A player dropping out of a PBP Module before Initiative is rolled, but right after the initial briefing...

[Hmm]

Can I treat the player as if he has not played the module, or must I ding him with the chronicle sheet and reduced rewards?

Hmm

[Drahliana Moonrunner]

With the player removed, how many players are still at the table? If it's still legal, I'd simply remove him from the reporting.

[Hmm]

It's five players. We're still legal...

[Hmm]

In absence of other rulings to the contrary, I'm going to just tell him he can drop. This is so early, and the module is so long. In a F2F game, if someone had a family emergency and we had a full table, we would have done the same.

Hmm

[Duncan7291]

Im not sure of the official rule as Ive not had it happen to me personally. But if you haven't gotten past encounter 1, I would just drop him. No harm no foul.

[Upaynao]

From a spoiler standpoint, the player hasn't really gone through much at all. I'll add my voice to the others and say that you can probably drop him without having to report him or her.

[Silbeg]

Depending how far you are, you could also recruit a new player. Which module is it?

[Hmm]

No sooner did I post in here and I got pms from people asking if they could join.

That replacement player came without me having to advertise at all.

Hmm

[Silbeg]

Oh, so I guess I don't get a chance ;)

[Hmm]

Jack, do you want me to let you know the next time I have an opening in a PbP module? Or when I plan to GM a new one? You're so gifted it would be fun to see what you're like on the other side of the GM screen. You're on the PFS Session tracker as Silbeg, right? I can check and see what you've played already.

Also... Keith has requested that we run modules F2F at Dreamers. We're considering Dragon's Demand. I haven't checked yet to see if you've done that one, but you're more than welcome to join us if you can ever make the trip.

Or if you have a special request module, let me know and I'll consider running it at Dreamers. Keith has never played most of the modules, so we'd have bunch of choices. The only thing I don't want to do is run two PbPs at the same time. I made that mistake during the last PbP day. I don't have the bandwidth to do two at the same time and give them the time and energy they deserve.

Hmm

[Silbeg]

Yes, I would love it if you would let me know, and I am Silbeg on the PFS Session Tracker. As for Dreamers, I can't do that until at least after bowling season is over (I bowl on Wednesday nights), but I haven't been there, yet, so should make it.

Understood about not wanting more than one PbP going at once as a GM. I am doing it (plus playing two), and it can be a challenge at times.

[Hmm]

It's a deal!

Hmm

[Chris Mortika]

It depends on the adventure, and I'd take the public blurb to be the guideline.

I can think of a handful where the adventure takes place during / before the mission briefing, and a dozen or so where the briefing involves spoilers that would make a difference in, say, which character to bring on the mission, what sort of gear to buy -- once the briefing is over, it can be too late to stock up on some supplies -- the sorts of details that aren't revealed in the blurb.

[IronHelixx]

Walking away from an online table should be avoided whenever at all possible as it puts the table in an awkward position, but sometimes things happen and there is just no way of avoiding it.

Our answer in the past has been that if a player drops after/during the orientation and before the first encounter, in an online game [PbP/VTT], they can just walk away from it with no credit/sheet/reporting.

- Jesse

Jesse R. Davis [IronHelixx]
PFS Venture-Captain, Online Play
[e-mail]
http://PathfinderSocietyOnline.com

Our Mission: To Champion, Serve, Support, and Build the PFS Online Community.

[Hmm]

Excellent. Thank you, Jesse!

Hmm

[GM V]

On a related questions I have a player who hasn't posted or replied to PM's in 2 weeks. We are past halfway through the scenario. Do I make him a chronicle with an xp and a pp and half the gold or something else?

[Silbeg]

GM V, I would wait to issue the chronicle until you are done, but, you would need to figure out how much he completed, and then issue it based on that.

Unfortunately this happens all to often.