I'm tired of waiting for my players, it's hard to care anymore. Should I be doing something different?(cross post)
Hi!
I've been a DM for a few years now, but it hasn't been much other than DMing for school clubs so typically my campaigns are just one shots.
My friends know I do DND, really it's kind of how I got connected to them in the first place through one of my original party members introducing me to the "leader" of his large friend group.
Over the year of me knowing these guys many of them have expressed intrest in doing a campaign with me, of which I've always excitedly said yes and let them pick from my very big list of ideas I've had. I'm a creative writer as well so the full story is always floating in my head so it never takes me long to make it a campaign. However I always run into an issue with my players: They dont try. For example, 4-5 of my friends have asked to do a campaign. I told them yes, hosted a session 0 to tell them the plot and asked them to make character sheets in one on one meetings with me (they're not very good at making sheets as they're inexperienced). However, whenever we make the sheet I tell them I'd like for them to create a story for their character so I can make them feel involved in the world. It has been a month, one person never gave me a time for his character sheet but is almost always on roblox or overwatch, another said she'd make hers but I don't know if it ever got done. The rest have their sheets but only one ever sent me their character lore.
I want to play this game, but I don't want to micromanage these grown ass people. I can't help but not gaf anymore because they can't do one thing I've asked: write a story. I didn't give them a word count or anything, it could be a single paragraph but somehow they can't even manage that. To more seasoned DMs and GMs, wtf should I do??? should I drop it? should I pester them even though that makes them annoyed/mad at me?? I feel bad for myself and the one guy who did what I asked him to do. They have great concepts we've discussed but they just can't put it into words so I remember it for later. I want to start this campaign, but I feel defeated.
Any advice?
edit: should have added this before but most of them (but one he doesn't care about most things with much enthusiasm I don't know why) have the beginning of a story, they have talked to each other about having connected backstorys. One of them is a film major, and he's working with two others to make multiple comic books and a planet system with entire world building. they are capable and they're not combat oriented players. if they were I'd move on but they aren't with all but that one they're very creative people!
Edit 2: Thank you everyone for your advice! once I finish moving into my apartment I'll try to start it back up at least for maybe a session or to make sure everyone's sheets are completed.
to the grognards being assholes stfu this game is a game and a story for fun, don't tell me how to run my games. it's my games and my table hush it.(I learned that word today. it's my new favorite word)
