Nobody but Mr. Analog answered the thread in D20 Modern (http://forums.righteouswrath.com/index.php/topic,5552.msg35217.html#msg35217) about scheduling. Mr. Analog indicated he prefers getting together every second weekend, and alternating between D&D and D20 Modern. So here's my suggestion to make it easy to figure out what days we're playing on:
1. We play Friday nights
2. We meet every second Friday
3. We set a schedule right up until our regular break time
4. If the Friday starts a long weekend, push to the next Friday and adjust the whole schedule
OR
4. If the Friday starts a long weekend, push to the next Friday and don't adjust the whole schedule
Examples:
Adjust Whole Schedule (15 sessions until end of May)
- Oct 12 (Oct 5 is Thanksgiving long weekend)
- Oct 26
- Nov 9
- Nov 23
- Dec 28 (Dec 21 is Christmas long weekend)
- Jan 11
- Jan 25
- Feb 8
- Feb 22
- Mar 7
- Mar 28 (Mar 21 is Good Friday long weekend)
- Apr 11
- Apr 25
- May 9
- May 23
Don't Adjust Whole Schedule (18 sessions until end of May)
- Oct 12 (Oct 5 is Thanksgiving long weekend)
- Oct 19
- Nov 2
- Nov 16
- Nov 30
- Dec 14
- Dec 28
- Jan 11
- Jan 25
- Feb 8
- Feb 22
- Mar 7
- Mar 28 (Mar 21 is Good Friday long weekend)
- Apr 4
- Apr 18
- May 2
- May 16
- May 30
I prefer the second example; more sessions and not as many three-week gaps.
I like the second example with two back-to-back D&D or D20 Modern sessions. The time between D&D and D20 games will be greater when we hit the break for each, but I figure we can get a bit more cohesive with the narritive across the back-to-back sessions.
I like the alternating method myself, gives each DM two weeks to gear up content and every other session we get to play.
I also think we should play on the Friday before Thanksgiving this time. Anyone disagree?
Alternating would give us four weeks each. I think I'm able to play on the Friday of the Thanksgiving weekend, but I will have to talk it over with my Significant Other. I'm not sure what our plans are yet for that weekend. People who leave town to visit family might not be able to, depending on if they're driving Saturday morning...
Any input, Melbosa, Tom, Ustauk?
From some discussion in the office here, I think the second sample schedule is preferred (as it has more sessions), but Dec 28 is a no-go simply because it falls between Christmas and New Year's. That'd still leave 17 sessions.
There's also the thought of pick-up sessions; that is, sessions that are not on the official schedule but that we check to see if everyone's available and if they are and the DM/GM is ready to go, play anyway. For instance, I have so many D20 Modern thoughts running through my head right now that I could easily pop off another session this Friday or Saturday :)
We even talked about weeknight sessions. If we start playing at 6 and stop playing at 10, everyone'd be home by 11(ish). But some or all of you might already have stuff to do on weeknights, so I'm not sure if that'd work for anyone.
Sorry was away all weekend from a computer to post to. Was doing contract work.
I like the double up from a player perspective, so 2 DnD, 2 D20 Mod if we aren't doing the break thing (easier to keep stories strait). If break thing, 1 DnD, 1 D20 Mod, 1 break, wash and repeat works too.
As for pickups, not likely with me being able to make it. Weekends are usually booked, as was this last weekend.
As for playing Thanksgiving weekend, I thought we were, and hope we still are, cause I am busy Oct 12th.
Quote from: Melbosa on September 24, 2007, 02:31:18 PM
I like the double up from a player perspective, so 2 DnD, 2 D20 Mod if we aren't doing the break thing (easier to keep stories strait).
Mr. Analog's one of the DMs and thus carries a lot of power on deciding the schedule and doesn't want to do two sessions of the same game in a row.
Quote from: Melbosa on September 24, 2007, 02:31:18 PM
Weekends are usually booked, as was this last weekend.
So would a regular schedule planned all the way to the end of May help you be able to attend? What about pick-up games on weeknights (that obviously end a lot earlier)?
Quote from: Melbosa on September 24, 2007, 02:31:18 PM
As for playing Thanksgiving weekend, I thought we were, and hope we still are, cause I am busy Oct 12th.
You and Mr. Analog are both planning on it. I should be able to play, just gotta check the calendar before I commit. Haven't heard from Tom or Ustauk yet. But that's, really, a thread for the D&D sub-forum. This thread is all about planning a schedule for the next several months.
I'm certainly open to suggestions but I think doing one after the other evens things out...
My preference is to alternate campaigns and option to 2 to bump a session to the weekend after a long weekend. As of now, I believe I can make the Thanksgiving long weekend session. It helps to know the schedule ahead of time so you can book around it, so I prefer it remain static without random pickup games.
Good good!
Sounds good so far guys...
I like the 1st schedule better, cause you don't play on my birthday! HEEHEE :P
It'd be a D20 Modern game, so I would just bump it a week, honey.
Which ever is picked, get it set in stone now, so everyone can schedule it :)
Quote from: Tom on September 24, 2007, 11:21:37 PM
Which ever is picked, get it set in stone now, so everyone can schedule it :)
By taking a position you help solidify that. Please choose what fits best for you.
Schedule set in stone (unless DM/GM changes it):
- Oct 5: D&D
- Oct 19: D20 Modern
- Nov 2: D&D
- Nov 23: D20 Modern
- Nov 30: D&D
- Dec 14: D20 Modern
- Jan 4: D&D
- Jan 18: D20 Modern
- Feb 1: D&D
- Feb 22: D20 Modern (bumped from Feb 15 - Alberta Day long weekend)
- Feb 29: D&D
- Mar 14: D20 Modern
- Mar 28: D&D
- Apr 11: D20 Modern
- Apr 25: D&D
- May 2: D20 Modern
- May 23: D&D (bumped from May 16 - Victoria Day long weekend)
- May 30: D20 Modern
Looks good to me!
Quote from: Mr. Analog on September 25, 2007, 10:39:44 AM
Quote from: Tom on September 24, 2007, 11:21:37 PM
Which ever is picked, get it set in stone now, so everyone can schedule it :)
By taking a position you help solidify that. Please choose what fits best for you.
My schedule is really open, all the time. Well, I sometimes have appointments during the day, but that doesn't interfere with evening sessions. I'm pretty much good for whatever everyone else thinks is a good schedule.
/me goes to plunk those dates into korganizer (which he would have named kalendar, oh well ;D)
So yeah we were supposed to play D20 last friday, and next DnD will be the First? Or are we shifting it a bit? Or redefining it? I would like to update my schedule to make sure I make as many as possible.
Soon I'll figure out when D20 Modern will be running again. There's so much to do these days!
Quote from: Thorin on January 29, 2008, 03:50:13 PM
Soon I'll figure out when D20 Modern will be running again. There's so much to do these days!
OK, just give me two weeks notice when you do. Seems I'm booking client's and social activities up to that limit now.
Whoops yeah, D&D starts on Feb 8th!
Quote from: Thorin on September 25, 2007, 01:38:51 PM
Schedule set in stone (unless DM/GM changes it):
That's SAND stone :P Seriously, Christmas was way busy. Next year I'll definitely be planning a Christmas break, if we're still playing D20 Modern.
d20 Modern! Woooooooo!
Quote from: Mr. Analog on January 29, 2008, 04:02:20 PM
Whoops yeah, D&D starts on Feb 8th!
Doh!!!! I can't make this. My Dad is flying in on the 8th, and I have to pick him up from the airport.
Quote from: Melbosa on January 29, 2008, 11:23:57 PM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on January 29, 2008, 04:02:20 PM
Whoops yeah, D&D starts on Feb 8th!
Doh!!!! I can't make this. My Dad is flying in on the 8th, and I have to pick him up from the airport.
Well, I'm away until the 16th of February.
Quote from: Melbosa on January 29, 2008, 11:23:57 PM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on January 29, 2008, 04:02:20 PM
Whoops yeah, D&D starts on Feb 8th!
Doh!!!! I can't make this. My Dad is flying in on the 8th, and I have to pick him up from the airport.
It would be helpful if you followed "can't make this" with "but I can make these other dates". Please and thank you.
Well I'm busy Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights no matter what. Fridays are usually good, execpt that one. I am free February 9th at the moment.
Sorry should have posted this.
How is everyone for the 9th then?
As always, I'm good.
We have hockey from 4:30-5:30 here in St Albert. Where were you planning on playing?
I just realized I'm going to Canmore that next morning so I won't be able to run late, plus I have to pack (etc). So, that date is out of reach now that I think of it.
Ok, how about Friday Feb 22nd, can we all be there for that?
So far that is empty for me.
We need to re-open the discussion of the schedule, since the previous one is off the rails now. Some thoughts for discussion:
1. Do we set dates and stick with them, regardless of whether everyone can make it (structured)?
2. Or do we, after each session, propose next available dates (fluid)?
3. If we choose a fluid schedule, how much allowance do we want for people who can't make several proposed dates?
I think all your options require the date schedule. As for the options themselves, fluid is a better solution (usually) to get the most people at games, and maybe only have a 1 week max varient?
I prefer the structured type of schedule.
It's got the natural benefit of being in a rhythm so I can look forward to and prepare for "D&D saturday" or "D20 Modern thursday".
Quote from: Melbosa on February 27, 2008, 11:15:18 AM
I think all your options require the date schedule
A fluid date-picking system doesn't require a schedule at all. It just requires that after each session, we all make sure to hop online to decide when the next session will be. Putting a max variant really means deciding how long we'll wait for a player to free up their weekend before playing without them.
Both systems require flexibility for the DM, however, because the game can't be run without a DM present.
I do have a question for everyone - what days/nights of the week are you available? At the moment I'm able to come out Monday night, Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night, or Sunday night. Daytimes are pretty much out for me, as are Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This is likely to change in May or June, as kids stop hockey and start going to camps.
My Availability
Week Days
Days = No
Nights = Monday, Friday
Weekends
Days = Saturday, Sunday
Nights = Saturday, Sunday
Holidays
TBD
Melbosa prefers fluid scheduling so that we're more likely to have everyone at the game. Tonnica prefers structured scheduling so that she can prepare for the event. I think I prefer a hybrid, with structured dates that can get moved once if everyone agrees.
For instance, we put together the schedule of dates that we'll be playing on, and if someone has a last-minute thing come up and says they can't attend we decide as a group whether we're willing to move it to the next possible day or not. If it can be moved without anyone else missing, then yay, everyone gets to play, and if it can't be moved without anyone else missing then we don't move it and the person with the last-minute plans will simply miss the session.
I did this same thing once for Ustauk when he was part of our D20 Modern group still, and I believe it to be the fairest - if it doesn't affect the rest of us we can accommodate the player with the last-minute plans.
If we do go with a structured schedule, we should probably only plan three or four months of that schedule out at a time... As evident by the big lag since before Christmas, in each season different responsibilities affect our ability to get together.
Combining my and Melbosa's availabilities in a giant Venn diagram shows an overlap of:
Monday night
Friday night
Saturday night
Sunday night
Anyone else who would not be available at those times and thus would boil this list down further?
The only con I will bring to "fluid scheduling" is that, in the past, there have been forecasting and frequency problems. How many games are people willing to play in a month? Every Friday? Every other Friday? Et cetera.
If we go with fluid scheduling then any time any of us can commit to an event that falls on our playable days (looking to be Friday / Saturday at the moment) we should with each other.
I'm a fan of more rigid scheduling because if we do miss a game we know when the next date should fall without having to bump heads again.
Quote from: Mr. Analog on February 27, 2008, 06:08:06 PM
If we go with fluid scheduling then any time any of us can commit to an event that falls on our playable days (looking to be Friday / Saturday at the moment) we should with each other.
Are there words missing or extra in that sentence? I'm having trouble understanding what you're trying to say with it.
Quote from: Thorin on February 28, 2008, 11:06:07 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on February 27, 2008, 06:08:06 PM
If we go with fluid scheduling then any time any of us can commit to an event that falls on our playable days (looking to be Friday / Saturday at the moment) we should with <b>TALK</b> each other.
Are there words missing or extra in that sentence? I'm having trouble understanding what you're trying to say with it.
If we decide to "fluidly" schedule weekend games we have to keep those days more open than usual, in case the majority wants to play.
My Monday/Friday/Saturday/Sundays are all possibles for play nights. I'm also cool with Thursdays, but those don't overlap to the majority.
Lets try and plan four months worth of sessions, starting with May. Here's my suggested schedule (Friday, Saturday):
Apr 25, 26: D&D
May 2, 3: D20 Modern
May 9, 10: D&D
May 16, 17: none (Victoria Day long weekend)
May 23, 24: D20 Modern
May 30, 31: D&D
Jun 6, 7: D20 Modern
Jun 13, 14: D&D
Jun 20, 21: D20 Modern
Jun 28, 29: none (Canada Day long weekend)
Jul 4, 5: D&D
Jul 11, 12: D20 Modern
Jul 18, 19: D&D
Jul 25, 26: D20 Modern
Aug 1, 2: none (August long weekend)
Aug 8, 9: D&D
Aug 15, 16: D20 Modern
Aug 22, 23: D&D
Aug 29, 30: none (Labour Day long weekend)
What I'm suggesting here is that we originally book every weekend that's not a long weekend, and then if people need a weekend off to do something else (camping in the summer, sports, etc) we can simply cancel that weekend. How about that? I'm fully expecting that there will be a couple or a few cancellations, but this way D&D and D20 Modern get pushed more to the forefront of our calendars and we hopefully won't have a month or more between get-togethers.
Great idea in theory, but if I run that by the GF she'll cut me a new one. In all seriousness though, I use my calendar for more than just DnD Scheduling, and when I'm working out my schedules for sports, clients, social and significant other things, I need to see visually what days I have "free". I can't block those all off like that, as I would never have a Friday/Saturday open except long weekends, and even I don't want to push my client work back to those weekends.
I believe at best I can do 1 DnD & 1 D20 in a month. Just the reality of life.
I'm not suggesting both nights are booked, I'm suggesting we pick one night and make it our regularly weekly RPG time. I'm suggesting Friday or Saturday because that's what people have indicated in person they prefer to play on. I already crossed off the long weekends because historically we've never played on long weekends. I'm suggesting marking that one night as busy in our calendars because as pointed out in this old article (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sg/20060714a), you need to give RPGing priority or you won't meet often enough to get anywhere.
At the same time, I pointed out that there are times when one simply can't attend a session, and that's why I suggested we check a few days before each session whether everyone can still make it.
Looking at the suggested schedule I posted, I'm also thinking we should simply plan to play whichever game we didn't play the previous session. That way if we skip one, it won't take three or four weeks before we come back to it.
I get want you are saying and it may make sense for most of you. What I need to know is that we are planning on playing Friday, April 25th, Saturday, May 10th, etc so I can well ahead of time arrange my other responsibilities around it. I won't have a backup date "scheduled" because I have to assume when we pick a date that is the one we are going with. Otherwise I'll never be able to make all the games, as I will have already scheduled something else for the weekends we are not getting together.
As it is, this month, you saw how fast things were eatten up on my schedule. I'm looking at my calendar right now, and I can already tell you I have double bookings should certain first bookings fall through in this month, and we just started off the month today! Now I rarely do this, as I hate giving that answer to people. I'd rather just say "no, I'm not available that night/day, I have other plans".
Quote from: Thorin on April 01, 2008, 03:09:24 PM
II'm suggesting marking that one night as busy in our calendars because as pointed out in this old article (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sg/20060714a), you need to give RPGing priority or you won't meet often enough to get anywhere.
I want also to make our RPGing a priority, and with a rigid schedule of dates, I have the greatest, most positive chance of making all of the sessions. But I can't commit every Friday or Saturday in a month outside of Long weekends either. 2 nights/days is all I can do.
Quote from: Thorin on April 01, 2008, 03:09:24 PM
this old article (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sg/20060714a)
Completely off-topic, but the article I linked to has this little gem in it:
Quote
If your girlfriend made you give up all your friends so you would be each other's only friend, that would be dysfunctional. A girlfriend making you abandon your hobbies is also dysfunctional.
:D :D :D
nice!
Quote from: Thorin on April 01, 2008, 03:44:47 PM
If your girlfriend made you give up all your friends so you would be each other's only friend, that would be dysfunctional. A girlfriend making you abandon your hobbies is also dysfunctional.
Quote from: Melbosa on April 01, 2008, 03:22:58 PM
nice!
You know who I was talking about, right? Not you, that's for sure. But she made him give up all his NAIT/D&D friends... I dunno if he had any other friends.
Quote from: Melbosa on April 01, 2008, 03:00:10 PM
Quote from: Thorin on April 01, 2008, 03:09:24 PM
II'm suggesting marking that one night as busy in our calendars because as pointed out in this old article (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/sg/20060714a), you need to give RPGing priority or you won't meet often enough to get anywhere.
I want also to make our RPGing a priority, and with a rigid schedule of dates, I have the greatest, most positive chance of making all of the sessions. But I can't commit every Friday or Saturday in a month outside of Long weekends either. 2 nights/days is all I can do.
It's not even really 2 nights a month, though. It's 2 nights a month if you haven't already made other plans for those nights, right? Listen, I'm not trying to pick on you, I'm just trying to find a way where we can get our group together more than once a month... Playing both D&D and D20 Modern already makes us go half as fast as if we were playing a single campaign. If we then also can't get together more than once a month, well, some people might consider that not worth bothering with. And that would make me sad, because I *want* to play :(
Mr. Analog's chomping at the bit to run another session (we didn't even finish all the material he compiled for the first session), but he doesn't want to run without everyone there. He's getting frustrated at how long it takes us to get going and how far apart our sessions are, and he's talking about just folding up his tent :( So I'm trying to push for more sessions to show that we really are interested in all the work he's done on this campaign.
I'll weigh in on this I think (as D&D DM).
If we only run two sessions a month that means we're playing D&D once a month. I would prefer we play pick up games more frequently than try to jam into a schedule. We tried a schedule and it really didn't work out so well as getting back into the schedule after a break (Christmas) was excessively long for various reasons and getting back into it took us a really long time (both for me to rebuild a campaign and then for us to pick dates).
We all have lives, but if we want to make getting together and playing a regular part of our lives we'll have to find something that works. Maybe we should play more often for shorter periods? Maybe we should announce a tentative pick up game every Friday and then see who can / can't make it on a weekly basis.
Point is that it's hard enough as players to remember what's going on two to three weeks in at a time but it's even harder as a DM (you can back me up on this Thorin), if it keeps up like it has I don't see a point to continuing even though it's really @%&#in' fun and I like getting together with you guys on a regular basis.
Nuff said!
I don't think everyone involved actually tried the fixed schedule seriously. IF it were set to be "Such and Such a date" and nothing else, with it scheduled further than a couple weeks in advance (like say, 4 months), it would end up better than just random scheduled session where we have no guarantee of Mel or Thorin making it.
We KNOW the non scheduled method doesn't work. That's a fact. Hard scheduled method, I'm not so sure about.
Well I hate to say it, but if you want more than 2 sessions a month (per campaign), I have to drop either D20 or D&D. We had agreed before XMas to do it every 2 weeks, and for the most part that is 2 Sessions a month. I can't commit to more than that, I am sorry.
As for the scheduling, seriously, if the dates are hard set, and we only have to move them around for special circumstances, then I think it is easier to arrange with everyone. If you know that in 2 weeks, Friday, is RPG night, and it is that way 2 weeks after that, then you can:
#1 - Arrange everything else around it
#2 - Know that if something absolutely comes up that you can't make the session you can make arrangements for coverage or try to organize a date change
#3 - Everyone knows when to expect everyone to be together
All my sports work this way, so I always know who will be at my games, and the people have time to find their own subs if they know they can't make that night. Now we can't change our game nights in sports, but the schedule I think has far better chances of making those games happen than a week or two before trying to organize people together.
Ok, then every other Friday starting this week I guess.
Lock it in guys.
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 08:28:54 AM
Ok, then every other Friday starting this week I guess.
Lock it in guys.
That conflicts with our April 25th date. How about every other friday, starting the April 25th date?
Quote from: Melbosa on April 02, 2008, 08:30:55 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 08:28:54 AM
Ok, then every other Friday starting this week I guess.
Lock it in guys.
That conflicts with our April 25th date. How about every other friday, starting the April 25th date?
Nah, this one is earlier and so it wins.
Rigid schedule means no flexibility.
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 08:39:56 AM
Quote from: Melbosa on April 02, 2008, 08:30:55 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 08:28:54 AM
Ok, then every other Friday starting this week I guess.
Lock it in guys.
That conflicts with our April 25th date. How about every other friday, starting the April 25th date?
Nah, this one is earlier and so it wins.
Rigid schedule means no flexibility.
It also means less confusion and missing dates because it wasnt decided till a few days before.
Quote from: Tom on April 02, 2008, 08:42:18 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 08:39:56 AM
Quote from: Melbosa on April 02, 2008, 08:30:55 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 08:28:54 AM
Ok, then every other Friday starting this week I guess.
Lock it in guys.
That conflicts with our April 25th date. How about every other friday, starting the April 25th date?
Nah, this one is earlier and so it wins.
Rigid schedule means no flexibility.
It also means less confusion and missing dates because it wasnt decided till a few days before.
Give me an example of when we decided to play (and actually DID) only two days before a game. I can show you lots and lots of examples of dates coming up and being missed.
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 08:43:38 AM
Quote from: Tom on April 02, 2008, 08:42:18 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 08:39:56 AM
Quote from: Melbosa on April 02, 2008, 08:30:55 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 08:28:54 AM
Ok, then every other Friday starting this week I guess.
Lock it in guys.
That conflicts with our April 25th date. How about every other friday, starting the April 25th date?
Nah, this one is earlier and so it wins.
Rigid schedule means no flexibility.
It also means less confusion and missing dates because it wasnt decided till a few days before.
Give me an example of when we decided to play (and actually DID) only two days before a game. I can show you lots and lots of examples of dates coming up and being missed.
Ok, fine, it was just an example. But I don't think we
all gave a more rigid schedule a fighting chance. Some sure, but not all. (which is why I think it didn't work)
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 08:39:56 AM
Quote from: Melbosa on April 02, 2008, 08:30:55 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 08:28:54 AM
Ok, then every other Friday starting this week I guess.
Lock it in guys.
That conflicts with our April 25th date. How about every other friday, starting the April 25th date?
Nah, this one is earlier and so it wins.
Rigid schedule means no flexibility.
OK April 4th, April 18th, May 2nd, May 16th, May 30th, June 13, June 27.... etc?
Then I'm out for April 18th, can't make that one. I am trying damn hard to get back to Winnipeg for that Wedding Social!
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 08:39:56 AM
Quote from: Melbosa on April 02, 2008, 08:30:55 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 08:28:54 AM
Ok, then every other Friday starting this week I guess.
Lock it in guys.
That conflicts with our April 25th date. How about every other friday, starting the April 25th date?
Nah, this one is earlier and so it wins.
Rigid schedule means no flexibility.
And I think you might be taking this to the extreme!
Quote from: MelbosaAs for the scheduling, seriously, if the dates are hard set, and we only have to move them around for special circumstances, then I think it is easier to arrange with everyone. If you know that in 2 weeks, Friday, is RPG night, and it is that way 2 weeks after that, then you can:
#1 - Arrange everything else around it
#2 - Know that if something absolutely comes up that you can't make the session you can make arrangements for coverage or try to organize a date change
#3 - Everyone knows when to expect everyone to be together
Should you move a date, the next date is still the same... no change. Schedule with Flexibility for circumstances. If there isn't a consensus on the change, then date remains and the person just misses the game.
First off, I'm glad to see you're speaking up Tom.
I don't think an absolutely rigid, inflexible schedule will work at all. Every other week Friday? What if the Friday falls on a long weekend? What if the DM can't make it? What if one player can't make it that week but could the next and all the other players can make it both that week and the next? Why not move it to accommodate the one player? All of this has been said before in this very same thread, though.
Quote from: Melbosa on April 02, 2008, 09:24:42 AM
Should you move a date, the next date is still the same... no change. Schedule with Flexibility for circumstances. If there isn't a consensus on the change, then date remains and the person just misses the game.
You are suggesting an every other Friday schedule here, with flexibility to move the date if need be. Really, I was suggesting something similar except with more frequent get-togethers - I was suggesting every Friday except long weekends, with flexibility to cancel if need be.
Look at it this way: if we play both D&D and D20 Modern campaigns, and we get together every two weeks, and we alternate between the two, then the shortest time between sessions for one of them is four weeks. If we cancel a session because one or more players can't attend, then it's
six weeks between sessions for a campaign. Four weeks is an awful long time between sessions, and it'll take years of real time to ever get anywhere in the game. Six weeks just makes that worse.
Maybe I should be asking these two questions, instead.
1. What frequency of get-togethers are you able to commit to? ("commit" meaning that you'll put those at a high enough priority in your schedule that only emergencies will cause you to miss them)
2. Do you want to continue playing two separate campaigns?
My answers would be:
1. During the summer months, I can commit to two sessions every three weeks not counting weeks with long weekends. I may be able to (and want to) play more often than that, but that's the minimum I'll commit to
2. I was having a great time GMing D20 Modern, but I think for a campaign to succeed the group needs to meet at least every second week. If we can't accomplish that, we should stop one of the campaigns
edit: for answer 1., yes, I realize that the suggested schedule I posted here (http://forums.righteouswrath.com/index.php/topic,5603.msg39887.html#msg39887) shows what would require a once-a-week-except-long-weekends commitment.
Quote from: Thorin on April 02, 2008, 09:46:29 AM
Maybe I should be asking these two questions, instead.
1. What frequency of get-togethers are you able to commit to? ("commit" meaning that you'll put those at a high enough priority in your schedule that only emergencies will cause you to miss them)
2. Do you want to continue playing two separate campaigns?
I can answer these questions first:
1. I can commit to
two sessions a month. I would prefer to leave long weekends out of the list, but I can commit even if it is a long weekend. If the schedule is every two weeks, and you happen to get 3 sessions in a month, I should be able to make all 3.
2. I am fine with a 4 weeks between sessions if we play two campaigns. If this is not acceptable, then I will have to bow out of one campaign.
As for the shifting around long weekends, we can do that as well IMO. As long as we stick to 2 per month, and 3 should there be 5 RPG nights in a month (where our schedule has us land on 3 out of 5 RPG nights), I should be fine. I just need dates to be marked down, and no more than 1 every two weeks as I have other things that can and will land on a Friday/Saturday. Which means I'd be missing as much as attending should it go more in a month than that.
Whatever works for you guys, but if we are only playing D&D once a month I'm going to have to seriously consider stopping it.
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 11:22:15 AM
Whatever works for you guys, but if we are only playing D&D once a month I'm going to have to seriously consider stopping it.
Even though a guaranteed once a month is more than we've managed before? And then add on D20 Modern?
Quote from: Tom on April 02, 2008, 11:56:30 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 11:22:15 AM
Whatever works for you guys, but if we are only playing D&D once a month I'm going to have to seriously consider stopping it.
Even though a guaranteed once a month is more than we've managed before? And then add on D20 Modern?
I think what he's saying is we either get serious enoguh about playing that we get together more frequently, or we stop. Having DMed before (and even having been in a once-every-four-weeks situation before), I completely understand how he feels.
To be honest, before we played our first session of the new campaign I was starting to look for other ways to get my D&D fix, mostly looking at play-by-post games. Not because I wanted to stop playing with our current group, but because it seemed like we actually weren't a playing group anymore.
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 11:22:15 AM
Whatever works for you guys, but if we are only playing D&D once a month I'm going to have to seriously consider stopping it.
I'll commit to D&D twice a month, but will have to drop D20 Modern. Or Vice-Versa.
Quote from: Thorin on April 02, 2008, 01:02:01 PM
Quote from: Tom on April 02, 2008, 11:56:30 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 11:22:15 AM
Whatever works for you guys, but if we are only playing D&D once a month I'm going to have to seriously consider stopping it.
Even though a guaranteed once a month is more than we've managed before? And then add on D20 Modern?
I think what he's saying is we either get serious enoguh about playing that we get together more frequently, or we stop. Having DMed before (and even having been in a once-every-four-weeks situation before), I completely understand how he feels.
To be honest, before we played our first session of the new campaign I was starting to look for other ways to get my D&D fix, mostly looking at play-by-post games. Not because I wanted to stop playing with our current group, but because it seemed like we actually weren't a playing group anymore.
EXACTLY.
People can find time for baseball and darts and other crap that comes up that you have to drive to and often runs late into the night, why is this any different? Are we that shagged out after a session that it takes three weeks to get back in shape for it?
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 01:50:52 PM
Quote from: Thorin on April 02, 2008, 01:02:01 PM
I think what he's saying is we either get serious enoguh about playing that we get together more frequently, or we stop. Having DMed before (and even having been in a once-every-four-weeks situation before), I completely understand how he feels.
To be honest, before we played our first session of the new campaign I was starting to look for other ways to get my D&D fix, mostly looking at play-by-post games. Not because I wanted to stop playing with our current group, but because it seemed like we actually weren't a playing group anymore.
EXACTLY.
People can find time for baseball and darts and other crap that comes up that you have to drive to and often runs late into the night, why is this any different? Are we that shagged out after a session that it takes three weeks to get back in shape for it?
True enough, I have sports every week. True enough that I have to drive to them.
But they start at 5:30 or 6:00, they end at 9:00, or start at 9:00 and end by 11:00 PM. This gives me time to do contract work if I need to that night, or spend some time with Maria, or relax, etc.
RPGing is usually until 12:00 or 1:00 PM in the evening, eats up the entire night, is twice as long as my other activities, is on a popular night for social events (B-Day Parties, Social Gatherings, Trips, etc), and is still damn fun time. So if you look at it that way, it gets the same time alloted to it as any of my sports in a month, should we play only every second week.
The reason I am busy Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday usually in a Month is that those are days I usually don't have to visit client's (or if I do, I still have a 2-3 hour window on 2 out of 3 days to do so), do much social events (B-Day parties, functions, family gatherings, etc), RPGing night wasn't ever on those days, and as I state above the activities I do that night aren't all night functions. I don't put in activities on those nights that run me 4-6 hours usually.
I'm assuming this post mostly because of me, as you are all aware of my schedules during the week. If you want, we can go every Monday, but I can only support the 3 Hour window, with ample time before or after to allow for other things I may need to do that night. To be honest I don't know how well this will work with an RPG session, as 3 hours isn't that much.
I'm not directing at anyone, there's absolutely no reason we can't play between 5 and 9. NONE whatsoever.
If you guys have a problem with duration, speak up!
As for your problem with finding time for contracting or relationships, I can't help you there. If booking everything into your life is becoming a problem you're really just gonna have to drop some stuff (Chris did it in absolutely the wrongest way possible and kinda against his will). Food for thought.
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 02:15:36 PM
As for your problem with finding time for contracting or relationships, I can't help you there. If booking everything into your life is becoming a problem you're really just gonna have to drop some stuff (Chris did it in absolutely the wrongest way possible and kinda against his will). Food for thought.
Oh don't worry, not going the way of Chris. As for the finding time for relationships/contracting/social events/etc, it isn't a problem - just need to know what I have going on in a week. I'm not so busy that I am running my feet off. I enjoy my sports 3 nights a week, and take the time to relax before or after. Even do pick up volleyball Fridays if I have nothing going on. But those things that I really want to commit to I lie to schedule so that I can arrange everything else around them.
Let me make this clear,
I want to play D20/D&D with you guys, but I don't want to play every week on a Friday or Saturday, as I have other considerations that I would like to maintain too on those days. Every two weeks is fine with me, works well actually on Fridays and Saturdays actually - save the wedding social thing this month.
Quote from: Mr. Analog on April 02, 2008, 02:15:36 PM
I'm not directing at anyone, there's absolutely no reason we can't play between 5 and 9. NONE whatsoever.
If you guys have a problem with duration, speak up!
I can't make it to anything during the week by 5:00... or well I can't guarantee it. 5:30, or even 6:00 is better for me. And sorry, just been me with the loudest request for scheduling, thought you were concerned me specifically.
All I see is that in the last six months we've barely played at all, let's find something that works for everyone. Part of that accommodating is that I do not have time for something that will only happen once a month. Because "if something comes up" then it's five weeks, six weeks another month (etc). I just can't keep going on like this.
OK well you have my constraints.
I can commit:
* Every second week to one full night, if talking Friday or Saturday.
* I can do a Monday night every week every second week, if a 3 hour session starting at 6:00 or 8:00ish (as I think none of us want to out past 11:00 or so on week night). EDIT: After really doing some personal reflection, I can only commit 2 nights (and sometimes a 3rd) in a month.
* I am willing to do long weekends.
* I am willing to alter a particular date in a month, if needs are there, but only based on availability. Otherwise I will miss the session.
* I am willing to drop one of the RPGing campaigns if to satisfy the need to play more often in either campaign.
Thanks for posting what you can commit to, Melbosa. Part of the stress for me is that I
don't want to exclude anyone from the games, including you. I think I stated that in an earlier post already, but it bears repeating.
What I get from your list is that you really want/need to keep Fridays or Saturdays half-open and I can understand that. Are you able to meet every second Friday evening and every second Monday evening? This would equal once a week and would still leave your Fridays half-open.
For this month we could play Mondays except for the Monday either before or after Friday the 25th?
I don't want to schedule stuff on long weekends ahead of time, because of the high likelihood that activities with family or friends will be planned on these weekends. If everyone's available, I have no problem playing on a long weekend, but history has shown that long weekends typically get spoken for by significant others and such.
Quote from: Melbosa on April 02, 2008, 02:09:20 PM
RPGing is usually until 12:00 or 1:00 PM in the evening, eats up the entire night, is twice as long as my other activities, is on a popular night for social events (B-Day Parties, Social Gatherings, Trips, etc), and is still damn fun time. So if you look at it that way, it gets the same time alloted to it as any of my sports in a month, should we play only every second week.
This is interesting, and may be the root of our disconnect - the amount of time each of wants to spend on RPGing. I'm hoping to spend 10 to 12 hours every two weeks on it, and you want to spend 5-6 hours on it every two weeks. Neither one of us is wrong, though.
Quote from: Melbosa on April 02, 2008, 02:09:20 PM
I'm assuming this post mostly because of me, as you are all aware of my schedules during the week. If you want, we can go every Monday, but I can only support the 3 Hour window, with ample time before or after to allow for other things I may need to do that night. To be honest I don't know how well this will work with an RPG session, as 3 hours isn't that much.
3 hour sessions can accomplish a fair bit, if the whole time is spent RPGing. Many of our weekend RPG nights waste away an hour or more eating, socializing, talking about all manner of non-RPG things (I'll accept my full share of the blame there).
Quote from: Thorin on April 02, 2008, 07:25:31 PM
What I get from your list is that you really want/need to keep Fridays or Saturdays half-open and I can understand that. Are you able to meet every second Friday evening and every second Monday evening? This would equal once a week and would still leave your Fridays half-open.
No, I don't think I can after taking a hard look over the last two days at what my summer is going to be like, and how much one person can really handle. Two nights out of a month, with an occasional 3rd is all I am able to commit. I will modify my post to say so.
Quote from: Thorin on April 02, 2008, 07:25:31 PM
Quote from: Melbosa on April 02, 2008, 02:09:20 PM
RPGing is usually until 12:00 or 1:00 PM in the evening, eats up the entire night, is twice as long as my other activities, is on a popular night for social events (B-Day Parties, Social Gatherings, Trips, etc), and is still damn fun time. So if you look at it that way, it gets the same time alloted to it as any of my sports in a month, should we play only every second week.
This is interesting, and may be the root of our disconnect - the amount of time each of wants to spend on RPGing. I'm hoping to spend 10 to 12 hours every two weeks on it, and you want to spend 5-6 hours on it every two weeks. Neither one of us is wrong, though.
True enough. So like I stated, I can drop one of the campaigns, therefore getting my 6 hour fix every 2 weeks and you get your 12 hours every two weeks.