DMing my first episodic (each session is a self-contained story

Death or an epilogue with the players inputs.

>go on exotic vacation
>spend entire vacation worrying how you're going to describe it to your friends when you get home
>don't actually have any fun on your exotic vacation because you're too worried about how you're going to describe it to your friends when you get home

This is you OP

We do that with our Cthulhu games when everyone cant make it. We just end the session and the players get an epilogue of the effects of their choices which carry over to the next episode.

Forget about making them completely self contained, and have a myth arc.

Good examples of shows that pulled this off:

Justice League Unlimited S1
X-Files


Actually, the JLU is a perfect set up for an episodic campaign, with players dropping in and out at will.

Each monster of the week that they have to deal with should help point them in the direction of the myth arc, and give them knew knowledge. Meanwhile, all players are briefed regardless of participation, because they're in the same organization.

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>>44688307
A box with 4 buttons on that do different coloured explosions.

That is all.

>>44688322
"Bang."

>>44688357
Get out of here, Mac Walters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3B9PAIMvce8

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>>44688342
>OP asks a a question.
>You assume OP is obsessing over it.

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>>44688307
I don't think that scene will ever get old.

>>44689513
Never ever.

>>44688307
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAOVxqg49DQ

>>44688307

A letter from the Network, informing the cast and crew that they won't be renewed for another season.