I don't know what it is about me. Maybe I smell bad, maybe I talk too much. Or maybe I was just born on the wrong day. Whatever it is, I wish someone would tell me. All it takes is a little e-mail saying, "Byron, we hate you because you don't shower enough."
Somebody please just tell me and I'll try to change whatever it is. I'll start showering twice a day, I'll use more deodorant. I'll even start celebrating my birthday on a different day (not that I celebrate it anyway). I'll do anything to get GMs to stop prematurely ending the PBEM games I play in.
I used to think it was the fault of the GMs for letting their games stagnate and die, or for allowing certain characters to effectively leave the story. How silly of me to think that! The problem so obviously rests with me! How I else could I possibly explain the fact that all of the games I play in end prematurely? In the past year alone, I have watched over a dozen different games end - most of them quite suddenly. Sometimes they end because the GM simply decides to stop posting to us (one time the GM handed us the excuse, "I forgot I even had a game going.") Twice in the past three months I have been pushed out of a game by the GM because my character's storyline was beginning to diverge from the main story. This can only be my fault. Maybe I need to entertain the GMs a little more. Could that be it?
The first PBEM game I ever played in didn't have these problems. No matter what circumstances the GM was under, the game always continued. No matter how many diverging storylines we had (never less than two, sometimes as many as six or seven), the game always continued. Subplots, no matter how trivial, were played out to their end in the knowledge that all storylines were circular; they may diverge for a little while, but they always come back together. I have decided that it must have been beginner's luck. I have only played in one PBEM since then which came as close to completion as that one did. Surely I must be doing something wrong now which causes my GMs to end their games (or my thread of the game) so prematurely. I hesitate to believe that the fates have wantonly cursed me so.
I am a very good role-player. I have had quite a few GMs actively recruit me for participation in their games, citing the skill which I bring to the virtual table. This is not manifestation of ego, it is a fact. I am also a consistent player who can be relied upon to post regularly. More often than not, I find myself in games with other persons of talent and consistency, creating solid, reliable parties. Given this, why is it that I keep getting brushed off? What in Zorak's name am I doing wrong?
I do not play munchkinized characters. My characters are consistently unique, clever, well developed and chock-full of personality. In short, they are the kinds of characters that good GMs love to have in their parties because of the endless role-playing possibilities. So why is it that the possibilities always seem to be cut off so soon?
I would really love it if all the GMs I've ever had could write me and explain why they felt the need to end their games, or even just my particular thread. Why, GMs, do you feel so little obligation to your projects? Have I done something to offend you? Why is it that you can't take a few minutes out of your day to deal with the game you were so eager to start? All I ask is that you look past whatever faults I may have as a player and stick to your obligation. Take that extra few minutes to respond to your players' posts. Take the opportunity to develop those subplots, for you never know what exciting adventures and role-play they may bring.
In the meantime, I promise to do my level best to correct my behavior. I, Byron Cutting, am the one player who is singularly responsible for the deaths of so many countless Play-By-E-Mail and Play-By-Post games, and as such I must do whatever I can to improve myself. No GM could possibly take fault or responsibility for their games, or for the enjoyment of their players, for the fault must rest squarely with me. Game Masters everywhere may rest easy in the knowledge that they always tried their best, regardless of the challenges put forth by their players. They cannot be blamed for the failure - in part or in whole - of their own games.
