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07:58, 28th March 2024 (GMT+0)

Vents with allowed responses - 3.

Posted by GamerHandle
aguy777
member, 238 posts
Join Date:
Fri, 29 Nov, 2013
Fri 8 Dec 2017
at 14:39
  • msg #1062

That Feeling

I always feel absolutely horrible every time I close one of my games, even if I had perfectly valid reasons (or what I think is valid reasons) to do so. Just makes me feel like I'm letting the players down.
ShadoPrism
member, 1156 posts
OCGD-Obsessive-Compulsive
Gamer-Disorder
Sat 9 Dec 2017
at 22:25
  • msg #1063

That Feeling

In reply to aguy777 (msg # 1062):

Me to.
V_V
member, 649 posts
You can call me V, just V
Life; a journey made once
Tue 12 Dec 2017
at 01:58
  • msg #1064

That Feeling

In reply to aguy777 (msg # 1062):

I'm in the same boat. Even more so, because I feel I'm letting myself down too. I'm really lucky to have quite a bit of time (not having a full-time job) but even I only spent a few hours on RPoL at a time. I wish I could explore all the stories and levels of play. I want to! I just lose focus if I try. I'm a slow GM on RPoL taking over and hour to just post a reply to a combat action.

I'm am mostly guilty for letting the players down. I'm fortunate to have engaged players that post almost every time I do. I wish I didn't let them down.

It is important, more important, to set a limit, for RL purposed if nothing else. IT happens on RPoL. most of the time for the system I GM, actually. So I try to keep that in mind. GMing D&D is very miss and hit.
ShadoPrism
member, 1157 posts
OCGD-Obsessive-Compulsive
Gamer-Disorder
Tue 12 Dec 2017
at 17:22
  • msg #1065

That Feeling

I started a new game - Finally got everyone to do their opening post and I find myself blanking on what I need to post to get the game actually going.

I am hoping once the new year madness is past I will be able to focus enough to actually start playing. (It's a 1st level game of people who are the children of adventurers starting out on their own adventures. Gave them 1 advantage in that each got 1 magic item of minor to middling power, like a +1 sword, a bag of holding etc. Depending on character class (the thief got a modified Handy Haversack I call the Merchants Bag, bigger pouches basically but not overly powerful in and of itself) for example.
icosahedron152
member, 822 posts
Tue 12 Dec 2017
at 17:35
  • msg #1066

That Feeling

Unfortunately, ShadoPrism, if you haven't got your game rolling way before Christmas, let alone New Year, you may find your players are no longer around.

Patience may be a virtue, but it is one that is in short supply, I find, and it sounds like you've had problems motivating them already, without a 3-4 week hiatus to disenchant them.

Pull out all the stops, get the game rolling, and hit them with something that has them itching to return after the break.

Or start a new game in the New Year. I doubt if a third option really exists.
V_V
member, 650 posts
You can call me V, just V
Life; a journey made once
Wed 13 Dec 2017
at 06:01
  • msg #1067

Re: That Feeling

ShadoPrism:
I started a new game - Finally got everyone to do their opening post and I find myself blanking on what I need to post to get the game actually going.


If they've slowed their posting, give them one or two imperative actions; like "kill", "save" or "destroy". I recommend not stringing it out. The more immediate the better. Whatever the plot is, don't warm up to it, get to the fun part, save the exposition for if they ask questions. If you need to slow down for the players, you'll know.

My (one) game would start before Christmas, but we're still in char gen, and I have to help my roommate with her finals. Even then, when the group is ready, I'll start the meet and greet, and have some immediate action (a cake walk for them) to keep them engaged. My aim is to let the players, even at 1st level, feel important. I have an annoying NPC that will be begging to get his butt kicked, and have some range to give him time to talk, before getting shot and run down.


Spoiler for my 2 cents: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Let the players be in control, and don't give them pre-failed actions (like the peasant already dies) but put NPCs in danger, and have the baddies (goblins, orcs, bandits) engaged verbally  to rile up the PCs. Then let the PCs kick butt, give them some damage, but stack the favor for the PCs.

Or, alternatively, have a social scene is the players' seem, more that style. Maybe an NPC really needs to get something off their chest, and asks for consolation. Maybe a mapmaker was going to buy some exotic ink, but it was bought/stolen by someone else.So the PCs track down the merchant/thief and get the mapmaker the ink.



But yeah, I would definitely get the ball rolling, for whatever you have planned and KISS. At least for the first outing. :)
ShadoPrism
member, 1158 posts
OCGD-Obsessive-Compulsive
Gamer-Disorder
Wed 13 Dec 2017
at 18:14
  • msg #1068

Re: That Feeling

Had this same group for almost 3 years. This is not the longest pause we have had in that time.
V_V
member, 652 posts
Fri 15 Dec 2017
at 09:58
  • [deleted]
  • msg #1069

Re: That Feeling

This message was deleted by the user at 10:05, Fri 15 Dec 2017.
ShadoPrism
member, 1159 posts
OCGD-Obsessive-Compulsive
Gamer-Disorder
Sat 23 Dec 2017
at 19:20
  • msg #1070

Re: That Feeling

Grand Theft Auto online - this game is designed to make you spend money on it. The only way to really Get anywhere is to buy their cash cards as they drain your money Faster than you can make it.
Add to it all the hackers and it's a real waste of money. To bad it took me spending $200 on it before I figure the scam of it out.
They have made it impossible to share money to. Stating this is due to the Hackers, but I figured them out. They just want people to buy Only their money so they can rip us off all the faster.

Mind you, I have bought stuff in games before, but no game has so blantantly done what Rockstar games is doing. I recommend by passing this game unless you got a lot of cash just laying around. I have just now uninstalled it and don't plan on playing it ever again.
Cygnia
member, 281 posts
Amoral Paladin
Sat 23 Dec 2017
at 19:21
  • msg #1071

Re: That Feeling

Finding out that a friend of a friend that I thought was a really cool person does in fact support racist beliefs. :(
V_V
member, 658 posts
You can call me V, just V
Life; a journey made once
Sat 23 Dec 2017
at 19:39
  • msg #1072

Re: That Feeling

In reply to Cygnia (msg # 1071):

I had that happen about a month ago, and even more sadly, MY friend, the friend of this other person, is apparently ambivalent to racism. Citing it was just "I don't really care, as long as he doesn't talk about me like that" and proceeding to insert his own commentary of excuse.

It made me sad. We had falling out two years prior, from my mental disorder, and I tried to make mends, even all I was doing was crying for help. The above was just justification it just wasn't worth my time. He was fun to play cards with. :( He wasn't the friend I thought he was.
CrazyIvan777
member, 221 posts
Sun 24 Dec 2017
at 16:46
  • msg #1073

Re: That Feeling

In the words of Maurice Minnifield:

"You know that's the nature of a family holiday, to make a single man feel disenfranchised. You're made to feel like a hungry vagrant with your nose pressed up against a window staring at somebody else's dinner."

Every. Damn. Year.

(And yes, I've attempted to make friends, and to make plans. Successful on the first front, but family and traditions always take priority at this time of year, so the second part is me being alone for 48 hours when everyone else posts and talks about how wonderful a time they're having.)
V_V
member, 659 posts
You can call me V, just V
Life; a journey made once
Sun 24 Dec 2017
at 17:43
  • msg #1074

Re: That Feeling

In reply to CrazyIvan777 (msg # 1073):

This is my first CrazyIvan7's. I'm not exactly there, but yeah, I don't have the friends currently, but I'm also not feeling quite like I'm desperate to belong. I'm just bored, and slightly just lonely.

If you and I shared game interests I'd run a quick an dirty game for you. Like a one scene game, where you have an encounter, tailored to your character, and just pretend we're them, and not us. I could use a friend. I'm nowhere near too many. ;)

I play heavily crunch systems. That take at least an hour to make the sheet for, bare minimum. Except for dX, but if you don't know the system, it'll take much longer. Exalted and D&D 3 to 5e take me longer than an hour, except at first level. Those are, sadly, the only systems my F2F group plays (except for 1) and so I just don't know other systems (Yet).

I'm here though. Even if just to provide another warm body to occasionally nod off into the rare post, and then rouse to chat. *shrug and smirk*
This message was last edited by the user at 17:43, Sun 24 Dec 2017.
ShadoPrism
member, 1160 posts
OCGD-Obsessive-Compulsive
Gamer-Disorder
Mon 25 Dec 2017
at 00:59
  • msg #1075

Re: That Feeling

In reply to V_V (msg # 1074):

This year, for the first time in a long time, I got friends who are in the same boat as you and CrazyIvan, so we are getting together tomarrow night. I made up some baked chicken and the rest is store bought sides and we are going to have dinner together. Nothing fancy.
The game though, that's a good idea. Even if it's just everyone online for the day / night, it helps get you through the holy-days.
Used to do something like that using Yahoo chat, back when they still had private rooms. It was fun.
Cygnia
member, 283 posts
Amoral Paladin
Mon 25 Dec 2017
at 02:25
  • msg #1076

Re: That Feeling

Dealing (and treating, so there is that at least) with depression for all these years, the holidays have always been a difficult time for me.  Tomorrow I've got to deal with my husband's extended family, so that's going to be troubling.

I love his parents (and vice-versa), but it's going to be a very crowded house with no escape routes (and an ice-cold outside) if I get overwhelmed. :-/
Fyrerain
member, 86 posts
Mon 25 Dec 2017
at 04:23
  • msg #1077

Re: That Feeling

In reply to Cygnia (msg # 1076):

Retreat to a bedroom, even if it's just the room all the coats get dumped in, and sit alone in there for a while. If anyone questions it, since it seems they're unaware of your need for some occasional isolation, just tell them you've got a bit of a headache and are hoping some quiet can help you keep it from worsening.

I'm not good with long hours in a lot of company, it just drains me, so from time to time I'll just retreat for an hour to regain my balance. At my age, my friends & family all know I'm an introvert and I'm not trying to be antisocial. I just need some time to rebalance myself now and then, if there's too much going on, or going on for too long. (Three-plus hours yesterday at a family thing was a bit long for me to do straight; I was so ready for a break by then! Thankfully, a few other people were leaving early, and I made it my own exodus, too.)
LonePaladin
member, 676 posts
Creator of HeroForge
Mon 25 Dec 2017
at 08:19
  • msg #1078

Christmas Presents

This is the last time I try to handle all the Christmas wrapping at one time on Christmas Eve.

For one, it took me damn near three hours to get the little one to lie down and sleep. That put me at about 11:00 just to get started. Had to retrieve all the presents from their hidey-holes, plus bags, wrapping paper, tape, labels, all that. While keeping an ear cocked toward the kids' door.

Cue another two-plus hours sorting boxes, wrapping things, labeling. Staging the obligatory scraps of cookie and half-drunk cup of milk, with a letter from Santa.

It's now 2 AM. I'm done with all the presents, though the wrapping got a little sloppy on a few. But this is the last time I do it this way. I'm tired, and stressed out from spending way too much on short notice.

So I'm changing things. New Christmas tradition.

From now on, I'm setting aside containers for everyone. They can put gifts in them whenever they want, any time of year. No one is allowed to peek in others' containers, and if someone wants to take a few minutes to wrap something early, they can demand that everyone else stay away. The containers will be clearly labeled, and anyone caught peeking has to take a gift from their container and hand it over early.

I'm not going to let anyone worry about who spends how much, or who gets how many gifts. Any time someone sees something they think someone else would like, and we have the money for it, they can buy it. Secrecy won't be an issue at the time -- other than what the item is. "Mom, I'm getting a Christmas present for you. Don't peek."

Let things accumulate over the year, rather than try to get it all in a three-week period. And have 90% of the wrapping done whenever, instead of cramming it all into one night.
This message was last updated by the user at 08:19, Mon 25 Dec 2017.
ShadoPrism
member, 1161 posts
OCGD-Obsessive-Compulsive
Gamer-Disorder
Mon 25 Dec 2017
at 15:47
  • msg #1079

Christmas Presents

My answer this year to Xmas gifts was to take my friends shopping. They got to pick out what they wanted and I bought it for them (well other than a couple items I knew they needed, those I got and gave to them early but with the knowledge they were seasonal gifts.)
Me I am not christian, I like the holy-day for it's meaning (peace and kindness to your fellows) and love the gifts part, but not really in to the 'birth of christ' part.
For the actual day, we are getting together this evening and I made up a batch of my baked chicken, someone else is bringing a side and the host has another side item, and we will share this meal that we all contributed to. That's it.
(We are all older people whose parents are gone and families are a long way off.)

Your idea is ok Paladin, but I don't see it working out over the next year, given human nature (and kids natures, respectively).
Fyrerain
member, 87 posts
Mon 25 Dec 2017
at 23:52
  • msg #1080

Christmas Presents

In reply to LonePaladin (msg # 1078):

I like the idea. Personally, I buy my gifts over the course of the year, to spread out the expense. Plus, since most of it comes from thrift stores, you've gotta buy it when you find it anyway! I keep a box to put all the gifts in, then in December, get out the box. Seldom have to do last-minute shopping that way.

I need to work on that wrapping in advance, too, though!
Eggy
member, 773 posts
Tue 26 Dec 2017
at 02:25
  • msg #1081

Christmas Presents

What if you wrapped the gifts shortly after you buy them, instead of saving it for one huge event?
Mad Mick
member, 925 posts
GURPS beyond measure,
outlander
Tue 26 Dec 2017
at 03:48
  • msg #1082

Christmas Presents

We had a very low-key Christmas this year.  We had just gotten back from a vacation, so our gifts for our kids were mostly some books (and Heroclix and Pokémon cards).  Still, my wife and I were up until about 3 am wrapping presents, and the night was exhausting.  Doing most of the work beforehand seems a lot smarter.
OceanLake
member, 1021 posts
Tue 26 Dec 2017
at 21:57
  • msg #1083

Christmas Presents

Some good ideas. Just figured out that one advantage of opening presents Christmas eve is that the children are less apt to get up early.
bigbadron
moderator, 15484 posts
He's big, he's bad,
but mostly he's Ron.
Tue 26 Dec 2017
at 22:11

Christmas Presents

In reply to OceanLake (msg # 1083):

Over here, opening the presents on Christmas Eve is the norm.
SunRuanEr
member, 63 posts
Thu 28 Dec 2017
at 15:45
  • msg #1085

Christmas Presents

I wish I could let the kids open gifts on Christmas Eve, but then I'd just start being bombarded with what they want for -next- Christmas on Christmas Day. Which is more greed than I can handle, really.

A few years back, I instituted a 2-gift maximum from any one source to try to nip pre-teen greed in the bud (prompted by my at the time 12 year-old saying, most embarrassingly, 'is that all?' after opening gifts at a grandparents' house). It's helped them stop expecting a kazillion things (although the grandparents still cheat and try to cram multiple gifts in one box) all at once, but sadly, it hasn't helped the youngest from constantly wanting more.

Just 24 hours of appreciating what they've been given, without starting in on what else they want for the next gift-giving holiday. That's all I ask.
jpetoh
member, 364 posts
As irrational
as pi.
Thu 28 Dec 2017
at 16:02
  • msg #1086

Christmas Presents

In reply to SunRuanEr (msg # 1085):

A few years ago, my instituted the "something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read" policy for Christmas. So within the family, only four major gifts each. You can still get some other smaller peripheral gifts and other family members are welcome to get whatever they want, but those four categories keep the presents focused on quality and thoughtfulness and keep the kids' expectations under control as far as amount.

As a result, we just had our second Christmas for which we did not have to purchase a single battery.
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