Sometimes the best thing that you can do as either a player or a DM is to leave the game. While it may seem an unfortunate ending, the reality is that if done properly, it can save friendships. Conversely, done poorly, it can ruin them. People can get pretty serious about their D&D games, and (assuming that you want to be friends with the people you played with) how you leave a game can be even more important than leaving it in the first place.
Don’t Be Rude
“Thanks for the opportunity to play. It’s been fun, but I don’t think I’m a good fit for your game right now.”
“You’re a lousy DM and I hate all of your stupid role playing and not letting me build the characters I like so I’m leaving.”
These are both expressing someone’s intentions to leave a game due to stylistic issues, but the first one allows for the possibility of an ongoing friendship (and maybe even future gaming together), while the second one carries a lot of anger and frustration via personal attacks.
Just because you aren’t going to game together in the immediate future doesn’t mean that you have to be a complete jerk about how you leave.
The same goes for pretty much any other issue. It doesn’t matter whether the problem is style, approach, personality, game speed, or body odour, there’s no reason to be rude about it.
Don’t Be (Too) Dishonest
If you tell someone that you are leaving their game because of the time of the week when you play, when the truth is that you just don’t want to game with them, you may find yourself invited by the same person when they either move the game to fit your schedule or start a new game expecting you to join. So now you either need to tell the truth, which is made worse by your lie, or come up with a new excuse, which may only pass the buck down the line further.
You may decide that the best way not to hurt someone’s feelings is to avoid the truth, but most of the time it will only make things worse.
If you need to tone down the truth a bit to make it sting a bit less, do what you need to; but changing the story will likely only bite you in the long run.
Don’t Be Hasty
That’s right…channel your inner ent for a bit.
Why?
Because it’s typically a lot easier to get out of a game than it is to get into one. I have played with or DMed about 50 people over the past two years, but I also have known at least that many looking for a game. The rule seems to be that there are lots of people who are interested in playing, but only a few who are willing to run games.
This means that you are giving up an opportunity that a lot of other people would like to have.
So take a few minutes and ask yourself: Are the problems really that bad? Is it more stressful than fun? Is it the game or am I just going through a rough patch personally? Do I really want out or do I just need a week or two off?
Don’t rush until you’re ready, and don’t be a putz if you decide to leave.
Keep on playing, and have fun!