Product Review: 100 Ways to Excuse a Character Absence
From time to time, I'll be checking out some of the free/PWYW submissions in the DM Guild and writing a short review, highlighting the products I think are worth checking out. I'll be using my own evaluation system:
Function - How well does the product do what it's supposed to?
Form - How well is it organized? Is it professional looking? Etc.
Feel - Is it visually appealing? What's the general feel?
Final - Overall rating based on the other three.
Today I'll be taking a look at a fun little resource intended to deal with the always annoying and inconvenient situation of players having to miss a session. It happens in any and every group. Inevitably, somebody can't make it and you as the DM (or collectively as a group) need to decide how to proceed with their character's absence. Sometimes it works out that another player or even the DM can play that character for the session, but when it is easier for the character to simply be elsewhere, it's handy to have something for them to be doing. 100 Ways to Excuse a Character Absence by Alex Clippinger (@Aclippinger) is a tool precisely created to help with this situation. It contains a number of d4 lists organized first by player class and then by location (in a city vs. in the wilds). It also begins with a d4 list of general reasons that can apply to any character, including this hilarious gem:
The supplement is intended to be lighthearted and humorous and it is indeed both of those things. Alex does an excellent job at providing various interesting reasons for a character to suddenly have to disappear or separate from the group. Without giving too much of the content away, here are a couple of my favourites:
Barbarian - The barbarian agreed to test something the brewer called "fire ale." The sounds— and smells—from the bathroom indicate the test was not a success.
Ranger - The ranger's been hired to track down a faun who owes some gambling debts. He's never taken a Pan contract before.
Rogue - The rogue is...saving a cat from a tree? When you see the wealthy noble waiting tearfully nearby, you're pretty sure you get what's going on. You're sure they'll catch up later.
And my favourite:
Wizard - A prior incantation gone awry causes the wizard's spellbook to turn into a tiny naked man and sprint away. The wizard says "this happens sometimes" and takes off after it.
Not all of the reasons are ridiculous, and they all appropriately fit the class they are designed for. Though the list is certainly not exhaustive, it provides enough of a framework for DMs to work with so they can roll on the tables and then craft the result to properly fit the individual character and/or the campaign. So how does the product stand up overall?
Function 5/5
"100 Ways" does exactly what it is supposed to do and does it well. The excuses are varied and appropriate and well thought-out.
Form 4.5/5
The content is easy to use and is organized in a logical way, beginning with general reasons and then proceeding alphabetically through the classes.
Feel 3/5
While the content is organized, the overall look and feel could use a little work. There are plenty of images included in the supplement, but their placing is sometimes awkward. A few images cover over the footer text at the bottom of the page, resulting in a somewhat messy appearance overall.
Final 4.2/5
"100 Ways" is definitely a great resource worth having in your repertoire. The irony is that you would hope you don't have to use it, but if you do, it serves as a good go-to for absent characters.
You can grab this resource through the DM Guild here. The product is pay what you want with the suggested price of $0.75 US.
