Is walking out mid-game really that huge of an impact, though? Again this may vary depending on group composition, but when I'm had player leave because something work-related came up, we were always able to continue just fine, unless it was already late and we reached a good stopping point anyhow.Then again, groups that have just 3-4 players might be more affected by that, especially if the GM doesn't like playing PCs for absent players, and it isn't quite the same when someone walks out in an angry huff, but I don't see a reason why the game has to stop there unless the other players wanted to leave also.
Having to leave happens, particularly with those of us who have kids. I think everyone understands that.
It's more the "I'm leaving to make a point that you suck!" that I think is up for debate.
But they're related.
If one player suddenly dropping it does not have a big adverse effect on the game continuing, regardless of the reason, what is so bad about it if the reason they leave is because the GM seemed to be shutting them down for arbitrary reasons, their party was ignoring them, etc.?
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I have never walked out on a game before. If a game was so bad that I wanted out I would do so after a session as the other players might be having fun.
I did play in a horrible 2nd edition D&D game many years ago. It was a bad game run by an atrocious GM. None of the players had the heart to tell the GM how terrible the game was so week in and week out we endured. One particular day the GM and a player got into a spat over rules and soon it elevated to yelling at each other. It the kind of yelling one reserves for teenagers who crash your car. It was epic, awesome, and complete with visible throbbing veins on the forehead. We players sat with our mouths agape. None wanted to intervene and none wanted to leave because the fireworks had our rapt attention.
When the yelling reached its crescendo the player had his character raise his rod of power and broke it over his knee saying "$&*k it, I'm out of here"!
The ensuing explosion took out half the party who welcomed the detonation with open arms. Unfortunately my character had a 2nd edition psionic ability called Energy Absorption and the one and only time he made the check happened to be the one time I wanted him to fail. He absorbed the blast and ended up glowing for the better part of a year.
Needless to say it was an unsurpassed ending to a crappy game.
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I'd caution against trying to define some kind of a red line for all players all of the time. Like most things in life, 'it depends'.
Violence shouldn't ever be tolerated, even if it is just intimidation. There's no place for that sort of behavior in a friendly setting, period. So those cases have nothing to do with 'mid-combat' or not, or gaming in general, so they're not good examples. And the appropriate reaction to those situations doesn't have any bearing on gaming situations, per se.
As for the "I don't care" subset of walkouts, that's totally your call. For me, I'd be concerned on how it reflects on me as a person. Should I be rude to the desk clerk at this hotel who has totally screwed me over, even though I know it isn't her fault? After all, I'll never see her again... Probably not. I'd prefer to think of myself as politely wrapping things up and making a mental note to never go there again.
When it comes to gaming, particularly with friends of friends, I do also worry that a walk-out is a lost opportunity for a constructive conversation. I see some of the stories here almost gloating that 'nobody plays in his games these days'. Personally, I'd feel guilty about whatever pain that person had inflicted/suffered due to any inaction on my part. For example if he's too deeply in the 'GM is god' camp, maybe I could have coached him on his playstyle. Or at least showed him the value of communicating that sort of thing up front. Maybe the GM needs to understand different perceptions on railroads, maybe the group needs to discuss the pros and cons of PvP, etc, etc, etc. But when you just quit, throw a fit, or even decide not to return, you're missing a chance to make a small part of the gaming world better. Or at least the chance to try.
Yes, I've walked out in mid-combat, but not for the sort of situation described in the OP. I walked out because I had to leave to keep an appointment (which the DM knew about ahead of time).
Sadly, I found out the next day that the result was a TPK. That was the end of that campaign.
There's a difference between tactfully leaving a game like finding an appropriate moment and in an appropriate way. If you have kids you may need to leave.
...but just getting up and walking out in a huff like a little drama queen is ridiculous and poor social skills. I can't believe anyone here would think its acceptable to make such a scene like a little child. It would be one thing if you got heated and stormed out and then realized later that you should have kept your emotions in check and behaved differently. Its another thing to still stick with "ya, that was totally alright to do!" If someone didn't do something out of game like..punching you in the face or something intentionally malicious toward you and everything thinks they're running a good game...don't storm out like you're 6 at a birthday party.
I mean really...do some of you regularly flip the monopoly board when you lose as well?
I think you're making assumptions about the exact manner in which everyone would leave the table. Some have literally said they "quietly packed up and [left]". Yes, flipping a table and storming out is not a cool thing to do. No, that is not what everyone here said they did.
I think you're making assumptions about the exact manner in which everyone would leave the table. Some have literally said they "quietly packed up and [left]". Yes, flipping a table and storming out is not a cool thing to do. No, that is not what everyone here said they did.There's a difference between tactfully leaving a game like finding an appropriate moment and in an appropriate way. If you have kids you may need to leave.
...but just getting up and walking out in a huff like a little drama queen is ridiculous and poor social skills. I can't believe anyone here would think its acceptable to make such a scene like a little child. It would be one thing if you got heated and stormed out and then realized later that you should have kept your emotions in check and behaved differently. Its another thing to still stick with "ya, that was totally alright to do!" If someone didn't do something out of game like..punching you in the face or something intentionally malicious toward you and everything thinks they're running a good game...don't storm out like you're 6 at a birthday party.
I mean really...do some of you regularly flip the monopoly board when you lose as well?
And some of these stories may have been from people's teenage years, where immaturity is much more likely.
I would be less mad about it if I hadn't spent 20$ in gas to drive an hour to get there just ton get screwed by a DM who doesn't remember his own rulings.
Ok i have to ask, what or how are you driving and you spent 20$ on gas in one hour drive?
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Once, in rolemaster. And it was at the start of combat.
The previous session was the wrap for a major subplot. We got to the BBEG and my character open ended his attack roll (Rolemaster allows really high rolls to roll again and add). My attack roll (percentile) ended up being something like 347.
Then I got a good crit - the BBEG had a special crit table for things that are hard to damage. I open ended on that crit roll. All open table rolls.
I killed it on the first attack.
The next session when combat started the DM announced that all rolls would be made by him behind his screen.
I stood up said "well if you want to play my characters for your story here" handed him the character sheets and walked out.
We were all about 25 or so.
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Ok i have to ask, what or how are you driving and you spent 20$ on gas in one hour drive?
I would be less mad about it if I hadn't spent 20$ in gas to drive an hour to get there just ton get screwed by a DM who doesn't remember his own rulings.
That's about what it cost me to drive the hour to Austin in my Corolla.
Edit: Maybe not in mileage alone I guess.
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Ok i have to ask, what or how are you driving and you spent 20$ on gas in one hour drive?
I would be less mad about it if I hadn't spent 20$ in gas to drive an hour to get there just ton get screwed by a DM who doesn't remember his own rulings.
One of my recent rentals cost me about $56 to fill it up after a 3.5 hour drive, so I could believe it. Of course it was an SUV type thing (I'll see if I can find the ticket, I suck at vehicle types, but I think it was a jeep something).
Ok i have to ask, what or how are you driving and you spent 20$ on gas in one hour drive?
I would be less mad about it if I hadn't spent 20$ in gas to drive an hour to get there just ton get screwed by a DM who doesn't remember his own rulings.That's about what it cost me to drive the hour to Austin in my Corolla.
Edit: Maybe not in mileage alone I guess.
do you mean tolls and stuff or drive food snacks stuff by not in mileage alone?
Ok i am european so i don't know the prices of gas in USA but still i find the 20$ a bit much.
$20 for a 1-hour drive in a non-hybrid car... probably doens't use 100% of that $20 of gas, but that sounds abotu right to me.
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Once, in rolemaster. And it was at the start of combat.
The previous session was the wrap for a major subplot. We got to the BBEG and my character open ended his attack roll (Rolemaster allows really high rolls to roll again and add). My attack roll (percentile) ended up being something like 347.
Then I got a good crit - the BBEG had a special crit table for things that are hard to damage. I open ended on that crit roll. All open table rolls.
I killed it on the first attack.
The next session when combat started the DM announced that all rolls would be made by him behind his screen.
I stood up said "well if you want to play my characters for your story here" handed him the character sheets and walked out.
We were all about 25 or so.
Nice guy...way to accept the fact that players luck out sometimes. I would have done the same thing.
Nice guy...way to accept the fact that players luck out sometimes. I would have done the same thing.Once, in rolemaster. And it was at the start of combat.
The previous session was the wrap for a major subplot. We got to the BBEG and my character open ended his attack roll (Rolemaster allows really high rolls to roll again and add). My attack roll (percentile) ended up being something like 347.
Then I got a good crit - the BBEG had a special crit table for things that are hard to damage. I open ended on that crit roll. All open table rolls.
I killed it on the first attack.
The next session when combat started the DM announced that all rolls would be made by him behind his screen.
I stood up said "well if you want to play my characters for your story here" handed him the character sheets and walked out.
We were all about 25 or so.
I'm against rolling for PCs behind the screen in almost every case. Rolling the dice is an element that makes the game fun. Taking it away makes things less fun.
Have you ever walked out on a DM, mid combat?
Yes,
My pregnant wife called me, her contractions had started. I rushed out without picking-up my books...
Turned out the contractions were a false-alarm, but that was the last time I played with that group. It wasn't a matter of style; just that RPG and early parenthood didn't work well for me.(apparently my character was conveniently plane-shifted by a rival player, then rescued, then "fired" officially)
I still talk with some of the guys once and then. The group has dissolved now (as it tends to happen with college groups once people start to graduate), but I still haven't played with any of them since then.
Ok i have to ask, what or how are you driving and you spent 20$ on gas in one hour drive?
I would be less mad about it if I hadn't spent 20$ in gas to drive an hour to get there just ton get screwed by a DM who doesn't remember his own rulings.
That's 1 hour to get there, which means 2 hours there and back. An hour drive (assuming highway speeds) is about 45-50 miles (taking into account city driving for part of it). So that's about 90-100 miles round trip.
Gas costs about $4 a gallon. $20 in gas will get you 5 gallons. A car that gets 20 MPG will take all 5 of those gallons on this trip. That's about right for most American sedans (especially those built about 5-10 years ago, if he has a used car).
My daily commute to work is about an hour, so these are the numbers I'm used to. :)
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After dropping off Mr. Bad Guy in the prison, we suddenly get visited in the middle of the town by a solar. A solar specifically asking for my paladin. Now I'm thinking "Gee, we must be going on some crazy quest so this'll be a huge honor!" Nope. Turns out that my paladin was being punished for allow evil to live on and propagate, trusting a (what the angel called) corrupt justice system to mete out justice instead of slaughtering them on the spot. He even said "My mercy will be my undoing" and took me and my compatriots to Heaven, where we spent a whole session in some kangaroo court trying in vain to prove my innocence. I was found guilty of aiding evil and not seeing the "big picture" and my paladin was sent to hell to be tortured for all eternity. The End. Don't Pass Go, Don't Collect $200.
So yeah, I actually got punished for being a good paladin.
Wow.
Seriously, @#$% that guy. Forever.
I remember a similar story about some GM pulling the "ha ha you go to hell" stunt on someone for trying to redeem a cleric of Asmodeus on these forums some time back too. What the s@#$.
After dropping off Mr. Bad Guy in the prison, we suddenly get visited in the middle of the town by a solar. A solar specifically asking for my paladin. Now I'm thinking "Gee, we must be going on some crazy quest so this'll be a huge honor!" Nope. Turns out that my paladin was being punished for allow evil to live on and propagate, trusting a (what the angel called) corrupt justice system to mete out justice instead of slaughtering them on the spot. He even said "My mercy will be my undoing" and took me and my compatriots to Heaven, where we spent a whole session in some kangaroo court trying in vain to prove my innocence. I was found guilty of aiding evil and not seeing the "big picture" and my paladin was sent to hell to be tortured for all eternity. The End. Don't Pass Go, Don't Collect $200.
So yeah, I actually got punished for being a good paladin.
Wow.
Seriously, @#$% that guy. Forever.
I remember a similar story about some GM pulling the "ha ha you go to hell" stunt on someone for trying to redeem a cleric of Asmodeus on these forums some time back too. What the s@#$.
that is indeed nonsense....but it could lead to an interesting sidequest where one rebels against heaven itself.
I do afterlufe epithets for dead characters in my games... but forcing a character to be pulled to Hell? That's...
...diabolical.
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***heavenly (in)justice***that is indeed nonsense....but it could lead to an interesting sidequest where one rebels against heaven itself.
That's main campaign material!
Quit the DM, recuperate his/her plot and the series of events that led to the trial, start a new campaign on the basis that celestials are just as douche-y as fiends, except that they won the war on propaganda...
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***heavenly (in)justice***that is indeed nonsense....but it could lead to an interesting sidequest where one rebels against heaven itself.That's main campaign material!
Quit the DM, recuperate his/her plot and the series of events that led to the trial, start a new campaign on the basis that celestials are just as douche-y as fiends, except that they won the war on propaganda...
Paging the last few seasons of Supernatural....
Paging the last few seasons of Supernatural....
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I think you're making assumptions about the exact manner in which everyone would leave the table. Some have literally said they "quietly packed up and [left]". Yes, flipping a table and storming out is not a cool thing to do. No, that is not what everyone here said they did.There's a difference between tactfully leaving a game like finding an appropriate moment and in an appropriate way. If you have kids you may need to leave.
...but just getting up and walking out in a huff like a little drama queen is ridiculous and poor social skills. I can't believe anyone here would think its acceptable to make such a scene like a little child. It would be one thing if you got heated and stormed out and then realized later that you should have kept your emotions in check and behaved differently. Its another thing to still stick with "ya, that was totally alright to do!" If someone didn't do something out of game like..punching you in the face or something intentionally malicious toward you and everything thinks they're running a good game...don't storm out like you're 6 at a birthday party.
I mean really...do some of you regularly flip the monopoly board when you lose as well?
I personally think walking out of a game like the OP suggested is just silly. I can understand it more if there are personal animosities added to the mix (not that that makes it right, but makes it more understandable) but there are better ways of addressing the issues than stalking off into the night. Sometimes issues cannot be resolved to everyone's satisfaction but people should be able to discuss the issues like adults, and then decide if they wish to stay for subsequent sessions. Walking out mid-game because the DM did something you didn't like is just juvenile. Though the vibe I'm getting is that most of these incidents happened when the players were teenagers or, at least, younger, which sort of makes sense.
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I agree. Many of these are resolvable with a short conversation. Like, "Dice are part of the game. Don't you think we should be able to roll our own? I know it would be more fun for me, as a player. And look, if that NPC meant that much to you, I think we'd all be okay if you retconned his survival somehow. We're all adults here, right? Whatever makes it more fun. Please pass the chips..."
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Agreed with the last two posters, but with the caveat:
Sometimes it isn't the game you're walking away from, but the person.
In keeping with my policy of "never game with people you wouldn't ordinarily spend an evening with", sometimes the game reveals a fundamental truth of character that would cause you — under any other circumstances — to remove yourself.
That's the right thing to do, in that situation.
Here's a story TOZ likes.
Couple of years ago, was running a homebrew campaign and the players were getting ready to deal with the big bad evil guy. One of my players had temper issues. He'd get mad when his dice rolled bad and fling them across the room. He was also getting pretty pissed off at a player's girlfriend for having to do her quest. S@+# was getting nuts and I had tried talking to him before the game to chill out. Well they are fighting the evil ogre mage and the oni kills his character and he loses his temper and literally punches me in the face. So, the game grinds to a halt as a lifted him up and powerbombed him through my table, because you just don't punch somebody for killing your character. Needless to say, he didn't return for subsequent games.
Remind me never to invite you over to play at my house... I like my furniture especially my antique table. Also I would need the local police on speed dial to deal with the violent guy.
I feel you never walk away from the table!
As a DM i have made fights where you could not hit the monster less you find something in the room first so in the middle of the fight you have your party hold him off wile you look for his weakness.
2. I have had a thief git up from the table because we where fighting some undead he couldn't damg I as DM ran his PC and help the other a lot. when he came back at the end of the fight and seen I was running his PC he got mad and tried to storm out again so I walk over and knock him out no joke. He thought he had to yell and be a @#$% not at my table play the day out and then talk to me or just don't come back you will not act that way or dis every one at the table or i will put you out!!
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Indeed. Summary executions are necessary to keep the rabble in line.
I don't even wait to start physically abusing my players anymore, I just boobytrap the seats around the gaming table.
They do think it's weird that I make them all sit down at exactly the same time, though.
Tonight, our old 3.5 DM decided to run a one shot campaign. It's been well over six months since we played these characters. We have had to get everything approved by him. That means nothing is on my character sheet that he didn't approve, this piece of information is important.
Tonight we fought these demon things, they have DR 10/ something and also have what I can only assume is displacement. My paladin has the Complete Champion feat, Awesome Smite, which if you don't know, allows me to as a tactical maneuver, either bypass DR up to twice my CHA, or automatically bypass miss chance (there's also a third maneuver but it doesn't matter here.) And he refused to honor the feat, which he approved.
I was okay with not bypassing the DR, what if it's DR/epic I thought. But when he decided that I can't use the feat at all because he doesn't remember it, I just walked out.
This is the same DM that made us auto fail checks to have our gear stolen and put us in a no win scenario where we either kill the BBEG and our stolen stuff turns to stone, our we don't kill the BBEG and we die....
DM god complex/ entitled player/ this is why I took over as DM/ this is why I switched to Pathfinder/rant/thread
I have never walked out on a game mid session.
If this GM had pulled this on me I would have calmly put that character away and asked him what the character creation rules were for this game. Because it would be illegal to play an unapproved character. Since the current character contains an unapproved feat clearly I need a new character, right? Let him stew when we have to stall the game for a bit so I can make "Miss Expendable the First" although I would have fun with the new character. After all it's a one shot, time to test out something crazy.
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Agreed with the last two posters, but with the caveat:
Sometimes it isn't the game you're walking away from, but the person.
In keeping with my policy of "never game with people you wouldn't ordinarily spend an evening with", sometimes the game reveals a fundamental truth of character that would cause you — under any other circumstances — to remove yourself.
That's the right thing to do, in that situation.
I would argue it is almost, if not always, the person you are walking away from. Gaming is a social activity so the only reason to walk away is if it isn't fun. And even then, without the histrionics.
***heavenly (in)justice***that is indeed nonsense....but it could lead to an interesting sidequest where one rebels against heaven itself.That's main campaign material!
Quit the DM, recuperate his/her plot and the series of events that led to the trial, start a new campaign on the basis that celestials are just as douche-y as fiends, except that they won the war on propaganda...
I say keep the dm. It would be interesting to see how he adapted, if At all.
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Clearly you're ruining the player's fun by not letting him punch you in the face. Maybe you should have found a compromise for him and patted him on the back for a good punch instead?
Wisdom.
Are we Canadian now?
Even better, French Canadian!
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Oddly, this still qualifies as on-topic.