Standing rule

[The Dungeon Master]

I'd like to implement the following rule for our table-top games: As soon as enough people show up to play (I'd say a minimum of 3, including Candi) we're going to get started. If you are running late, no big deal, but your characters are going to be present to help the party.

However, you will earn no XP until you arrive and start playing.

It's harder for me to stay on track if we don't get going early, and this will also help us to keep moving the game along.

The other thing I'm going to TRY to do is start a play-by-post component of the game so we can stay in touch with where we are and what's going on, and maybe even keeping getting a little bit done between games. I'll let you know when this is set up.

[The Dungeon Master]

rexartur said:

I'd like to implement the following rule for our table-top games: As soon as enough people show up to play (I'd say a minimum of 3, including Candi) we're going to get started. If you are running late, no big deal, but your characters are going to be present to help the party.

However, you will earn no XP until you arrive and start playing.

It's harder for me to stay on track if we don't get going early, and this will also help us to keep moving the game along.

The other thing I'm going to TRY to do is start a play-by-post component of the game so we can stay in touch with where we are and what's going on, and maybe even keeping getting a little bit done between games. I'll let you know when this is set up.

If you regularly attend the games, your character is in the adventure, even if you cannot attend a session. So if you miss a session, the party doesn't have to worry about whether the rogue they were depending on for traps or the cleric that was doing all the healing is still with them. The party will remain cohesive.

I will look to the seated players to help "play" the absent player's character(s), but they are not to be treated as crash test dummies. Every possible means of keeping them safe will be taken. I really don't want someone's character dying if they're not there to play, unless it's unavoidable. The party will determine what's in the best interests of the party when it comes to magic item use, etc., but absent player's characters are also not to be treated as store dummies, just waiting to be stripped of their gear.

This should help the party out greatly if things get dicey, and also prevent the continuity rift that develops when I have to say, "Oh, Mark the Red was trailing along behind you for the past several days, but didn't feel like speaking with you."

[The Dungeon Master]

This rule has been modified somewhat. The default combat action of a character of a player who is not present will be to hold. If the party never "activates" that character, that character does not count toward the total number of PC's for the purposes of diving XP. This only applies to situations while in initiative count.