So a couple days ago I sent a "Dear John" email to the other two members of my game group. For once the old cliche "It's not you, it's me" is totally true. Doug and Stuart continue to be two of the awesomest people I've ever had the pleasure of slinging dice with. But it seems at this point that our tastes just diverge too much. Given the social nature of gaming I suspect that one of the stupidest things you can do is stop playing over something as lame as which game you're going to play. On the other hand I can't ignore the emotional reality that it seems like right now I don't want to play the same games as Doug and Stuart. My gut is telling me that not playing at all is a better alternative to playing games that just are enthusing me. I could try to soldier on, but when has a guy not digging the scene ever added anything but a warm body to the table? And with only three people left in the group one lukewarm player is too much deadweight.
I'm not sure exactly what's going to happen next. The three of us may continue to get together for board and card games. I'm looking at various strategies for generating local interest in a sandbox style game in either a post-apocalyptic or fantasy vein. I may just start setting up a screen one night a week at an empty table at my FLGS. If someone comes by and wants to play, great. If not, I'll spend a few hours stocking dungeons or whatnot and then head home. I've also been kicking around the idea of a "campaign on the road" with a more vigorous con schedule.
Purely in jest...
ReplyDeletewww.youtube.com/watch?v=URz1qJ3aC4M
Aw dude- I've been through it (mostly my GMs dumping my ass) and seen it (you know the Maniac has had tons of games go this way) and it's never fun until Something New (TM!) comes along. Sometimes you just need a change.
ReplyDeleteLet us know if we can help point you in the direction of some new stuff to do.
Yup, just did this myself a couple months back. A combination of wanting to return to tabletop gaming and the issue you're dealing with. So now it's down to two of us, and that's fine since we're on the same page in what we want out of a game.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely did the right thing. As they say, (temporary) no gaming is better than bad gaming. ;P
been there, done that
ReplyDeletethe referee/ judge/ DM should choose the system
sex without love is an empty experience,
but as empty experiences go . . .
its the best ; - )
You should move to Atlanta, then I would have a kick-ass DM. :) I feel for you though, going through a rough spot myself game-wise. Hope things pick up for you in the style you want soon.
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain. My game just blew up because of non-game personal stuff...
ReplyDeleteYou know the story: girl breaks up with guy, enters into asexual polyamorous relationship with married couple that nobody believes is asexual, game ends.
I think Shakespeare used that plot as the basis for something, but I'm not 100% sure.
Plenty more fish in the sea. ;)
ReplyDeleteGood thing about starting a new game group from scratch is that you have the opportunity to make some new friends. Nothing stopping members of your old group from joining in from time to time either. Indeed, a successful new group can be quite attractive...
Joseph's post for the win.
ReplyDeleteYep, I did this myself a couple of months back. For what it's worth, I'm still taken with the idea of crashing your sandbox fantasy campaign sometime when I'm one my way from Chicago down to St. Louis.
ReplyDeleteJeff there is a group breaking from the RPGA to continue to run Core 3rd edition D&D (3.5) in town in Greyhawk. They are looking for judges and players to keep the game going. The people in the group are all pretty decent. Maybe at Winter War you could try them out.
ReplyDelete-Jon
Agreed with others; there's nothing wrong with deciding to change gaming. Humans don't all mesh all the time.
ReplyDeleteJeff,
ReplyDeleteYou know you're always a welcome guest in Indy. We'll sling dice till the cows come home (which, in Indiana, is more than an empty expression).
That does stink, but it happens.
folks like different stuff.
Like loquacious said, if you want some advice on something out there or something that might hit up a good middle ground (if there is one), let us know.
My current Traveller game is plagued by inter-personal issues. The GM is a player in another player's campaign. Unfortunately, he (the player) is the reason the Traveller game sucks so much. But the GM can't kick him out, because he runs her game (and is also a close neighbor/friend). So in order to keep that whole social network from imploding, we have to put up with that smug jackass.
ReplyDeleteIt is, like I said in a recent blog post - sometimes a "who blinks first?" scenario. Does the GM change the game in order to appease some or all of the players, and those who aren't on board take a hike, or do the players fall in line to what the GM is serving up?