So this is now the second week in a row that two of us have turned up ready to run a session tightly twined around each of the PCs, and found ourselves the only ones there. At least this time every person but one told us that they were not going to be able to be able to make it.

Don't get me wrong. The players really like the games (we have more than one running, on alternate weeks) and are really into it. They talk about the plotlines and what their characters did to their other friends all the time. (You all know the pattern ) This particular group exists at all because one player was so enthusiastic about his own experiences (more about this player later) that he managed to gather together others to play in his Star Wars d20 campaign (and they became active parts of an originally two-on-one Shadowrun, and somewhere in there exist two or three other games).

The excuses are always what - in isolation - I would consider legit. Heck, it's not even usually the "I have a life" excuse - which (very much in isolation) I'd also consider legit. We managed to work out a time when everyone could actually make it around their work and sometimes school and sometimes family commitments. The one person who has the absolute worst schedule of us all (full-time work, full-time school) has been the most reliable in showing up prepared. The two of us with the second- and third-worst schedules are the two who show up every week. (I'll admit to the occasional off-the-cuff session, although always within planned environments and planned major and semi-major NPCs. Bus time can be very useful )

This is far from being a new thing - starting even to become a regular thing that there will be complete absenteeism or being more than two hours late. I've tried initiating bonus XP / karma rules. I've even gotten most of the players to let whoever is the GM for that session know when it's going to happen, or to apologise/explain after the fact, when it was something immediate. (Interestingly enough, this seems to have been an unfamiliar concept to most of them.)

It's just that this kind of thing seems to be happening more often, to nearly everyone.

At the extreme and probably the core of this particular dilemma, the player mentioned above (who, outside the game, is definitely the social core of the group), has for some months now been finding some sort of excuse almost each and every week. Serious family problems. Assignments due tomorrow. Change in work shifts. Change in work. Exhaustion due to changes. After he postponed the next session of his Star Wars game for the nth time (one into which he had explicitly invited me, but which I delayed in taking up until I knew that I could commit the time), for the past two months I have taken that campaign into my hands - with his explicit agreement - to temporarily take over his d20 Star Wars game to keep it alive until he could sort out his new shift sleep pattern: a single, seven-session arc designed to be self-contained and easily returnable to him. It's a game I want to be playing in! (Incidentally, it's among the most difficult game things I have ever done: to keep a NPC active as a potential and probable PC without in any way preempting any of the existing and active PCs.)

However, he has started keeping a blog (and sent all of us the link!): for the times when he was not there, the blog notes nothing but another variant of "I'm so bored!" and the time when I decided to actually bring this to everyone's attention, he considers himself "reamed out". Needless to say, his excuses are becoming questionable to me.

He is not typical of the other players: but since he is their social core and this group's initiator, well ...

That's one extreme, but I've seen many different versions of the same basic issue. In this case, it's a combination of the game generally becoming a lower priority among other life things, along with a complete absence of any sense of group obligation by a core player. In other cases, it is changes from school to work environment, or marriage, or possible promotion or relocation: any number of factors which act to change one player's individual priorities, and which have the potential to reverberate on the group as a whole.

Some players realise when their work/school/social life starts to take on a higher priority than the game, and tell the group that they will have to leave it. Quite frequently the group as a whole, being of the same general demographic, runs into these issues at the same time, and chooses to disband, or, alternately, meet very irregularly. But sometimes: a few players simply don't realise that their absenteeism is having any effect on the group as a whole (never mind the GM's prep work!) - or, worse, don't care.

What degree of attendance should GMs expect from players? And of course the converse: what degree of reliability should players expect from GMs?

At what point should the members of the group just shrug and accept that the group really no longer exists? Who informs the group - and how?

I once had a player tell me he couldn't make it half way through an adventure, whilst he was playing. "Can we stop for pizza now, I got somewhere to be." Turns out he had a girl to see, whom he told that he had nothing better to do.

So any warning is enough warning in my games, and all the other players tend to give me at least a days notice. But back on topic, a few years ago we used to play on saturdays and it was always a compromise to get everyone to the table. it was never fun anyway because people were stressing about getting changed to go out rather than enjoying themselves. So, as a group we all decided that sundays would be the day we played on. Maybe changing the time you play (if you have a set time) might help?

I dunno, seeing a person potentially for sex constitutes a legitimate reason, but at least have the courtesy of letting your other gamers know that your seeing someone and also be polite enough to schedule the time for your friends too. A relationship is no good if you have to ditch your friends to make them happy. Like it or lump it, friends are often part of teh relationship equation

Getting laid has always been our groups Only Acceptable Excuse.

There is, however, a difference between getting laid and being whipped. My best friend went through a sad period like this; his girlfriend would call during the game and ream him out for being there at all. He'd sulk, take it, and not show up the following week.

Pitiable, to say the least.

I have a magical power in this regard.

Well, I have two magical powers, but the other one isn't for consumption on this board.

My (first) magical power is that every time I try to run a game online, or even participate in a game in person, that game fails due to player absenteeism. For whatever reason, people just don't show. Rare is the time that half the group shows, even if I'm running a game for two people. Once I drove an hour to a game session to be the only one who showed up (aside from the GM, but he lived there so he doesn't count). Even when I try to run games with just ONE player - which is a real challenge I might add - I am often unable to get that one player to commit any time to it. It's incredibly aggravating.

If you don't mind a bit of book-keeping, do this.

Just start up a point system (we're all SR players, we should know how to do this).

For every absent/tardy, you acquire (x) points. When you reach (y) points, then you get kicked to the curb.

Reasonable excuses aside, this should keep the playerbase (and even the GM!) on the clock.

As for that whole 'missing a game to get laid' thing, someone actually did that to one of mine. He showed up late and explained his reason for tardiness as being that he was engaged in a little 'under-cover operations'.

Sex and then Shadowrun...Man...

*kill* Online games I participate in just seem to die. Online games I GM in just seem to die. I'm always left, standing in the wreckage, going "guys? guys...?"

I just grin and bear it.

And to Shadow, host of the one game that made it: sorry for dropping, that was lame of me.

That's where my bad karmas comin' from, I think

I imagine it also has something to do with age. Through early teens to college years, it was easier to commit to games (though near the end of college it became more difficult). Then when you hit that period of life when society pretty much expects you to start doing something more than playing games, fun times...paying bills, going to work, trying to find an adult relationship, etc etc.

From what I've seen once things settle down, and your life becomes more stable, maybe in your 30s, you can start finding more stability in hobbies you choose to pick up. Unless you have kids

I think the problem with online games is when they get to large. Then you have two or three players pretty much take over the game. The other usually post because they think, "if I don't have much to add, why post." If you don't post often, the game grinds to a halt, people quit, and the game dies. I think one way to deal with this is to emphsize OOC posts to keep players and GM's in the game, whether they say anything or not IC. That's my .02

Well, before passing judgement, few questions:

How many players do you have in total?

How often are you running per week, with (3 i think?) games occuring?

How many players are skipping each session?

Is it always the same people, or change due to life?

Is this one guy thats always not there someone the game cant exist without?

Ive got a few things I want to say that may help, but Id really like definitive answers to those questions before I type it, as if Im reading them wrong itll make the whole post useless.

I'm really looking for two things.

First, maybe most important, are your experiences, by way of learning and also by way of knowing what the standards - especially standards of acceptable rates of absenteeism, acceptable excuses, and acceptable frequency - are generally expected to be; also at what point to act on them or to accept that the group no longer exists, and how to break that information to players in denial.

Second, more immediately relevant to me but less important overall, is what others would suggest in this particular case. There are some specific issues which undermine solutions suggested thus far:

• I can't build a new group around the three reliable players (myself included), because they also happen to be the three players who know they are most likely to have to drop the game entirely on relatively short notice due to life factors. (In at least one case, this might well be an international move.)
  
• We are already meeting on the only time that didn't interfere with anyone's fixed commitments. So changing the time again won't help.
  
• None of the players have adult relationships that get in the way. I am, however, suspecting that "hangover" is becoming a common invisible excuse.
  
• The player who for months now has been finding (increasingly questionable) excuses even to warn of absence also happens to be the player who decided to put this group together in the first place and to GM that group (but not follow through) ... and who also happens to be the out-of-game social core of (and thus something of an example to) all of the group except me and one other among the reliable players.
  
• He also happens to be right in the middle of the group for age ... just younger than the three reliable players, just older than the two who are quite a bit less so. All players but three are at the work-school boundary, and the three who aren't are at work boundaries.
  
• Any solution that drops him from the game will destroy the group: the less reliable players will follow his example, the more reliable players know the limits of their current ability to commit due to their life circumstances (see first point). The previous mix of players was working ... until this spate of lateness and absenteeism.

What solution is possible, given what exists in the here and now?

Adding for The White Dwarf:

Players in total: 6

Per week: currently 2, normally 1 (alternating). I suggested an extra meeting specifically for the SW game during my substitute GMing to really establish the SW group as a team during that 7/8 session arc. Absenteeism is lowest during those extra meetings - and they're the ones one player has no choice but to always be late to. (Although that class ending early for the last several weeks has meant he has lucked out thus far - not a situation we are counting on.) But the arc is coming to an end, maybe one, two more extra meetings, and then we are back to 1 per week.

Players skipping each session? 2-4, again lowest during the SW game.

Is it always the same people, or change due to life? Yes to both: what is given for excuses usually centres around shift/sleep pattern changes and such, but while reasonable in isolation, those excuses are wearing a bit thin.

Is this one guy thats always not there someone the game cant exist without? See list above.

Any insight you can give on this situation will help

We (we switch off between GM's) give them each two and only two excused absences before something fatal happens. Even if they let us know something always happens like marriage, HMHVV, etc. Just to help them explain where there character was during that time.

Hmmm... that makes it a big trickier.

Lets start off with my own experiences.

To tell the truth I hijacked "my" group from the guy who put it together. That is, he put it together, I GM:ed for a while and realized that I couldn't GM him any more. I told him so, he walked off and wanted to take the other players (except Kitsune) with him, but they stayed.

We've tried to play once a week for the last couple of years and we play on average three out of every four weeks, but that varies depending on different circumstances.

Acceptable excuses... I can't think of one that I wouldn't accept, but it's probably out there. The important thing is to give at least one days warning so as to notify the rest of the group that the game is off (or on despite the person missing). Giving notice the same day you only do if it's an emergency. Other than that nothing is acceptable. Last session I had a cold, and another player was sick as well (his stomach) but still we played.

Acceptable rates and frequency... hmm... I don't really know. But I'd guess I'd draw the line at four times in a row and frequency I'd say once per month. But that would depend on the reasons why. Compare having a hangover to the guy who has a chronical stomach condition. *shrugs* Acceptable levels depends on the reasons why and what I'm really interested in is if the player doesn't feel like playing. If a player doesn't want to play, then I want to know so that I can play for it and have him/her not appear on our sessions until said player wants to play again. Otherwise s/he will have a negative effect on the game and the rest of the players.

When it comes to what you should do I find that trickier. The first thing I think you should do is talk to the player who put the group together. Ask him why he's been gone so much lately, if he's grown tired of playing or GM:ing and see if you can't get him to come back regularly and sort out why he's not showing.

Actually, that and my previous suggestion are the only ones I can think of at the moment. Though it might have something to do with the fact that I slept about five hours last night (while still having a cold). I'll think about it some more and see if I can think of anything else.

Perhaps try shortening your story arcs. Try to keep your evenings play self contained so that you can play with who ever happens to show up. Both Shadowrun and Star Wars lend themselves to this kind of play. A series of single night flings is less fullfilling than a long story arc, but sometimes you have to resort to it. Prop the group up with these until it either settles into a routine or blows up.

Either way remember that we play to have fun. This isn't work.

Wow, these scenarios are all so complex...

In my current group if someone doesn't make it the GM runs their character. Sometimes this works out just fine for the character (lots of sitting in the car and maybe they even get to do something cool) other times not so much (just imagine it).

Either way, the character gets no karma. Its coincidence, but frequently the night someone is absent is the night that we actually perform the run (rather than just planning and recon). When this happens it is a powerful incentive for the player to not miss again as they didn't get to see their part of the plan come together.

This mainly works because none of the players in my group are more socially important than the others, so no matter who doesn't show up the game still has good forward momentum (in fact usually we move faster because fewer people are taking up the GM's time).

OOokkaayy, theres a lot of insight you provided about the situation and Im not sure Ive fully absorbed it all so if somethings a bit amiss here, my bad.

That said, it sounds to me like the out of game social interation between the group is affecting the in game effects of, um, gaming. Some of the players arent interested in gaming per se, they play more because they want to hang out with this central player. Unfortuatly for you, that segment of the group is what has been, and needs to continue to be, the core of the group. This is because the other members are the ones who are contending more with RL, while the central player and his friends have the flexibility to come but may contend with other things they consider a priority.

So to summarize: the central player and his friends game more to hang out, while the other players game to game. But, the central player has less RL conflicts and so can make the game, thus forming a reliable core group. The catch is that gaming isnt a top priority, so he is frequently missing game for whatever reason. This is threatening to level the group.

Is that accurate? If not please clarify what was wrong and Ill post again. If it was read on.

In that situation I would say that much absenteeism at all isnt really tolerable. Its not that the people involved cant be there, they could if they wanted to. It might take some extra effort moving things around or reworking some other things, but they could make most of the sessions (everyone misses 1 occasionally for whatever reason). The problem here is that they dont have that level of commitment, they dont see the game as a priority worth that effort. Thus its something that if they make, hey great, if not, whatever. Basically, while other people are commited to the investment of time every week it takes to run this, they arent. And its making the time invested by the people that are there less important because theres no repercussions for not being there, in short devaluing what you do run. I dont personally think its tolerable for someone to treat someone else with that kinda disrespect, not even telling them if they will be there or not, with no regards to how it affects the other peoples plans or desire to run a game, as if you have nothing better to do than sit around in case they shows up.

Theres 3 ways you could really move that I see.

1) Have a talk with the person in question and simply tell find out what sort of priority the game is to them. Let them know that they are important, and without them the game wont be as cool, but that if they dont want to be there its not worth running it without people that are really interested. Dont tell them the game hinges on them, that gives them a sense of power, and that could be why theyre showing up whenever, to exercise power over the rest. Dont issue an ultimatum "you need to game or not" because if theyre already on the edge theyll just choose not and youre out the game entierly. Just make them feel wanted, but let them follow what they really want to do not what they think others want to do. It might fix the attendance, but it might also break it.

2) Issue the ultimatum. Simply tell them its not practical or rewarding to plan games and plan the sessions and invest the time only to have it not work out. That the game will go if there isnt a way to improve the attendance. In this case be prepared to make compromises, such as maybe shifting to every other week; perhaps to give those core people a night every other week to hang out without gaming. The point here is that if the game is only happening 1 in 2-3 sessions with acceptable attendance, shift to a schedule that supports the good session. Less games with better attendance may be a desierable alternative.

3) Change the game. If only 2-3 folks are showing up each time, just tell the others to not bother. Dont even ask them. If the whine and moan just say "well, your only here once a month anyhow, whats the difference" and tell them theyre welcome back when they can make more of the sessions. The game as is may collapse without them, but all groups start somewhere and its not totally unreasonable to try and start a group with the 2-3 remaining. Maybe the schedules are less flexible and you may only meet once every 2 weeks, or maybe youll just have to wait for those days when everyone can make it, but at least you dont plan for something and get screwed. If you do this be sure that you can run an acceptable game with whos left, someone will have to GM and the style may change with less people. Also, be sure they want to game, because if its only once a month the consensus may be not to bother its not worth it and the game dies entierly.

Really, it all boils down to two things: what you want to do and are comfortable with, and what way you think the people involed will jump when push comes to shove. The goal is to try and approach the subject with the relevent parties in a way that will make them jump the way you want them too. Hope you have a high RL negotiation skill, and if youve any BP in the bank might want to buy that Aptitude as well... GL with it.

Ok I totally reread everything and my above post wandered a bit in focus to your original questions. SO like brief followup:

In general, if players arent making at least 3/4 sessions Id raise questions. Heck our group gets a bit outta shape if people miss more than 1 in 10. But were an old school crew whos remaining 5 core folks have been the core for years. The add on riff raff comes and goes but those 5 remain.

You cant really cut anyone (specifically that individual) without losing the game, so you need to up attendance. Best way to do that is in this case might be to change the time to the SW game time because it seems to work better. Or maybe cut down the number of games so people only need 1 day a week set aside not 2 or more.

Plus, this individual needs to be brought back in. Somehow. Flat out ask him whats up. Say "hey, youve obviously had some scheduling issues, and the lot of us need to know when u can be back, explain" for reasons in the above post. Hope to get an honest answer and work with it.

Alternatively, it could be theyre more interested in SW, and that SR is growing old or repetative, thus the lack of motivation to attend. People might be more upbeat about coming if its what they want to do, or just the latest new flashy object to entertain. Perhaps find out what people really want to play? This only works if youre worried about keeping the gaming group, not the SR game specifically; but you an always hope to cycle games again in the future if the group holds out.

Hope that helps some more too.

You have it virtually exactly, White Dwarf.

I'll add only that it might be as much my GMing style as which particular game which is (slightly) increasing attendance: at the moment as a GM I just happen to be most currently active in that game. (I have something of a reputation as a GM. I used to run an old game in a gaming store, very much with the owner's permission. Potential customers watching us - and listening to us, at least twice I was heard all the way to the street - caused him to sell many copies of game books.)

The terrifying thought I suddenly had is that I might accidentally be showing up any lack of preparation by others ... which can't be helping.

I will give your posts a great deal of thought. You have placed at least as much into their writing, and it is appreciated.

lol, Herald. Though, given the taste of most of the folks I play with (and the players themselves) I'm not really that interested in a free show involving them.

and if that doesn't work we have a burlap sack, a reckless disregard for the law, and a dire need of $5. we deliver anytime, anywhere dice are extra.

Heh

The way I run it, is by a "three strikes" policy. As long as you give me a heads up before the session on why you can't make it, I don't have a problem with it. But if you get three absences without giving me a heads up, I kick em out.

Which reminds me. I currently have an open slot in my on line SR game beacuse someone just broke that rule, if anyone is interested.

Before this, for years, my gaming group was one that used to call each other at midnight on non-gaming nights to try to work out plans and individual character initiative and try to figure out what the NPC / evil GM was up to. We have a chapbook of group in-character poetry! Three strikes wouldn't have to have been called in for that group: they missed nothing if they could possibly help it.

Before that, again for years, the group was a more casual one, but dedicated to the game and to the group as a whole. Absenteeism (almost always due to working late) happened, but so did explanatory telephone calls.

And then, after about a year and change of (my) non-gaming: the new group, which I waited to join until I could properly commit ... and shortly afterward the situation I described.

Among other things, I am wondering which is the more typical experience.

Assume all the questions you have suggested asking have already been raised, White Dwarf, and answered, and answered again. Talking has been done. The answers all seem genuine enough, and an astral scan might suggest they were probably even meant at the time. Yet they are not acted on.

Where to go from there?

Uh, I dunno sorry to say. It sounds to me like youre between a rock and a hard place. The game cant go on without this persons attendance, but they dont want to commit, so youre left with an iffy game. If push comes to shove theyll bail, so you cant pressure them in, I guess only option is to try and lure them back. But in bending the situation to fit their whims you sorta lose the point.

At that point theyre obviously not helping or even just being neutral, theyre activly treating people with less respect (imo) and are well aware of it. They, in a way, enjoy being "in charge" where theyre in the position of deciding if the game happens or not, and feel its ok to request others to even do it for them "hey you, gm this while I drink some wine alongside the pool, thats a good lad". Which means they go, period, end of story. /incharacter "yea, well, talking dont always work, what u gonna do" *pulls trigger*

Which means you either need to work with the 3 left to establish a less freqent (biweekly) or perhaps irregular game, whenever the schedules work out. If thats percieved to be more trouble than its worth, and wont fly, I really dont see how you can keep going. Youll have to decide whether the game means enough to continue as a second class citizen or walk away with your principles. Ones not better than the other just depends on what *you* want to do, not what this other central person wants to do.

Nows about the time Id start looking for a new group myself, I dont put up with that crap. Or see if the 3 left have friends they might be able to bring in to start a new one. Even if they cant make it all the time, maybe their interested friends could, which would give them a chance to catch up to the other characters that are farther along but miss some runs. And if you do manage to get a solid base again, you can accept the jerkoffs back or not as you wish, because they wont be needed anymore.

Glad Im not in your position =( Hope you work it out.

Thanks

I did figure as much, but third (and fourth, and fifth) opinions are valuable when your own is suspect, being too close to the situation. I particularly appreciate that point you bring up of mutual respect within the group, which I'd always felt is the core of any commitment to any group, but, well, given that my experience won't ever be that of everyone ...

As a general question to all:

I'm going to assume that people here generally place quite a bit of work into their game, be they GMs or players. (Otherwise you probably wouldn't be reading this!)

Do you feel that is the case for your group generally? If not: do you at least feel that what you have chosen to invest in the game is respected by all the members of your group? (For some reason, I'm suddenly channelling BA from Knights of the Dinner Table.)

Even more generally:

Do you feel mutual respect is important to the survival of a group?
Among the members of roleplaying groups, do you feel mutual respect is increasing, decreasing, or staying about the same?

History of my Groups:

#1. Played SR1 on Sundays until I realized I was paying them with beer to play. Cut off the free beer - group disbanded.

#2. Tried forming group with Sphynx - utter fiasco which I contributed my part and departed as memorably as possible.

#3. Half a dozen guys got together and created characters. Only 2 or 3 showed next time. 1 got a job where I worked, and another guy and I formed group #4. Wanted to play 1 or 2 times a week fro 8 hr. sessions, didn't happen.

#4. Group composed mostly of guys from work. Played twice a week, 4 hr sessions. 1 player didn't really want to play, just wanted to socialize and was a total disruption. Killed suspension of disbelief. 1 guy got fired and disappeared the next week (had moved in on my couch) never to be heard from again.

#5. 2 people from group 3 and 1 from #4 recruited 2 more players. Played once a week for 4 hrs. a session. 1 seemed to come when he didn't have any other social activities planned, but sometimes tried planning some while at the gaming table (phone.) Terrible group chemistry, Mr. Socializer and GM din't agree on playing style, GM hated Troll Tank, Tim the Monty Python impersonator liked having totally average characters that were good at obscure skills and died a lot. A friend and I had a blast and would talk about the game for about as long as the session lasted while working.

Mr. Socializer quite coming and was replaced by a married guy with a busy schedule. Group lasted a couple of years until I moved across country.

#6.??? Tried for 2 years to find a group in Daytona Beach, FL - not a single response. Tried Jacksonville, but it was full of LARP vampires.

#7. Current group. 1 year anniversary, supposed to play bi-weekly for 5 hr. sessions. Changed to 4 hr. sessions that usually run 3 hrs. by the time everyone gets there, gets settled, or leaves early. Also seems to only meet monthly. Have had 2 players drop out. 1 player shows up 2 or 3 sessions then doesn't come for a few months. 1 player cancels at last moment (as far as I'm concerned), but may give a days notice.

I have driven an hour one way a few times to be the only person to show up and get to turn around and drive an hr. home. Have driven over a thousand miles and passed up work a few times to make a session, and had one cancelled that I learned about when I arrived. I believe I pitched a fraggin' fit about how I felt about that, and since have had sufficient notice of cancelled sessions. Have also, since then, lowered my commitment to the group. If I have a nice job lined up I'm going to go for the money. Yes, I will give them a call ASAP to cancel. I have noticed I feel better after lowering my commitment level and expectations. I feel liberated somehow, even though I haven't needed to cancel.

We had this probelm recently (albiet with our DnD group).

The two out of four players (5 with the GM) who kept coming up with excuses weren't even giving us god excuses, so in a phone converstation with them, our GM basically said "You're out. And for the BS, I'm gonna sack you the next time I see ya!"

So we got to play well without them, aside from the last while. And the last while has been all "real" reasons for those of us still playing. Violently ill, in court (don't ask), and the GM is a TA in a course at University, so he's got 60 papers to grade, on top of writing some of his own.

We get to play again at about the same time I get to restart my SR game!

Grim Shear
"Gots to get to work!"

Thanks to everyone for your replies. Whatever else, perspective helps. (And maybe I should just also stop reading that blog altogether. Perpetual reiteration of just how much free time seems to exist for ... other things ... by a person who continually emphasises lack thereof, had been doing interesting things to my blood pressure.)

Very belated update:

So what I did, then, as temporary GM, was to complete that seven session story arc (of the d20 Star Wars game) with the players I did have, NPCing the ones that weren't there: and then stepped aside: said explicitly that if I were to continue past that point it would not be his game anymore but mine -- and I wasn't in a position to make such a commitment. He agreed, and agreed to take the game back the next week. He was ready, he said.

He wasn't. The next week he just didn't show, no warning, and for the first time I didn't pick up the slack. Within a couple of weeks the group had fallen apart. Which was not unexpected, given what I've posted here. There were times I could have used the outlet, these past few months -- but not that way.

But two of the core held together in an odd way. This year the group phoenix'ed, new members, solid ones. In February, now that I've gotten the past few months behind me (nothing to do with ex-group, if you're curious and you don't already know, see the link in my profile), I was brought back in. It might say something about where I'm at life-wise, just now, that the GM -- who knows me too well -- handed me an SR character ... who's literally just been brought back from being a zombie. So I won't be getting back to the extended Dumpshock posting -- or even to daily blogging -- anytime soon ... but at least I think I'm on the way there.

Thanks to everyone who wrote. I know there's some I'd forgotten to write back to, or lost the e-mails.

It's good to hear that you've found a group that works for you. I know I stumbled into being a GM with this group when I found the source books used and found out I had the most experience in 3rd Ed. I swear, I've had at least 9-10 different players, but only three have stuck around, two from the beginning. I've got new blood coming in, but it's almost a potluck to see if they A) actually come or B) stick around if they do come.

Currently my group has been together for some 5 months or so (I think), and we meet every weekend. I seem to have 2-3 regulars and 1 biweekly, with another regular possible (just started last week). So my group seems to be stabilizing...but it was a near thing for a while.

As far as I know, there's really only one other major Shadowrun group in the Dallas metroplex, and it's been around a while and is one of those "good ol boy" groups that doesn't like new people...they're happy with what they got. Because of the attrition my group has fought I welcome people with open arms.

Mrr...

Be flexible in players leaving the group and new players coming in. For those who are dependable, I'd suggest getting them new characters banged out and onto a campaign for just the two of them. As far as the comers/goers + the dependables, look far and wide until you can find a few noobs to initiate into the group and continue on with the previous set of adventures with them, and when someone who has been chronically unreliable comes back and complains that the game has been going on without them and what's up with the newb, take them outside for a private conversation involving thier lack of game commitment and settle it between the two of you wether they are staying for the game, or leaving, but make a point, and I mean a Good Sharp Point that if they decide to leave they cannot force any of the others to leave. Also, Never depend on All the characters to be present for the adventure.

Meh...been there done that. Since the group is still coalescing I'm pretty flexible and don't put 'em on guilt trips...besides the ones that come back after the first time generally stick with the group.

Good thing my woman plays SR with me. Hell, she wants to play it more often than im capable of running it. Unfortunately the rest of our group will ditch us at the drop of a hat if there is any hint of possibly, maybe , on an off chance, getting to hang out with a girl they like. Not just at the last minute either. In the middle of combat they will get calls on their cell from a pretty girl, tell them that they arent doing anything, and leave to go hang out with them. Its very frustratng to say the least.

Hell, I'm desperate for a game If you were located near SLO I'd be damned dependable!

I can't seem to commit to an online game unless it is PbEM (which I can do from work). Face to Face games are easier to justify than just sittng in front of my computer on my free time.