Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Timpookie Jan 19, 2015 3:44:34	Alright, so I play a Gnoll Ranger in a weekly campaign on roll20 with people on the internet with timezone differences of up to fourteen or fifteen hours, and I'm at the worst timing situation of it all, where the campaign doesn't start until 9:30-10PM where I live on a Sunday night when I have school starting early the next day.   When I arrived, I was the first player there and an hour early and the DM was still setting up the rest of the encounter. So as he was setting up the encounter, we had a chat about things. During the course of the chat, the rest of the party came along, except for two people. One of them a week ago had an illness and I have no idea what it is or how bad it is, it could be anything from a cold to Ebola, I didn't ask. The other one was absent without explination, though he has a reputation for being late on another campaign, which I DM on roll20.   So we started playing, with one of the other two PC players running an absent party member's PC during the Goblin ambush that we got ourselves into. The encounter lasted until about midnight my timezone, where I told the guys that it was getting late and that I was logging off shortly after we decided to take an extended rest.   I awoke the next day later than I had wanted, but still early enough to get to school on time. I had a good day at school, but that's beside the point. When I returned home, I found that the guy who has a reputation for being late turned up shortly after I fell asleep and requested six and a half hours of gametime. I asked the reason and the reason was complete and utter bullcrap (He slept in until what is in his timezone either 11 AM or 12 noon).   If I were the DM, I wouldn't have given the rest of the group six and a half more hours because one guy was late if someone already had to go. I'd've just said that you get there on-time or within about an hour and a half, or you run the risk of missing the campaign, and just left it at that, which clearly isn't what happened if I missed half a level's worth of gameplay.   So I ask here what to do in this situation. I've already spoken to the DM and the player, but I don't know what to do next, seeing as this isn't the first time something of the sort has happened with this guy (Though, normally, he just misses the first hour or 90 minutes of a game and is there for the last hour instead of arriving after the session ended and requesting more time).
#2 Llenlleawg Jan 19, 2015 5:17:43	Can you help me a bit in figuring out just what the problem/question is? I need a few more facts. Specifically, did the DM grant the player's wish and keep playing for 6-1/2 more hours after you had logged off? If so, is your question/annoyance how to handle the fact that you are missing out on the game even though you were there at the scheduled time?   How much time does the DM say the game will last? Does he post a start and end time? Does he have a policy? Is that the question? (And if he doesn't have a policy, how precisely is this a problem for you, except that you have less time to play if people regularly show up late.)   That is, you say you don't know what to do next, and I need to ask do about what? Make the other player(s) log in on time? Make sure you don't lose out on game time?   In short, help me see how this is your problem. (I don't doubt that it is. It's just that I don't see how from what you have posted.)
#3 Zathris Jan 19, 2015 19:07:54	I don't even see this as a problem. I feel like you're way too anal about punctuality and the value of your time in a game versus other people, if you feel like you missing 6 hours by your own choice is both bothersome and remotely important.   Did you enjoy the game while you were playing? Sounds like it. Did the other people enjoy the game while they were playing? Sounds like it. Did the other people mind playing an extra 6 hours? Sounds like they didn't mind playing longer while being 2 people short.   Only problem here is your perceptions.
#4 Llenlleawg Jan 20, 2015 5:14:01	Zathris, I wanted to give Timpookie the benefit of the doubt that there perhaps is a problem here, but that he's having trouble articulating it.
#5 Noctaem Jan 20, 2015 6:02:31	Right the OP has no problem playing without others, but immediately calls foul when they play without him because of HIS real life priorities.  So basically, his time and his priorities are more important than the rest of the group?  Hmm..  I suppose my only advice would be to find another group if you can't handle this happening because of the various time zones within the group.  Try to find a group which falls more into your own.
#6 Beoric Jan 20, 2015 10:07:41	In fairness to the OP, it sounds like there was an agreement as to when to play which was not being honoured.  The question is, is it not being honoured because of discourtesy, or because the agreement is unworkable.  If it is unworkable then he will just have to deal with it.  If it is not unworkable, then the response depends on (a) the availability of other groups, and (b) whether the problem is sufficiently onerous that he would prefer not to game at all.    Come to think of it, that response applies if it unworkable as well.
#7 Llenlleawg Jan 21, 2015 3:39:42	I expect, in fact, that the situation is itself unworkable. If you cannot begin play until 9:30-10 pm and have school the following day, if you don't want to be self-punitive, you really have maximally 2 hours of play (presuming you want a healthy night of sleep and classes begin in the morning). That's a shame if others are not also able or willing to begin regularly, and punctually, at the same time, but the problem looks as though it may be irremediable merely due to time, without taking into account the behavior of the other players.   Best of luck, in any event!