We play every other Wednesday. You don't make it you miss it. But barely ever has anyone missed it for a bit over 2 years now.
When our party was three or four players, the GM said he'd run a session as long as there were two or three, respectively. We went to a fifth and as long as there's three players, the DM runs the session. I've since gone ahead and implemented the same rule with the group I GM. I think it's better for everyone. People who want to play still get to play, the people who can't make it don't feel bad because their absence cancels the game/don't feel obligated to play if they don't want to.
One of my players struggles with depression. Taking the pressure off in a similar way helps his overall health status. (Not feeling bad for missing when he feels bad already)
Our way: the group without him is running another round in a different setting with one of the players as DM. So if we hear he won't come, we just switch seats and character sheets.
I feel all characters that could have made it should get some sort of boon on missed sessions.
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