Players Missing Sessions Causing Headaches?
Your mileage may vary.
In our group, we generally give 100-150 XP (WFRP) to everyone that played, which keeps everyone fairly happy and consistent, with the possibility of a bit more XP for a PC that accomplshed an outstanding feat of some kind, including superb roleplaying. Generally, since we play infrequently anyway, if one of us usual active players misses a session, unless that PC is way, way behind or there is some other solid reason not to, the GM just awards our PC the same XP the others got in the session, maybe with a slight penalty. Although technically not fair to the other PC’s, it is really more of a game-balance and player fairness issue.
Player fairness-wise, if the player HAD been in the session, he would have gotten the usual XP (omitting death etc), and we generally assume a person’s reason for missing is solid and unavoidable, so we feel like the PC shouldn’t be “punished” for something the player couldn’t help – we handwave the PC’s absence as having personal matters to attend to, refreshing skills, working on the side, etc.
It could be argued this retroactive proxy awarding could be “abused” but really, if a player is intentionally going to NOT show up to play and just soak up XP the other players indirectly earned for him, and isn’t actually missing getting to play, then I’d be inclined to think he wasn’t that into the game anyway. What kind of strategy is that, to miss sessions just to get XP? That’s not actually playing at all, that’s helping develop an NPC, which I guess isn’t necessarily bad so in a way there might be no reason to give a player/PC an ultimatum or take drastic action. If the PC is just going to hang out in town or even accompany the party but be useless/ineffective, chances are he is going to CONTINUE to do that for the forseeable future, so if it becomes an expected occurrence, it really shouldn’t affect anything since nobody would be relying on him anyway – with the exception of the GM using the PC as a resource to be kidnapped or provide a vitally useful skill or ability the party needs right at the moment, which I think is well within the GM’s rights if the PC isn’t being played much anyway; like I said, it’s an NPC but one that wouldn’t directly or willfully involve himself in any of the activity, which means he might get XP but miss out on any treasure or coins or possibly social standing upgrades – unless the GM or other players take pity or feel there is a reason to do so.
In the case of someone who only shows up every month or longer, then not only is there no reason to award XP to him, but might actually be a much better idea to just give him a suitable NPC (or turn his PC completely into one) he can play when he is available to play, but otherwise fully returns to GM control in his absence. You’re more or less just letting the player “drop in” from time to time and enjoy a game, because really, he wouldn’t remember what was going on last time or what concept he had of his PC, and would probably just want to make up a new one anyway, so that can be avoided; if the GM decides to have the “player” loaner NPC killed or turn evil or something likely not in keeping with the player’s wishes, you just pull out a new pregen and hand it to the player or have him roll up a new PC when he shows up – it’s not like there is really going to be a significant difference in the session, as the player is just “filling in” and could do it in any body, honestly. Most of these “new PC each time the player finally shows up again” ideas would also prevent the need for the GM to keep track of XP and such for the PC – it would be easier to just hand out an NPC or let the player roll up a new character with XP/advances to match the rest of the party. This could lead to the player not wanting to play at all, or to being more dedicated to showing up, or at least being able to try out a number of different careers and develop personalities and roleplaying specific to each. Make sure, obviously, whatever you decide on, talk to that player first, don’t just spring it on him out of the blue, just explain the problem and obstacle the situation is, and the available options and which you feel is best, maybe a compromise can be reached between the GM and player.
As noted, giving “free” XP to only occasionally missing PC’s is also for game-balance, so if the player DOES decide to play again or is only able to show up infrequently, his PC will have been developing alongside the rest of the party, allowing him to step back into place without being woefully behind and feeling worthless, no “Level 1 Fighter joins the 15th Level group” frustration, it will just be assumed to have been in the background. He will be somewhat out of the loop, but not enough to make a vast difference or not be able to come back from if he is suddenly able to become a usual active player.
Overally, our primary single reason for these XP ideas is because we try to remember that the point of gaming is to get your friends together and have fun doing something creative and a little unusual, so there’s no reason to put on the badge and punish people for missing some games, assuming you want them to be there – don’t alienate them or make them feel bad for missing, just greet them happily when they are able to make it, it IS “just a game” and just having it consistent and fun, to us, is more important than scheduled oblgations and punitive measures for people that don’t tow the line – why put extra stress or worry on someone if you’re just playing a game, you know? Poeple can show up, as regulars or as a rare once-in-a-blue-moon player, and still be able to sit down and feel welcome and be included in the fun at an equitable level of PC ability because doing otherwise would most likely not be very enjoyable and probably wouldn’t encourage the player to double his efforts to attend the next session, if he can expect more of the same.
Obviously if you have a real problem with a player and whatever you’re doing is just “not worth it anymore”, if none of the above ideas work, the outfinger pointed towards the door is always an option as well.
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