Brilliance, a rare thing. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Brilliance, a rare thing. [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Fogel the Magical
01-20-05, 02:09 AM I have a great idea for my campaign, tell me what you think. For every Player that cannot attend a session there is a safe house within the capital city of the land they are in for their characters to go to when they aren't there to join in the adventures of the party. Their characters go there when the player is gone and the party goes on as is to their next adventure then when the person returns to play we can role play their time in the safe house, which may also double as a training hut of sorts, for XP gaining sake. Then after the catching up is complete their character can conveniently catch up with the party. Tah-dahh! :D
penchant
01-20-05, 02:45 AM Why not have the safe house be a hut of Baba-Yaga and follow the party around on ostrich legs?

To me there is no pithy way of handling player absence. I just run the PCs as npc's while they are gone with the understanding that I will not unreasonably kill them and that they will only earn 1/2 xp the first session and go back home the second.

In my old GG there were enough players and PC's that for any combination of players present there was some game to pick up from and continue.
MinusInnocence
01-20-05, 02:55 AM Sounds great except you failed to mention why their character would all of a sudden want to go train. There really is no substitute for adventuring and for the character to say out of the blue, "I think I'll sit this one out, guys. Yeah, we've been hunting the villain for six months and I'm itchin' for a chance to knock him a good one, but I think you can all handle it without me. Maybe I'll catch up on some light reading or do some push-ups."

I agree with penchant in that the best way to handle it is just to pretend they're still there, though their character fades to the background for the next session. Not only does it not require a weird fabrication like the "Training House," it also doesn't reward them unfairly for not showing up.
discipleofevil
01-20-05, 08:12 AM with the campain i am playing in we just bring the pc along and it does nothing, gains no xp and takes no damage. basically it is on strike for a session or whatever else you want to have it do.
making the pc drool for an entire session was funny
Tusz
01-20-05, 08:20 AM I'll toss my vote in with the others. Sometimes it's interesting to bring them to the forefront. A third-level party I played in had a player absent, so the DM was controlling his PC in the background. That is, of course, until a doppleganger grappled him and changed form to look identical. That was a tough session.
LiXinjian
01-20-05, 08:42 AM One thing I've thought about is to use the dynamics of summoning to explain those disappearances.

Basically, every time a player misses a session, that's because his character was summoned by some planar entity (as summon monster or planar binding) and forced to do his bidding for some time.

You can even use the relativity of time to explain why sometimes they are away for only a few hours of in-game time, and absent for days some other.

If the idea appeals to your PC, you can even let them create their own story about what happened when they were summoned away. You might be surprised when the players themselves start sketching out a plot you can quickly steal for your own purposes (for instance, say two of them spontaneously pretend they were summoned by Jarryx the Mad Glabrezu) . The look on their faces when they discover the villain they made up makes an appearance in the campaign! Priceless!

You can even hand out XP for a good, original absence-story (not for the falsely accomplished deeds described therein) if the fancy strikes you. Or you could use the opportunity to hand out treasure to a character who's fallen behind - simply say it was his payment for the task accomplished.

Just remember that a creature summoned goes back home when it's killed, whereas a conjured (called) creature dies for real.

Just an idea I've been itching to use.
Deacon Liadon
01-20-05, 10:43 AM In the campaign I'm in the CM runs absent players PCs as NPCs. Unfortunately, we only usually have about five people at a session out of eight so the party generally is about half NPC. We did get revenge on the party paladin though. He got possed by his demonic axe.
alecthemad
01-20-05, 11:00 AM I have used the summoning trick except I had a long running battle going on between two wizards with artifacts of summoning.

One artifact summoned hordes of low level creatures so for the early levels they were summoned by that (younger) wizard. The other artifact summoned stronger creatures, so at higher levels they were summoned by the older wizard.

The next game when a player showed up I would let him know what happened and even let them interact with the fellows. They asked questions and eventually got the story out of them that they were fighting to get the artifact from the other as each was part of a whole artifact that allowed summoning of hordes of any level creature.

They kinda liked the bit of back story and eventually vowed to find these guys.

But in my current game I maintain an episodic nature to each session so that if someone will be gone I come up with a valid reason and make certain that the character communicates it to the other characters.
Gladi
01-20-05, 11:12 AM Bright day
Whatever works for you.
Though in my campaings PCs have life outside an adventure :eek:! Dwarf fighter serves in city guard, and other too have duties to attend, friends to hang out with and other "stuff". But I also run PC as NPC, or players can turn their PC to other player as cohort under my omnipotent supervision.
Felis Argentus
01-20-05, 12:30 PM As with others, in my campaign if a player does not attend, their character slips into the background. It is assumed there is 'one more monster' or something and their character is dealing with that. The upside for the player is that their character won't die. However, no risk means no reward, and they gain no xp and treasure (from that session) only at the whim of those who attended.
Since most people show up most of the time, it generally doesn't cause too much trouble. That and everyone has bought-in to the idea.
Zzasrix
01-20-05, 01:07 PM I definatly give no exp for not attending. I make sure that i keep my schedule free and i expect the players to do the same. I understand that real life happens, but you cant expect the other people in the group to waste an entire night because a player isnt available.

As far as treasure goes if the party lets them get any thats up to them. In the Shadowrun game i run if a PC isnt their the team's S.O.P. is to give them half a cut and everyone who is there gets to split the extra. Its a bit harsh, but i havent had a player miss a game for over 2 months. ;)
Uratoh
01-20-05, 01:26 PM A GM I play under sometimes just has us turn into sugar plum fairies and go live in the SPF box that one of us randomly carries around until we get back.
Fogel the Magical
01-21-05, 12:17 AM Thanks for the responses and the many good ideas. I think I can make my idea work though. You see my campaign involves a powerful wizard, or angel, I haven't decided yet, who teleports the party after blinding them with an incredibly bright light to a peninsula that no one can seem to leave. The sea ways are untraversable due to mysterious forces and to the north, the only connection with the rest of the continent, an impassible series of mountains stands, raised by the same evil force that blocks the sea. The PCs are brought here against there will to aid this powerful NPC in saving the peoples who were unfortunate enough to move to this peninsula before the powerful magic began to control the enviroment. The "Safe House" is a mysterious building, owned by the powerful PC, in the largest of the five towns of the peninsula and no one knows what's inside, only that it was commissioned and built for a person of great importance and it is looked after by the "king" of the peninsula, a powerful Paladin. The PCs of the absent gamers will be called to this safe house for trials of worth put on by this mighty NPC and there they can earn some, probably half, of what the present PCs earn. So what do you guys think of that? :)
discipleofevil
01-21-05, 08:15 AM i say dont give em any xp, or make em come up with a short explaination(short but not one line) as to what they did while there and why there pc had to go now and it couldnt wait, with that maybe give em half xp. as for items its up to you but i happen to like the idea of your pc wasnt there they dont get anything unless the party deems it to be so.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Fogel the Magical 01-20-05, 02:09 AM	I have a great idea for my campaign, tell me what you think. For every Player that cannot attend a session there is a safe house within the capital city of the land they are in for their characters to go to when they aren't there to join in the adventures of the party. Their characters go there when the player is gone and the party goes on as is to their next adventure then when the person returns to play we can role play their time in the safe house, which may also double as a training hut of sorts, for XP gaining sake. Then after the catching up is complete their character can conveniently catch up with the party. Tah-dahh! :D
penchant 01-20-05, 02:45 AM	Why not have the safe house be a hut of Baba-Yaga and follow the party around on ostrich legs? To me there is no pithy way of handling player absence. I just run the PCs as npc's while they are gone with the understanding that I will not unreasonably kill them and that they will only earn 1/2 xp the first session and go back home the second. In my old GG there were enough players and PC's that for any combination of players present there was some game to pick up from and continue.
MinusInnocence 01-20-05, 02:55 AM	Sounds great except you failed to mention why their character would all of a sudden want to go train. There really is no substitute for adventuring and for the character to say out of the blue, "I think I'll sit this one out, guys. Yeah, we've been hunting the villain for six months and I'm itchin' for a chance to knock him a good one, but I think you can all handle it without me. Maybe I'll catch up on some light reading or do some push-ups." I agree with penchant in that the best way to handle it is just to pretend they're still there, though their character fades to the background for the next session. Not only does it not require a weird fabrication like the "Training House," it also doesn't reward them unfairly for not showing up.
discipleofevil 01-20-05, 08:12 AM	with the campain i am playing in we just bring the pc along and it does nothing, gains no xp and takes no damage. basically it is on strike for a session or whatever else you want to have it do. making the pc drool for an entire session was funny
Tusz 01-20-05, 08:20 AM	I'll toss my vote in with the others. Sometimes it's interesting to bring them to the forefront. A third-level party I played in had a player absent, so the DM was controlling his PC in the background. That is, of course, until a doppleganger grappled him and changed form to look identical. That was a tough session.
LiXinjian 01-20-05, 08:42 AM	One thing I've thought about is to use the dynamics of summoning to explain those disappearances. Basically, every time a player misses a session, that's because his character was summoned by some planar entity (as summon monster or planar binding) and forced to do his bidding for some time. You can even use the relativity of time to explain why sometimes they are away for only a few hours of in-game time, and absent for days some other. If the idea appeals to your PC, you can even let them create their own story about what happened when they were summoned away. You might be surprised when the players themselves start sketching out a plot you can quickly steal for your own purposes (for instance, say two of them spontaneously pretend they were summoned by Jarryx the Mad Glabrezu) . The look on their faces when they discover the villain they made up makes an appearance in the campaign! Priceless! You can even hand out XP for a good, original absence-story (not for the falsely accomplished deeds described therein) if the fancy strikes you. Or you could use the opportunity to hand out treasure to a character who's fallen behind - simply say it was his payment for the task accomplished. Just remember that a creature summoned goes back home when it's killed, whereas a conjured (called) creature dies for real. Just an idea I've been itching to use.
Deacon Liadon 01-20-05, 10:43 AM	In the campaign I'm in the CM runs absent players PCs as NPCs. Unfortunately, we only usually have about five people at a session out of eight so the party generally is about half NPC. We did get revenge on the party paladin though. He got possed by his demonic axe.
alecthemad 01-20-05, 11:00 AM	I have used the summoning trick except I had a long running battle going on between two wizards with artifacts of summoning. One artifact summoned hordes of low level creatures so for the early levels they were summoned by that (younger) wizard. The other artifact summoned stronger creatures, so at higher levels they were summoned by the older wizard. The next game when a player showed up I would let him know what happened and even let them interact with the fellows. They asked questions and eventually got the story out of them that they were fighting to get the artifact from the other as each was part of a whole artifact that allowed summoning of hordes of any level creature. They kinda liked the bit of back story and eventually vowed to find these guys. But in my current game I maintain an episodic nature to each session so that if someone will be gone I come up with a valid reason and make certain that the character communicates it to the other characters.
Gladi 01-20-05, 11:12 AM	Bright day Whatever works for you. Though in my campaings PCs have life outside an adventure :eek:! Dwarf fighter serves in city guard, and other too have duties to attend, friends to hang out with and other "stuff". But I also run PC as NPC, or players can turn their PC to other player as cohort under my omnipotent supervision.
Felis Argentus 01-20-05, 12:30 PM	As with others, in my campaign if a player does not attend, their character slips into the background. It is assumed there is 'one more monster' or something and their character is dealing with that. The upside for the player is that their character won't die. However, no risk means no reward, and they gain no xp and treasure (from that session) only at the whim of those who attended. Since most people show up most of the time, it generally doesn't cause too much trouble. That and everyone has bought-in to the idea.
Zzasrix 01-20-05, 01:07 PM	I definatly give no exp for not attending. I make sure that i keep my schedule free and i expect the players to do the same. I understand that real life happens, but you cant expect the other people in the group to waste an entire night because a player isnt available. As far as treasure goes if the party lets them get any thats up to them. In the Shadowrun game i run if a PC isnt their the team's S.O.P. is to give them half a cut and everyone who is there gets to split the extra. Its a bit harsh, but i havent had a player miss a game for over 2 months. ;)
Uratoh 01-20-05, 01:26 PM	A GM I play under sometimes just has us turn into sugar plum fairies and go live in the SPF box that one of us randomly carries around until we get back.
Fogel the Magical 01-21-05, 12:17 AM	Thanks for the responses and the many good ideas. I think I can make my idea work though. You see my campaign involves a powerful wizard, or angel, I haven't decided yet, who teleports the party after blinding them with an incredibly bright light to a peninsula that no one can seem to leave. The sea ways are untraversable due to mysterious forces and to the north, the only connection with the rest of the continent, an impassible series of mountains stands, raised by the same evil force that blocks the sea. The PCs are brought here against there will to aid this powerful NPC in saving the peoples who were unfortunate enough to move to this peninsula before the powerful magic began to control the enviroment. The "Safe House" is a mysterious building, owned by the powerful PC, in the largest of the five towns of the peninsula and no one knows what's inside, only that it was commissioned and built for a person of great importance and it is looked after by the "king" of the peninsula, a powerful Paladin. The PCs of the absent gamers will be called to this safe house for trials of worth put on by this mighty NPC and there they can earn some, probably half, of what the present PCs earn. So what do you guys think of that? :)
discipleofevil 01-21-05, 08:15 AM	i say dont give em any xp, or make em come up with a short explaination(short but not one line) as to what they did while there and why there pc had to go now and it couldnt wait, with that maybe give em half xp. as for items its up to you but i happen to like the idea of your pc wasnt there they dont get anything unless the party deems it to be so.