How Can I Ask the GM for Better Storylines?

[Question paraphrased for privacy]

My roleplaying group is split into two parties. My party has gotten nothing but combat to do, whereas the other party has gotten combat plus more interesting things like a diplomacy mission and mysteries to solve. I’m worried if I say something, it’ll come off wrong. How can I bring this up without upsetting my friends?

Hello there,

I have been in this situation a few times myself, and it’s an awkward one. You devote a lot of time to this game, so you want it to be fun, but you don’t want to seem ungrateful to your GM for running things in the first place.

I don’t know your GM or how they plan games, but I’ve had several experiences at my own table where I found out after a campaign was over that players would have preferred something different than the stories I’d offered. I’d have been happy to give it to them, but I didn’t know they wanted it. So it could be that your GM is giving you nothing but combat missions because they think that’s what you want.

There’s no perfect way to say this, but I suggest approaching your GM with something along the lines of, “Hey, I really liked that intrigue story you did for the other group. I’d love something like that for our group.” If your GM is reasonable, they’ll realize that they could be doing something that would increase the fun for your group.

If it were my group, I’d talk casually to my fellow players first to see if they’d also be interested in a change of pace. But it’s totally up to your judgment whether that would fly in your group or not.

If your GM doesn’t respond well to your pitch, there may not be much you can do. That’s the rub with RPGs; a lot of them are either good or not, without any room for change.

I wish you luck in your game. Thanks for writing in,
Oren