GM Troubles Options

[Kyleigh Wester]

Hey there dumpshockers, my group is having a little trouble and we're not quite sure how we're going to resolve is. Our GM has just about hit our nerves. See, we always play Shadowrun in one of two locations. His bedroom, or in my apartment. What's the problem? Well you see, his room is cramped, his house has constant interruptions, and generally nobody wants to play there. However, he insists. If we ask to play in the apartment he asks us for a valid reason, but nomatter what we say he claims it isn't good enough.

The apartment is spacious, has a large round table to play on, it stays cool up here and generally it just feels more comfortable for table top games. His room is small, two or three of us are always forced to sit on his bed, his family members interrupt us constantly, and we play on the floor. It's gotten to the point today that one of the most important members is downright refusing to play and limiting the team now. His campaign is fun and i'd hate to quit, but I may have to. Is there anyway we can resolve this? How do other players deal with their GMs?

[Herald of Verjig...]

Give him the list you provided here. If that doesn't work, consider hitting him over the head with a large trout.

Out of curiosity, has he explained why he prefers a cramped room with constant interruptions, or just refused to accept any arguments that your place would work better?

[wargear]

Put the grievance in writing. Put the solution that the players see as acceptable in writing. Have the entire group sign it and present the document to your gm.

If he refuses to take that seriously...give up on him, and find a new gm.

[Dashifen]

I'm with HoV here. List the reasons you did above and if he's still being mulish about the whole situation there may not be much you can do. Once he realizes that you've started up a new game at your apartment and you're having fun without him, maybe he'll come around.

:cyber:

[eidolon]

Another vote for HoV's approach. One thing, though, is I would definitely ask what his reasons are for wanting to stay in the room. If it's agoraphobia and you try to drag him out of there, things might get ugly. ;)

[Kagetenshi]

I vote you just make him want to avoid his room at all costs. Drop a heavy section of ceiling next to his head while he's sleeping, put speakers in his walls to whisper things to him, slip blood squibs behind his wallpaper and blow them up late at night, that sort of thing. A few weeks and he'll be begging to be somewhere else.

~J

[Penta]

That's just mean.:)

[eidolon]

[Cadmus]

well its easyer to play with out a gm then it is to gm with out players hehe.

I say talk to the group and if all agree tell you gm that the game will be at the larger spot, if he can't give you a convincing reason why he can't gm their just leave him.

[Labyr]

I had a situation like this. It's best to bring it up in plain (but non-confrontational language). Some GMs like home field advantage, maybe he has a lot of books on hand or something else entirely.

[Penta]

Could he be afraid of traveling? Is he usually kinda shut-in otherwise?

[Backgammon]

Offer him incentives to move - Offer a free lift back and forth. Bring snacks (good ones, like brownies or really good chips, or beer) for every game he agrees to play at the apartment, etc. You can ease out of the bribes once he's gotten into the habit of going to the apartment.

I would advise against the "signed petition" thing. Having everyone turn against you sucks, he probably won't take it well and you'll end up losing him.

[Kyleigh Wester]

Thanks for the ideas everybody. The problem was semi solved when we agreed to move to a bigger room of his house, but we still had several interruptions and problems with comfort. We do offer snacks and what not but he refuses them. We can't just up and leave because he is after all a friend and he'd probably freak out and get all pissed. When we told him we might not play this session he like blew up. Seriously, we might just pick a new GM.

[eidolon]

I hate to cast aspersions, but it almost sounds like he has a bit more going on than not wanting to change the location of his game. :(

I hope it works out for you guys.

[Ol' Scratch]

[Cthulhudreams]

Yeah, either he is unbalanced - which you'd notice - or he's not telling you what the issue is, and until you've got that sorted I don't think you are likely to get a resolution.

[Kyleigh Wester]

Okay, here are the reasons he's given me: "I don't want to move my stuff when I have it all here". This his silly, considering all his stuff is in a blue bag together, and I literally live down the street from him. He's like two houses down. "I have trouble breathing in your apartment". This was a new one to me. No ones every brought this up to me, this I guess is a good reason to me but everyone else just thought he was being complainy.

I guess the question might be "Why do you want to play at the apartment so bad". Well, quite frankly, it's more fun. We have sodas and snacks, a big round table, chairs and space for everyone. Plus, our Adept is threatening to quit if our GM keeps ignoring us.

As for those of you who think he might have books or secrets pertaining to the campaign at his house, I can already rule that out. He isn't just our GM, he's one of my best friends, and he's not really the sneaky kind of GM either. He even gives us hints as to our next session sometime. Good news is, however, we're playing twice this week. We played today, and we'll be playing friday.

It's more like a scenario then a run. I asked him if I could hack and airfield and put a fighter jet under my name and change it so it was, technically, mine. After that i'll have it transported to another airfield and....have my own jet. I love being a decker.

[tisoz]

What's the age group? Could it be a parent placing restrictions on him? Wanting to monitor the childs activities and friends?

This could explain the constant interruptions as the group is checked upon. It would also be embarrassing to a young man - enough to lie about the reasons he can not freely socialize with friends.

[Wounded Ronin]

Maybe he's just obsessive compulsive in some way and isn't comfortable in that apartment.

[Daddy's Litt...]

His refusal to move when everyone else is happier in your place is odd. I would ask about the 'can't breath' thing. That sounds like he has problems that do not have anything to do with gaming.

If the problem at his place is constant interuptions, this will not change by changing rooms.

DO NOT do the written thing. Think how you would feel if the group did that to you.

[BishopMcQ]

Trouble breathing in the apartment could also come from a previously unknown allergy to pet dander.

Best of luck sorting this out. If you're in the Greater San Diego area, let me know. I'm still looking for a stable SR group...

[Ryu]

Is he otherwise comfortable being at your place? Should be with friends living in the same street.

[TheMadDutchman]

I have a friend whose cat I am allergic too. Anytime we'd game at his place I'd have to load up on allergy medication to get through the night which was pretty interesting because I also drank a lot at those sessions.

[Kyoto Kid]

[BookWyrm]

I vote with HoV, but add my two nuyen;

Speak to the GM, but in a calm, intelligent manner: take him asdie & ask what (the f*ck) is going on, because he's starting to piss off the group. If he refuses to elaborate, finish off the campaign as smoothly as possible, then ask him to step down as GM for a while. Call it a 'GM rotation'. If he refuses, he knows where the door is.
As the old gaming addage goes, The GM may be God, but a god is nothing without worshippers.

EDIT: spelling mistakes already fixed.