Insufficient Players (CSC)

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: "Shouldn't they have all been here by now? ... If we don't start soon, there won't be enough time to do anything... I doubt if Clarissa the mighty and Whandar can take on this quest by themselves tonight... I've tried calling, but nobody's home... I'm certain they knew there was a game tonight. "
It happens—at the last minute nearly everybody cancels out, leaving the DM and one or two other players sitting alone in a room trying to decide how to proceed. Unfortunately, the campaign often depends on having all the PCs and the creativity of those who didn't show up. If the DM lets the players who did show run a herd of NPCs, much of the plot value of the galne is gone. If he lets them run the other players' characters, he either has to enforce the 'reality' and 'pennanence' of any datnage or death that occurs or treat the whole play session as a dream seq uence that never really happened. Although this cheats the actual players out of experiencing this part of the adventure, they are the ones who chose not to show up.
The other alternative is not to run the regular campaign that night. The DM might consider the following instead:
Teleport or gate the player characters who showed up into another adventure. Let them gain additional experience points here, but don't let them be permanently killed (make it a dream experience).
Run a separate adventure, say something from a magazine, or even an extemporaneous story adventure.
The last may be the best. Put away the AD&D® game material and get out a fun board game, a deck of cards, or even a video game. Relax, have a good time, and continue the campaign next session.