How to enlist players temporarily without offending?


Gamer Life General Discussion


We have a great gaming group. One GM and 4 players. Everyone gets along and we all have about the same sense of humor and playing style. We just really click.

Sadly, two of us are leaving for the summer. Those staying can either drop down to only two players or find a couple of replacement players. Only problem is, there's only so much room at our table. So when fall comes round, how do you thank the new players for a great summer game while also saying, uh see you? In other words, how do you go about finding someone to only temporarily take an empty chair at your gaming table?


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Don't.

Take a break, or modify the campaign to accomodate two players.

This is my advice.


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Or, suspend the ongoing campaign, and start a new, short-term game with the new players for the summer.


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Yeah, you don't just game with someone for a few months and say "Okay bye our REAL friends are back you've been a great help".

Either put the game on hold, make it work for two people...or get a bigger table.

Sovereign Court

I dont think its a good idea, but as long as you are up front with the temp players it could work. I wouldn't do it mind you, but honesty is a good policy here. I suggest the folks staying in town do board games or something until you can resume a full table.

Even better option get your fix at the local PFS. You wont offend anybody that way.


Thank you, everyone. You all confirmed my gut feeling. We'll stick to two players for the summer until our whole party can reconvene in the fall.


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Or, you can continue the campaign over Skype and a Virtual Tabletop (Roll20 is my recommendation) until you can get around the table in person in the fall.


I'd design some adventures for two similar characters, e.g. rogues, and run them as a short series in order to let the two who remain develop a new character but also try a different challenge.

Also do any of you know someone mature enough to be able to play for a short while? Gamers usually know other gamers outside their group. Again a one-off short series of adventures would be do-able.

I don't think there is a problem with the short-term if you are up front about it personally. Look to the positives.


Expanding on the temp player option:

Ty Ferfel of KotDT started the Gamer Temp Corps for these situations. But, if I remember correctly, the Corps in general, and Ty specifically, followed a clearly defined and high-caliber gamer ethical code that prohibits the temp gamer from attempting to derail the campaign or, if assuming control of an absent player's character to follow any and all guidelines as set by the absent player.

And that's the core of the issue. As long as you're open and honest about the position at your table being a temporary situation, and they accept that, then all that you need to worry about is how ethical the temp will be. There's the risk that they may see a temp game as something to derail, ruin, or just take less seriously than you would prefer.

Additionally, feelings change. In the beginning the temp may be happy just to get the chance to play, but they then, over the course of the campaign, may come to feel a sense community, friendship, camaraderie, etc. all of which can be very hard to severe with even among the most mature of human beings. So finding temp gamers that have an external reason to leave at the end of the time span (such as they are moving out of the area at a set date) is a good idea as both sides will have a reason to stop playing together.

Otherwise, for temp players, a couple of animate dead spells could do the trick but the authorities tend to look down on that (as do neighbors, co-workers, etc.).


Bill them as guest star positions. A lot of older gamers with kids use those to scratch an itch every season or two. Frequently the guest stars are controlling major NPCs or BBEG major minions.

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