My group started out well with Rise of the Runelords, but as time has gone on things have just become less interesting. There have been player conflicts, one guy who's ego has become overwhelmingly stiffling, etc, etc and now running this AP just seems more like work than fun. We just finished Fortress of the Giants.
Anyone else had this experience?
I kind of just want to drop it, but most of my players are still enjoying it, so I feel like I'd be acting like a jerk to just up and say "Sorry, we're not playing anymore."
I dropped the play-by-email Shackled City game I was running; I was trying to run it straight, but it was too clunky (dungeon-crawling in a play-by-email game is tediously slow, IMO).
I'm retooling the campaign and running it as a play-by-post now (I'm going to use way fewer dungeon crawls, and way fewer groups of "mooks").
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The big encounters at the beginning of Sins of the Saviors are a blast, even for the DM. I liked Fortress for the old school feel, and Sins is definitely a good challenge for a DM. Keep going! My group finally got to Spires and I'm excited to see them begin it. They may not be so excited about being stomped. :)
Sounds more like a problem for your gaming group (obnoxious player etc) than a problem with the AP.
Maybe you just need a break or maybe you need different players if the current batch aren't doing it for you. It sounds like the reason you don't want to finish is because you're not having fun... the trick will be finding out why, which no one on these boards can tell you but yourself.
Good luck.
Sounds more like a problem for your gaming group (obnoxious player etc) than a problem with the AP.
Maybe you just need a break or maybe you need different players if the current batch aren't doing it for you. It sounds like the reason you don't want to finish is because you're not having fun... the trick will be finding out why, which no one on these boards can tell you but yourself.
Good luck.
Well, given that the one obnoxious player has been the center of the few conflicts with other players that have happened, yeah, I'd say that's a big part of what's draining the fun factor. He also, just by being there, sucks the life out of the room to maintain his massive ego. He's an energy vampire. There have been some issues with other players, but I've recently discovered that they don't seem to be such a problem when this one guy isn't around.
Unfortunately, I kick him out and it may spell the end of the game. If I don't, it still might because I'm not really sure I want to do it anymore.
wsp,
I would suggest taking a break from DMing. Either have someone else in the group DM, or just take a break altogether. This will give you some time to gain perspective.
You may consider talking to said player.
Good luck
You may consider talking to said player.Good luck
Oh, I've talked to him. Repeatedly. It's a pointless endeavor at this point. He has a remarkable lack of ability for empathy, and as a result, can't see anything at all from another person's perspective. So, he can't understand what the problem is.
It's been really quite frustrating.
You may consider talking to said player.Good luck
Oh, I've talked to him. Repeatedly. It's a pointless endeavor at this point. He has a remarkable lack of ability for empathy, and as a result, can't see anything at all from another person's perspective. So, he can't understand what the problem is.
It's been really quite frustrating.
In that case it sounds like you need to end your gaming relationship with the individual, if you wish to have a satisfying game time, at least with this group. If that ends the group, then so be it. There are other groups both in-person and online (VTT).
Best.
You have get rid of those bad vibes- no adventure can survivi that kind of %&#€.
It sounds like that player is not really into the group experience, so I'd stop gaming with him (and explain my reasons).
As a DM I lost interest in my Faerun campaign (Cormyr - The Tearing of the Weave). The Players had come up with great characters, but had no real interest in the world itself, and that sort of killed it for me.
our solution was that one of the players started to run a Sci-Fi campaign (d20 "Modern" and "Future") and we're having a blast. I'm rewritng the Cormyr thing, so that the plot finds its solution in Golarion. They won't have to pretend to know the world (as their characters really don't) and I think this should be okay for all of us.
I hope things turn out okay for you guys-
GRU
Why would the entire gaming group fall apart if you kicked out one player? He's not even the DM.
Why would the entire gaming group fall apart if you kicked out one player? He's not even the DM.
Because sometimes "out of game" relationships trump in game relationships.
For example: if he/she were married, their spouse would also likely drop out. Likewise, this would also if players were family members (brothers, parents, etc.).
And, if the player group is smallish, that would be enough to end the group.
Why would the entire gaming group fall apart if you kicked out one player? He's not even the DM.Because sometimes "out of game" relationships trump in game relationships.
For example: if he/she were married, their spouse would also likely drop out. Likewise, this would also if players were family members (brothers, parents, etc.).
And, if the player group is smallish, that would be enough to end the group.
Bingo.
Bingo.Why would the entire gaming group fall apart if you kicked out one player? He's not even the DM.Because sometimes "out of game" relationships trump in game relationships.
For example: if he/she were married, their spouse would also likely drop out. Likewise, this would also if players were family members (brothers, parents, etc.).
And, if the player group is smallish, that would be enough to end the group.
... but, I thought you were playing Pathfinder, not Bingo?
Bingo.... but, I thought you were playing Pathfinder, not Bingo?
lol @ Bingo!
We had a similar situation, however it was the "energetic" child of a couple(both playing) that caused our issue. Fortunately it was a large group and it did not end. However I was trapped between friends for a while, as I had introduced them to the D&D group. The newly introduced friends(to the group) ended up parting ways "amicably", but on non-communicative terms. It was unhappy for a while, but as with most things, life goes on.
I am still friends with all that were involved in "That which we do not speak".
To give an example of how kicking someone out of a game can negatively impact things, I recently kicked a guy out of another game. He basically talked us into scheduling a special game session just for him, since he was away on business during the regular time. The game time rolls around and he isn't there, so I call him and get his voicemail. A few minutes later, he texts another player to tell me that he wouldn't be there because he'd forgotten about it (despite being e-mailed a reminder two days before) and was at a wedding reception. So I read him the riot act for wasting the group's time and showing disrespect to all of us (it wouldn't have been nearly as bad if he'd called me directly to talk about it), he got mad back and went on at length about how it was just a game and not all that important and that he'd also forgotten about the wedding (who does that? I never have.) He didn't get it that I wasn't mad about him missing the game, but rather that he'd wasted our time and, in my mind, shown all of us a great deal of disrespect in not contacting me (the DM) directly but rather resorted to texting someone else to do his dirty work for him. So I kicked him out.
However, now the guy who had been texted is acting funny. He hasn't quit, at least not yet, but his attitude is different. He is giving off a wierd vibe, and I believe it's because he now feels caught between two sides of a conflict, a conflict that as far as I'm concerned is done. He's been friends with the guy I kicked out for a lot longer than me. So, even if it doesn't involve a person, kicking someone out of a game can cause problems.
Why would the entire gaming group fall apart if you kicked out one player? He's not even the DM.Because sometimes "out of game" relationships trump in game relationships.
For example: if he/she were married, their spouse would also likely drop out. Likewise, this would also if players were family members (brothers, parents, etc.).
And, if the player group is smallish, that would be enough to end the group.
Well, yes. But I'm curious if that's the case with the OP. Sometimes, statements like the group will fall apart are about the poster's conflict avoidance or negative thinking, rather than an accurate description of the social dynamics.
Lord Fyre basically described the situation. In fact, he even got the married part right. This is a small group, and people you'd actually want in your game are at a bit of a premium in this area for some reason.
I would remove that player. Your fear is that the gaming group might dissolve? Let's look at what you're risking: no longer playing a game that you don't find fun.
Are these people friends in real life, or just "gamer" friends?
How many people would be left if your worst case scenario occurred?
Id say get rid of him as well. Its never good for a problem player to have power over a gaming group and hold them hostage so to speak. Id rather dissolve the game myself if that happened.
Same thing used to happen alot in WoW, usually a Healer (because there always seems to be healer shortages) thinks the guild cant progress without him. I boot them at this point and recruit a new healer as needed.
Cant stand Primadonna players personally. :)
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WS - to quote Bill Clinton: "I feel your pain." I went though this same situation a few years ago. After repeated discussions with the difficult player, and attempts to alter the game to suit his "play style", and "breaks" where other DM's ran games (and felt the pain as well), I realized the game was no fun for me whatsoever.
If you are at that point - you need to seriously consider ending the game. This WILL be difficult, and possibly painful. You may lose players other than the problem player, just as I did. You may lose a friend or two - just as I did. You may have to step away from gaming for awhile - just as I did.
But in the end, you will hopefully be much happier, and can eventually find another group to run for or play in. You may even eventually get a player or two back. You may find some new people to interest in the game. You might be much happier, and have gaming sessions that are just as much an excuse to get together with friends and have fun as to game. Just as I did.
Best of luck to you, and I hope everything works out for the best.