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09:16, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Are you suffering from GM Abandonment Syndrome?

Posted by MacWolf
MacWolf
member, 14 posts
Fri 24 Jun 2016
at 12:17
  • msg #1

Are you suffering from GM Abandonment Syndrome?

So what is it.  From my experience, I would say between 60-70% of games here on Rpol are abandoned by there GM.  Most with the GM just quit posting.  No explanation or excuse.  Leaving the Players languishing, hanging on for some gleamer of hope for weeks and even months.  That any day now the GM will log in with a logical explanation of where s/he has been all this time.  Unable to take even a few moments before now to drop the players a line, saying where they were at.  An want to take up the game again from where they left off.  Sure, like that's going to happen.

So what do you think?  Is this a big problem in your experience, on Rpol.  I want to get your $.02 worth on this subject
This message was last edited by the user at 12:39, Fri 24 June 2016.
RosstoFalstaff
member, 36 posts
Fri 24 Jun 2016
at 12:33
  • msg #2

Are you suffering from GM Abandonment Syndrome?

In reply to MacWolf (msg # 1):

Yes is it a big problem on the site, very much so.

I've been the abandoning GM, I've been a player who was abandoned. Part of the issue is that ultimately we do not LIVE on rpol. It's a place that we have to log into.

Sometimes life gets in the way, jobs, family or just plain health stop regular posting for a couple days.

Depression or other emotional and mental situations might make posting meaningfully a chore.

You might just not be inspired. There might be a player who is making the game not fun for you.

And once you get in the habit of not posting, or fall out of the habit of posting, you can extend that past the reasonable level.

But, ultimately, it has no effect on anything actually life-shattering. World still spins and the sun comes up.
bigbadron
moderator, 15115 posts
He's big, he's bad,
but mostly he's Ron.
Fri 24 Jun 2016
at 12:52

Are you suffering from GM Abandonment Syndrome?

In reply to MacWolf (msg # 1):

Yes, it's a problem.  But it's no bigger here, IMO, than on most similar sites.  It's not even a bigger problem than VPS (Vanishing Player Syndrome).

The issue is, as RosstoFalstaff said, that nobody is actually paid to come here and GM or play - it's a hobby, an amusing diversion, not a job - so RL will always take priority.  And nobody is forced to come here and explain why they can't come here any more.
swordchucks
member, 1222 posts
Fri 24 Jun 2016
at 13:11
  • msg #4

Re: Are you suffering from GM Abandonment Syndrome?

RosstoFalstaff:
Part of the issue is that ultimately we do not LIVE on rpol. It's a place that we have to log into.

I think you can go a step beyond that and say that RPOL, by its very nature, attracts people that are otherwise fairly busy or reclusive.  The long-term format of games is also a major weakness for games dying, by its very nature.

I, too, have been dropped and been the dropper.  I've tried to dramatically improve my communication about such things as I've gotten older, but that doesn't actually seem to affect the rate at which I have to drop games.  It just makes it a bit cleaner when I do.
Mrrshann618
member, 98 posts
Fri 24 Jun 2016
at 14:10
  • msg #5

Re: Are you suffering from GM Abandonment Syndrome?

swordchucks:
I think you can go a step beyond that and say that RPOL, by its very nature, attracts people that are otherwise fairly busy or reclusive.  The long-term format of games is also a major weakness for games dying, by its very nature.



Sadly this is the very reason why I joined RPOL
I attempted to get a "Standard" PnP game running but never had time to do more than a session every 40 or so days, Not conductive to actually running a long term game. One of the players accepted a job that would take him out of the country for an extended period of time. That person happened to be part of RPOL and told me about it. I moved the game online and was able to at least get more than a few sessions in before RL took over and the game folded anyway.


Now my second attempt however is going strong as I learned from my mistakes. I'm currently working on a third, however since the concept is from scratch and not one I've been working on for years i'm not comfortable getting it off the ground yet.
GreenTongue
member, 760 posts
Game Archaeologist
Fri 24 Jun 2016
at 20:50
  • msg #6

Re: Are you suffering from GM Abandonment Syndrome?

I suppose saying nothing is less DRAMA then trying to explain?

While I have yet to stop GMing a game that is moving, I have had times when it felt more like work than fun.
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