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Etiquette in bumping up a game you're in to your GM?

Posted by Telsij
Telsij
member, 2 posts
Wed 17 May 2017
at 21:47
  • msg #1

Etiquette in bumping up a game you're in to your GM?

Ahoy, all! First time PbP player. Very much enjoying RPOL. Super into it so far, as well as into my character.

As it usually does, Real Life (tm) time commitments have slowed the game down,
and unfortunately, our awesome GM does not have as much time on his hands.

In what was probably jumping the gun, I rMailed him after about a week, with a
sincerely apologetic but very interested bump up of the game. Obv Real Life comes first,
as it should. Am just super into the game, and we didn't really have a stated post-rate.

Was this a faux pas?
This message was last edited by the user at 21:48, Wed 17 May 2017.
NowhereMan
member, 132 posts
Wed 17 May 2017
at 22:19
  • msg #2

Etiquette in bumping up a game you're in to your GM?

It really depends on the individual GM and how sensitive they are about being poked. If the game has a relatively high post rate that's getting slowed down by GM absence, you're absolutely in the right to send them a message. In fact, I encourage my players to do so.
Telsij
member, 3 posts
Thu 18 May 2017
at 00:00
  • msg #3

Etiquette in bumping up a game you're in to your GM?

In reply to NowhereMan (msg # 2):

I wound up sending a follow-up "Sorry" rMail, as last week he did post in the OOC thread that he had less time on his hands, and while there appeared to have been a daily post pace in practice, the pace wasn't stated outright.

Thank you for the insight, NowhereMan -- good to know that it wasn't a serious misstep!
This message was last edited by the user at 12:47, Thu 18 May 2017.
Grimmond
member, 456 posts
Antler-care by LIV THATCH
"RALPH" The Wonder Llama
Fri 19 May 2017
at 08:25
  • msg #4

Etiquette in bumping up a game you're in to your GM?

Definitely. If there was no post rate set, a little poke can get a GM back on track ... or at least you can find out what is happening and if some new post rate can be looked for.
Telsij
member, 4 posts
Mon 22 May 2017
at 14:16
  • msg #5

Etiquette in bumping up a game you're in to your GM?

In reply to Grimmond (msg # 4):

Alas, the Narrator's last post was May 9th and login 11th. The story was shaping up so well too. I mentioned missing the game to a GM of another game and that GM expressed some interest
in potentially picking up some loose threads, if our current GM really is gone for good -- at least as far as our crew of PCs goes. Is that an offense as well? Not sure how long to wait?
Gaffer
member, 1470 posts
Ocoee FL
40 yrs of RPGs
Mon 22 May 2017
at 14:21
  • msg #6

Etiquette in bumping up a game you're in to your GM?

In reply to Telsij (msg # 5):

I generally consider 14 days with no log in to be a bad sign for GMs or players. I have had GMs go silent for longer and still come back, but most players have generally left by then.
Grimmond
member, 457 posts
Antler-care by LIV THATCH
"RALPH" The Wonder Llama
Mon 22 May 2017
at 14:25
  • msg #7

Etiquette in bumping up a game you're in to your GM?

I my games I note that if I don't hear from them for a week (required posting three to four times a week) ... I will assume that they (the player) are dead and thus replaceable.
Gaffer
member, 1472 posts
Ocoee FL
40 yrs of RPGs
Mon 22 May 2017
at 14:38
  • msg #8

Etiquette in bumping up a game you're in to your GM?

In reply to Grimmond (msg # 7):

That is strict.
StarMaster
member, 268 posts
Mon 22 May 2017
at 16:31
  • msg #9

Etiquette in bumping up a game you're in to your GM?

Unfortunately, there are far too many reasons that can draw a GM away from his games. In my case, I had gallbladder surgery 3 months ago that completely shot my metabolism to hell. Not sure I'll ever get it straightened out, but I get too tired to post on a lot of days.

From what I've experienced on various PbP sites, the generally accepted posting rate is every other day. While not every player can post that often, GMs are usually flexible on the matter. And, of course, some players can post every day (or 2-3 times a day). The problem with that is when something keeps a player from meeting that rate, it can disrupt the game more than it should.

The unofficial '2-day rule' means that if you are waiting on a player to post for his character because the scene requires a response or action, it's usually considered reasonable to move the scene on. It's often okay to assume an action or agreement from the other character, but do it by inference as much as possible--don't post actual actions or especially put words in his mouth.

In the case of the GM's lack of posting, this still holds true, but it's a finer line to toe. The best way around that is post another action for your character... flashbacks work well, as do speculations on the scene, the enemy, fellow adventurers, etc. Or have a dialog with another PC. The point, if you don't want the game to die, is to just keep posting. Don't just let it sit there. Not only do the other players slip away then, but the GM may think there's no more interest in his game.

Even with all that, there are some things you can't get around. I know there was one Star Trek game where the GM vanished. Found out through another player in another game that knew the GM personally that the GM had died (he'd been in poor health for awhile). THAT is Real Life. Nothing you can do about it. However, if you've got enough good players and an entertaining game, you might want to encourage the GM to get a co-GM... for those times when something bad happens.

At the very least, he can change the proprietary nature of the game to not be Sole Ownership. That way, if he has to bow out, someone else could still take over as GM.

Remember: keep posting! Don't let it die if you don't want.
bigbadron
moderator, 15361 posts
He's big, he's bad,
but mostly he's Ron.
Mon 22 May 2017
at 16:37

Etiquette in bumping up a game you're in to your GM?

StarMaster:
At the very least, he can change the proprietary nature of the game to not be Sole Ownership. That way, if he has to bow out, someone else could still take over as GM.

Only if they are already a GM.  Moderators will not give GM status to a player.  The only thing we could do as a result of a primary GM vanishing is to make another existing GM the game owner.
Gaffer
member, 1473 posts
Ocoee FL
40 yrs of RPGs
Tue 23 May 2017
at 14:14
  • msg #11

Etiquette in bumping up a game you're in to your GM?

Starmaster's "Keep posting" is great advice for players.

For GMs I advocate having an Absence thread where we can all post when we anticipate being away for more than a day or two.  It doesn't get lost in the OoC weeds that way and it's easy for people to check back if they can't remember when the absence might occur.

I generally try to get my players to try to check in every day and post at least every other day. They know I will NPC them to keep things going, if necessary, especially when they haven't given notice of an absence.

An unplanned absence of more than two weeks (no game log-in) and I start treating the character like an NPC. I generally rmail at that point. If they don't respond by one month from last log-in, I rmail that they are removed from the game and convert the character to an NPC. Sometimes I recruit for a replacement, but usually just run the NPC until they can smoothly exit. Usually, in a pine box.

Now, if I know the player from previous games and like them, those times may stretch.

With absent GMs, I usually try to keep posting and keep involved for a month or so. After two months I remove the game from my sticky list. Again, if I know them, I'll give more time.
Telsij
member, 5 posts
Wed 24 May 2017
at 00:44
  • msg #12

Etiquette in bumping up a game you're in to your GM?

Thank you for all of the feedback and info on the written/unwritten rules!

We kept the game going for several days after the GM's last login, and I will admit to indulging a bit, but because 2 members of the party were separated with NPCs, we finally got kind of stuck after reaching a story appropriate time for a "scene change," you know?

Thankfully, no one died in RL -- Yikes, that I know of. The GM just said he didn't have as much time on his hands due to getting back to work, but last said that he would be posting by the following morning/evening... but that was the last we heard. Unfortunately, I think he's down for the count, and the other folks began taking off, having been burned before. I will try to bring my beloved first PbP PC with me elsewhere.

Glad to know there is a procedure in place for potential GM transfer however! Good also to know about some of the typical timeframes people expect or put into practice for pokes and for character conversion/replacement/exit, etc! All of the players in this game were pretty dedicated and posted about absences of more than a couple of days in the OOC thread... only to return to see that there had still been no login from the GM. Alas!
This message was last edited by the user at 00:49, Wed 24 May 2017.
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