How to Have “The Talk” with a Bad GM

We’ve been in it, or we’ve had a friend that’s been in it. The relationship has gone sour, you’ve drifted apart for a while, and quite frankly you’re just more interested in seeing other people. It’s time to grit your teeth and have that talk you’ve been dreading. It’s time to break up with your GM.

I’m not ready for this type of game right now

Is your issue with the GM or is it with the type of game they are running? Maybe you want more Scooby Doo then political intrigue. Do the other players feel the same? How long is left in the current arc? All of these things should be taken into consideration before cutting the cord. Whatever the issue is sit down and outline it out, focus on things you could do to make it better. Come at it with the approach that you both have some work to do in the relationship. After all gaming is a two way street right? Step away from the problem; come at it with suggestions of improvement instead of demands. Be polite and civil. Remember Wil Wheaton says “Don’t be a dick.”

It’s not you it’s me

So you’ve come up with some solutions, and are getting ready to present. Are you going to cause a rift in the group? Could you stomach one more week? Maybe, just maybe, you could get someone else to fix the problem? No, you’ve come this far it’s time to pull yourself together and put it all out on the line. You’ve rehearsed it for a month now; it’s time to hack it out. Even if the entire group is behind you, approach the GM one on one. This will prevent a dear in the headlights response and a cornered animal reaction. Remember, the wild GM is an untamed beast and is best approached with caution; your character is on the line here. Please refrain from jumping out from behind and screaming, I’m still nursing a limp from the last time I made that mistake. If the matter is broached appropriately your concerns should come across as suggestions to make the game better.

I think we’re just meant to be friends

When begging, pleading and bargaining have failed it’s probably time to pull out the trump card; your graceful exit from the stage. While it’s a hard card to play if you really feel that your time is through it’s probably time to make your exit. You don’t want to be known as the ex-player that tried to passive aggressively destroys the game or the one that slowly stole all the dice from the table until no one had any to play with. I mean maybe the game would get better if we didn’t use dice? It’s better to exit gracefully then bring down everyone else’s fun along with you. Try to be honest with the GM as to why you’re leaving and try to work with them to gracefully exit the game. Besides, maybe an epic end to your character is exactly what’s needed to get your GM out of the funk.

We’ve all had to have variations of the talk with our GM’s how was yours? Any tips to share with the rest of us?