to put an end to it.

Having set up my situation for you, dear reader, my question is this: How would YOU break the news to everyone in the group without making yourself look like an :censored: for doing it?
Talonz
12-10-05, 11:01 PM "I'm exhaused and not having fun anymore. Until people's schedules settle down and everyone can comitt to playing and knowing how to play, the game is indefinitely on hold."

That should about do it. Good luck.
Razaiel
12-10-05, 11:03 PM To be honest, there is no great way to break that kind of news to people. However, with the information that you have provided us concerning your situation, it doesn't seem like most of your players are that interested in playing anyway, so it shouldn't be a big deal to them. If they are unwilling or unable to commit to a specific game day and are unwilling or unable to learn the rules, then it would seem to me that you should just tell them why you are ending the campaign, list the reasons why, rant if you want. Or, conversely you could lay out your case for wanting to end the campaign and see what the other players think. If they say that they want to continue gaming, then you should lay out some ground rules. Have a set day for gaming and tell your players that if they cannot make it they need to tell you at least a couple of days in advance so that arrangements can be made. Have the session at one person's house all the time (if at all possible), or set it up so that every session is at a different house, round robin style.

All in all, I would honestly just end the current campaign and start looking for a new group. Keep the players that are willing to show up and learn the rules and get rid of the problem players. Just my 2 cp.
mike_beavers
12-11-05, 12:42 PM I had burn out at one time and told my players that I was going to put the game on hold. we kept meeting at our usual time but played board games and miniatures for a period of 6 months until I regained my fire.

That worked for me

best of luck. Burn out and fustration is no good
Rico_Huerta
12-11-05, 12:48 PM Dont tell them you want to quit, give them a challenge they can't beat or get away from, and kill their characters. then say " oh well it was fun, I'm spent, I don't know if I can do this for awhile, things need to settle down. Get back to me when your lives are consistent."

(don't really do this, you would be a jerk)
ph0t0k
12-11-05, 07:24 PM I had to do the same a short while ago, lost interest in the game (I never gave specific reasons) and didn't feel like playing anymore, so that's what I told them.

Don't jump back in for a while though...give yourself a decent RPG holiday.

Good Luck.
loaba
12-11-05, 07:43 PM How often have you been trying to play? Is this an every week kinda thing? How busy are your players? Are you in college? Are you and your friends working?

The first thing you need to do is figure out why is scheduling such a problem in the first place. People have busy lives, sometimes there is no time for a regular DnD session.

Now about your player having difficulty with the rules, why is that? Are your players only playing because of you or someone else in the group? How dedicated is your group?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SmithyW 12-10-05, 10:55 PM	I have come to a decision, not lightly, to put and end to my home D&D game. This was a difficult decision to come to, but my "hobby" is starting to cause me stress rather than relieving it. Two of my players cannot give a definate answer on when/if they will be at game until the day before it is sheduled, and often the group is forced to make last-minute adjustments to our plans (like who's house will it be at etc. etc.). Other players seem to have an aversion to learing the rules for themselves, and I'm tired of constantly reschooling them on the basic abilities their characters have (example: one player knows the basics about movment and attacks, but still isn't sure what their fighter's Power Attack feat does :tantrum: ) It's not worth my time to run a game for these people until they can schedule more reliably and can learn the rules. There is one great player in the group that has given me no reason to cancel, and one social gamer (but I don't think he'll be affected either way). Without going into the long list of things I've tried to do to solve these problems, let's just say I am exausted with the situation, and it's not fun anymore. Time to put an end to it. Having set up my situation for you, dear reader, my question is this: How would YOU break the news to everyone in the group without making yourself look like an :censored: for doing it?
Talonz 12-10-05, 11:01 PM	"I'm exhaused and not having fun anymore. Until people's schedules settle down and everyone can comitt to playing and knowing how to play, the game is indefinitely on hold." That should about do it. Good luck.
Razaiel 12-10-05, 11:03 PM	To be honest, there is no great way to break that kind of news to people. However, with the information that you have provided us concerning your situation, it doesn't seem like most of your players are that interested in playing anyway, so it shouldn't be a big deal to them. If they are unwilling or unable to commit to a specific game day and are unwilling or unable to learn the rules, then it would seem to me that you should just tell them why you are ending the campaign, list the reasons why, rant if you want. Or, conversely you could lay out your case for wanting to end the campaign and see what the other players think. If they say that they want to continue gaming, then you should lay out some ground rules. Have a set day for gaming and tell your players that if they cannot make it they need to tell you at least a couple of days in advance so that arrangements can be made. Have the session at one person's house all the time (if at all possible), or set it up so that every session is at a different house, round robin style. All in all, I would honestly just end the current campaign and start looking for a new group. Keep the players that are willing to show up and learn the rules and get rid of the problem players. Just my 2 cp.
mike_beavers 12-11-05, 12:42 PM	I had burn out at one time and told my players that I was going to put the game on hold. we kept meeting at our usual time but played board games and miniatures for a period of 6 months until I regained my fire. That worked for me best of luck. Burn out and fustration is no good
Rico_Huerta 12-11-05, 12:48 PM	Dont tell them you want to quit, give them a challenge they can't beat or get away from, and kill their characters. then say " oh well it was fun, I'm spent, I don't know if I can do this for awhile, things need to settle down. Get back to me when your lives are consistent." (don't really do this, you would be a jerk)
ph0t0k 12-11-05, 07:24 PM	I had to do the same a short while ago, lost interest in the game (I never gave specific reasons) and didn't feel like playing anymore, so that's what I told them. Don't jump back in for a while though...give yourself a decent RPG holiday. Good Luck.
loaba 12-11-05, 07:43 PM	How often have you been trying to play? Is this an every week kinda thing? How busy are your players? Are you in college? Are you and your friends working? The first thing you need to do is figure out why is scheduling such a problem in the first place. People have busy lives, sometimes there is no time for a regular DnD session. Now about your player having difficulty with the rules, why is that? Are your players only playing because of you or someone else in the group? How dedicated is your group?