GMing Question

adamlumina93 · Lieutenant Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 87

Had a situation occur the other night where one of our normal players was absent for the evening. The GM allowed another player at the table to play this character. A combat broke out and the missing players character charged into battle and got killed. I am curious what are some other GMs take on this. Is that in bad form or an acceptable practice?
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CRMcNeill · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: GMing Question

jmanski · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 1:31 pm Post subject:

And the new player should play his own character, either make one or hijack an NPC.
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Esoomian · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 2:05 pm Post subject: Re: GMing Question

CRMcNeill · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 2:05 pm Post subject:

jmanski · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 2:30 pm Post subject:

Indeed!
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ZzaphodD · Rear Admiral Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 2426

We frequently play games where all players are not present, its the only way to get sessions at all.

The general way of doing this is to assume that the character not being played takes a back seat. It can still work as support (Medic, Techie) if in a non hostile situation. Otherwise he will 'sit back' and play it safe.

I once had a character getting killed while going for pizzas, which sucked. It was one of my favourite characters ever (Ramires da Vincenza, a Tilean Highwayman in WFRP). So now I never put my player in the same situation.
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garhkal · Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 10:46 pm Post subject:

What to do with a missing players character has bugged gms since gaming came to be. BUT at least for some other systems (such as adnd) it is a little easier, as you could have a magic item to take the character away.

For me when i gm, i as the player which they would rather.
Someone else taking over their character
me taking over it, or
no one taking over it, and the character going off on their own..Which does have its own sets of troubles. as not every time you have a player missing can they even do that.

IF they opt for someone else taking it, they still get full cp, but stand a chance of dying just as anyone else does.
If i take it over, they are ran as an observer using only protective/defensive/helping skills, earn only 1/2 cp, and only suffer death if that is what the situation calls.. eg someone shoots and wounds someone else, character goes over to medic them and gets shot, or if a TPK happens..
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adamlumina93 · Lieutenant Joined: 07 Nov 2005 Posts: 87

I am glad to see that a lot of other people feel the same way I do. A player character that is not present in my games always does background work and would only be put into harms way if it was a very dire situation. The player in question has refused to return to this game, doesn't feel like starting over, which I can't blame one bit.
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Urban Spaceman · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 5:40 am Post subject:

Definately bad form, and can totally sour the game for the player in question.

What did the other pl ayers make of it ?

Is there any chance the GM can have it so the character was mortally wounded, but saved by some NPC's? Either returning to the characters, or in need of rescue?
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Grimace · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:54 pm Post subject:

Yeah, bad, bad idea for the GM do allow something like that. When I have players absent, the character melts into the background, providing real basic support when abosolutely necessary. Doubtful the character would ever get involved in combat and definitely never stick their neck out. Additionally, *I* always run the character when the player isn't there, that way if something goes wrong the player can only blame me and not the GM AND another player.

I can't blame the player one bit for not wanting to show back up after a stunt like that.

Also, be careful. If the GM does that for one person, they can do that for anyone else in the game as well, including you. So either talk this whole situation over with your GM so it doesn't happen again or find a new GM before it happens to you.

garhkal · Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 11:57 pm Post subject:

So they are still there, participating, but have script immunity basically... Thats what you are all saying?
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Rerun941 · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 10:17 am Post subject:

Grimace · Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 10:29 am Post subject:

And yes, we know you kill PCs right and left, garhkal. You don't need to remind us, defend it or act like we're all doing it wrong. Rolling Eyes

As Rerun said, as the group goes, so goes the PC who's player wasn't present. I just don't let another player play the PC and have them charge said PC into battle and let it die when, amazingly enough, the rest of the group chooses the wiser action and avoids death. The difference is giving a player a chance to play their character without having someone else kill it off vs. being a bad GM. That's what it is...bad GMing.

ZzaphodD · Rear Admiral Joined: 28 Nov 2009 Posts: 2426

If you are not present at the gaming session, that doesnt mean that your character is safe per se. However, he/she will take a back seat taking on a supportive role. This will drastically lower the kill ratio of said character, but you never know what will happen..
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