Disappearing GMs (and players)

So, there's always been an issue with any online games that really needs a solution.  I recently was in a campaign where the DM disappeared on us without notice before the campaign even really started.  We played for less than an hour in session 1 before it ended due to technical issues.  He just flat out didn't show up for session 2 and is showing offline on Discord, it's clear he's ghosting us because there was some tension/criticism in session 1.  This is a prominent member of the Roll20 community (I don't feel like naming him or calling him out) and it's not the first time it's happened.  There's another DM on the site who has gotten at least twice in the same manner, except this just deleted the campaign page without notice.  Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.  I see this GM constantly posting new games so I'm sure he does it all the time.  Players do the same thing at times. I normally hate rating systems on sites like this but maybe it's necessary.  When half a dozen people set time aside in their busy lives just to have the GM waste that time and not show up without the common courtesy and respect a grown man should show by telling players the game isn't working, that's just unacceptable behavior. Maybe a tag could be applied to profiles of people who ghost campaigns multiple times, which expires after a set amount of time?  This may seem harsh, but it's unfair for the next group of players who come around only to have their time wasted by an unreliable GM.

I am all for an Account Rating System because I won't lie, this is getting ridiculous and the amount of "bad experiences" people are having by taking risks, whether you're paying a DM and they just flat out run away from you, or even going about it freely and they're being dishonest or dishonorable, really diminishes the experience of Roll20. There needs to be a Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down or a SCORE number, much like Roll20 has here in the Suggestions/Ideas thread. Something really needs to happen. The amount of scammers/flakers/no-shows/phony DM's are through the roof! Make the score up or down be a part of the subscription package.

If you have paid for your DM and they do not offer the session, that's one thing. Maybe negotiate for payment after sessions? Maybe failure to provide paid sessions should be a reportable thing here. But this? This would only promote further toxicity and nepotism in a game that already has real struggles to focus on. You do not own your DM. Your DM does not own you. Plan around that and find happiness.

So you're saying the players who take time out of their lives aren't allowed to be angry that a DM completely sets them up, where they deduct time out of their day from things like family or other activities just so the DM can flake and get off completely free just because "OHH IT WOULD HURT THE DM'S FEELINGS BUT WHO GIVES TWO CRAPS ABOUT A PLAYER" ? Especially if money is involved via this Pay To Play system? You're literally OKAYING a scam because "It would hurt the DM's feelings to put a downvote on them for doing this to their players"? Luna L. said: If you have paid for your DM and they do not offer the session, that's one thing. Maybe negotiate for payment after sessions? Maybe failure to provide paid sessions should be a reportable thing here. But this? This would only promote further toxicity and nepotism in a game that already has real struggles to focus on. You do not own your DM. Your DM does not own you. Plan around that and find happiness.

I meant to come back and edit my post to be a bit more to the point about how I thought the idea could be refined. I guess I'll do that with a reply! A ticket system to report a DM for bailing on a paid session seems like an efficient first step. Scamming is bad. Is this already reportable? Would chargebacks not solve the issue from a consumer perspective? I may fail to understand the issue! Irrelevant side-note: no one should be mad at anyone when it's game time. If we're getting mad, we've already made at least one too many bad calls. ;)

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