Privateer4hire | 03 Oct 2014 7:46 p.m. PST |
Real life and responsibilities get to us all. Sometimes you either can't or don't want to play after you've made the commitment to do so. For me, I had a buddy on east coast who was late by at least 1/2 and hour every (no exaggeration) game we ever played over a year's time. The one time I was 20 minutes late I figured he was going to rub it in my face---I still wound up beating him to the venue. I even tried fudging the start time once but he somehow knew I was project managering the deadline and showed up later that time :) What are your experiences? |
Pedrobear | 03 Oct 2014 8:31 p.m. PST |
I host. When my friends are going to be late they will just send a message and those of us who are already here adjust accordingly – either play a short filler game or deploy first while waiting. Once in a while someone cancels on the day itself, but we are friends over and above gaming opponents, and we all understand that family and work take precedence over gaming, so it's not an issue. Mind you, sometimes I wake up on a gaming day and suddenly don't feel the urge to game… but I haven't canceled on my gang yet. |
Bashytubits | 03 Oct 2014 9:27 p.m. PST |
I had a friend who was an hour late everytime no matter what. Once we told him the game was an hour earlier than the actual time and he showed up on time. This was the only time however after that he figured it out and was an hour late again. The only time I have had games go anything close to time with him was when I went to his house. |
skippy0001 | 03 Oct 2014 9:31 p.m. PST |
If they're late for roleplaying, they either get a pre-made character or their character has to meet up in a way that's beneficial for a party. For a boardgame, we wait and play/watch a computor/console game until they come in. We cruelly tell him he missed a great meal. For a skirmish miniatures game, he comes on as a reinforcement. We cruelly announce in his first move he wandered into a minefield. For a dungeon, his character is the survivor of a previous adventure party that got decimated by a tweacherous twap. And so on. |
Early morning writer | 03 Oct 2014 9:37 p.m. PST |
For a good cause, late is acceptable. Otherwise it is inconsiderate to the point of being outright rude, and quintuply so when it is consistent like this. Not saying lose your friend but never provide any sort of choice command – always the worst of everything. At some point he will ask why? Tell him if he wants better troops he has to show up on time and stop disrespecting his friends. That is just fair play (double entendre intended). |
Privateer4hire | 03 Oct 2014 10:08 p.m. PST |
Early morning writer, the thing is he and I played 'off brand' games that nobody would really touch. My choice was play with him and know he'd not be there on time or not play. He was a very nice fella just always late. |
raylev3 | 03 Oct 2014 10:11 p.m. PST |
It's just rude unless there's a good reason. |
ochoin | 03 Oct 2014 10:30 p.m. PST |
I'm not sure this is about gaming. Some people are habitually late to a raft of commitments. Freud would say it wasn't accidental: they really don't want to be there. I'm not so sure. I'm always slightly early to everything. I think it might just be a nature-nurture thing. |
etotheipi | 04 Oct 2014 4:16 a.m. PST |
Early morning writer, the thing is he and I played 'off brand' games that nobody would really touch. My choice was play with him and know he'd not be there on time or not play. He was a very nice fella just always late.
Bring a book? I'm always slightly early to everything. Me, too. I had a girlfriend who considered it a severe psychological disorder. |
cavcrazy | 04 Oct 2014 5:37 a.m. PST |
We had guy in our group who would always say he would be there and then he would never show, His excuse was always that he forgot. Eventually we just stopped inviting him, and the kick is that he got mad at us! |
Who asked this joker | 04 Oct 2014 6:30 a.m. PST |
An hour late is pretty rude. I am late on a regular basis because I help out getting the kids to bed before I leave. One other guy in the group has the same commitment. So we usually arrive within a few minutes of one another. The group knows this and that there is nothing that can be done. However, my late is usually about 15 minutes and the game really has not even started! |
Acharnement | 04 Oct 2014 7:28 a.m. PST |
I have to agree- late is late. For gaming or otherwise. Common (?) courtesy is contact the people who may be waiting for you and explain. Compensation is always appreciated in the form of drinks, snacks, etc. Almost every gamer has a cellphone or internet access so contact is not a problem barring technical difficulties. |
SaintGermaine | 04 Oct 2014 8:17 a.m. PST |
I've gotten patient since I retired. I gave up being frustrated about the hobby. I've removed most of the stress in my life (divorced first wife, got out of IT, retired, and got my health problems under control). Skippy handles it well too. He just sleeps. |
ravachol | 04 Oct 2014 8:56 a.m. PST |
Only I met with such anoyance was long time ago , setted up the game as normal but just before the play begun one othere player said he hhad to go to…dentist . He left me in charge of testing his army built along with mine while having game with opponent. Ended up with him showing up at the end of the game and getting upset for his troops were along causualities thus not allowing him to see dem in action nor giving him his usual muchkin pleasure when toying with rules to get game-winning combo . That was the fun part indeed. Otherwise I'm more on skippy customs side , if not there on time gamle beguins normally with late players or passerby wishing to try their hand at play welcomed to join in with what may be aviable while stilling keeping game balance or senari wise. No need to get things messy , more kinda open-bar with first come / first served but as long as there is some stock to spare late-comers may still enjoy play … in a non-competive way otherwise they would nescesserally be frustrated to. Else they may also play war-reporters on field , easy to handle , small team and no timing to depend on for the battle flow |
Weasel | 04 Oct 2014 2:44 p.m. PST |
When we RPG, we end up getting a ride from the train to the hosts house, so all at the same time. For wargames, the game starts when it starts. We're friends outside of gaming, so sometimes its shooting the breeze, sometimes its straight to the gaming table. In a larger group, I'd start the game after waiting 15-20 minutes. They could take over a small unit if they show late. |
Fergal | 04 Oct 2014 7:28 p.m. PST |
Consider yourself lucky to have a buddy that likes to play off brand games and plan accordingly? |
Weasel | 05 Oct 2014 1:48 p.m. PST |
It does help to have a few back up plans. |
OSchmidt | 06 Oct 2014 5:40 a.m. PST |
Dear Privateer. My methodology is simple. If this is the first or second time the player has come to the group, we will make provision. The third time and subsequent he is told "Oh too bad we're late, but the game has started and we really can't break it for you." The player is then allowed to watch, kibbitz, poke through my library to amuse himself. He will not play. If I like the guy, as umpire I might allow him to "come on with a small command" about halfway through the game. If he does not improve his behavior over the next three games, he is no longer invited. Usually he will self-select himself out long before that. I host all games at my house, and generally do not meet in club or store games. Those venues are rarely satisfactory, and you have no way of disinviting disagreeable and disruptive people. |