We love playing RPG’s, and we hate to miss a session, but we’re grownups (technically), and sometimes life happens. Everyone understands why players have to miss a session once in a while. But during that game you missed, a bunch of things happened. The player’s character missed it, somehow. Why were they gone? There must be a reason. Here’s a few to get you started!

This list is specific for the game Quantum Black, so there’s a bunch of references to the corporate nature of the character’s jobs within the game. You could adapt many of these to any modern or future setting.

Why Your Character Missed the Adventure

  • You were sent to the nation of [redacted] on a liaison with [redacted]. You cannot discuss it. Your cover story is that you were getting a colonoscopy.
  • You were getting a colonoscopy.
  • The company sent you to Brazos, Texas to work with the organized crime task force of the local police. You can’t talk about it. Your cover story is that you were attending the funeral of a great aunt.
  • You were attending the funeral of a great aunt.
  • The company requested your help analyzing a sample. The sample was retrieved during another team’s mission. You can say that, though you can’t disclose what you found out.
  • You had to complete your annual sexual harassment training
  • It was time for weapons re-qualification
  • The company sent you to interview a round-the-world solo sailor. You can’t talk about it. Your cover story is that you had to re-take your sexual harassment training.
  • Internal security wanted to talk to you. You survived. So far. You can’t talk about it. Your cover story is that you had to straighten out your I-9 paperwork, which HR had somehow messed up.
  • You were on vacation.
  • Your teenage sweetheart died, and you had to attend the funeral.
  • You were having a romantic encounter.
  • You were seriously ill. The company sent you to Quantum Integrated Health Sciences for medical care. They cured you, and you feel great! You think.
  • You had to take part in a focus group to discuss potential improvements at Quantum Integrated Logistics.
  • You had jury duty.
  • You happened to be in the lab when a [redacted] got loose. You played an important part in neutralizing the threat. You can’t talk about it. The cover story is that you had to serve on the jury in a shoplifting case.
  • The last thing you remember is walking into headquarters. You woke up at home, three days later.
  • The police detained you for a short while after a traffic stop. After Quantum intervened they released you, and were quite apologetic.
  • Someone burgled your apartment while you were away. You had to fill out a police report.
  • You were violently ill, and had to stay very close to the bathroom.
  • You had to attend your nephew’s baptism.
  • Your expertise was required to assist team [redacted]. You can’t talk about it. Cover story: you had to attend your nephew’s baptism.
  • The company made you participate in a focus group, evaluating a new pistol. It jammed a lot.
  • Your car broke down.
  • You went hiking and got lost. You had to spend the night in the woods.
  • You won tickets to a concert the night before, and celebrated a bit too hard.
  • You were called to a meeting with [redacted]. You can’t talk about it. Your cover story is that you were part of a focus group evaluating a new pistol. It jammed a lot.
  • Internal security called you in to discuss what you did on the last assignment. You can’t talk about it. Your cover story is that your car broke down.
  • Internal security called you in for a “routine check”. It involved someone casting some strange rituals. You can’t talk about it. Your cover story is that the last thing you remember is walking into headquarters. You woke up at home, three days later.
  • You had to give a TED talk on the increasing popularity of superstitious beliefs.

Using the excuses in your campaign

If a character misses a session, give their characters a reason. I suppose you could roll randomly, but it probably makes more sense to assign one that makes sense for the character in question. After all, a character whose primary role is combatant wouldn’t likely be asked to help analyze something in the lab. Conversely, the scientist probably wouldn’t be evaluating weapons.

Since some of the reasons have cover stories to go along with them, it probably makes sense to pass these as notes or something, so the player knows the real reason, but can share it or not as they see fit.

Some of the reasons are completely mundane. But some are not. It may be tempting to give everyone the “sexy” reasons, but it’s probably good to mix in a few genuine jury duties and such as well. If nothing else, it helps make the cover stories more believable.

A list like this can help add a little more authenticity and depth to your RPG campaign. If you have ideas for how to adapt the list to other settings, leave them in the comments. Thanks for reading!

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