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Post by ripx187 on Jun 18, 2019 16:20:23 GMT -5
The number of talented Dungeon Masters with no players is really bad right now. I see so much potential being wasted. To me, gaming is and always will be, a face to face thing. No computers at the table, and everyone working with pencils and paper. For many, because of limited space or just living in the boonies, you might have to play online, but I honestly don't think that this should ever be the case.
I know that my game started with just myself and two players and quickly became a very active club that meets every fourth Saturday. This was accomplished by word of mouth and players bringing other players who they sponsored into the fold. There is a very active interest in Old-School gaming, I know that people come to my table specifically to play AD&D either to just see what it is about, or because they just don't like Roll playing.
Do you have any advice for those creative DM's who just don't have anything real going on? I think that we really owe it to our hobby to try and encourage them to practice their trade. There are many DM's who are inactive that I personally would enjoy playing with but can't because of geography.
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Post by bravewolf on Jun 18, 2019 19:24:51 GMT -5
I have two suggestions:
1. Talk to people about our hobby, even just mentioning it in passing. Bring a notebook or sketchpad - maps and sketches are icebreakers - and idly work in it at family or friend gatherings (within the limits of what's polite). You might be surprised at who gets interested.
2. If you have a small group going and want more players, run a game at a local gaming store or obliging cafe - it's a good way to advertize.
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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Jun 19, 2019 12:13:06 GMT -5
I posted on MeetUp and got a reply and then I invited some people from church. I started a new game in 2009 and ran it monthly until I shut it down in 2017 when my wife got sick. I had about 30-35 different people play in the campaign over that time. I will probably try to restart it eventually, maybe a year from now. Right now I am content to play in a campaign, but the ref bug will hit me at some point I am sure.
I started it with friends in my home, and then when we added people I moved it to a meeting from at a Donato's Pizza place. Later we moved it to a public mezzanine level at a Giant Eagle Grocery store. We met quite a few people who walked up and asked what we were doing, some of them ended up playing. A couple of people from work were in the game.
I may eventually revive my pbp game, but not right away.
My games are always OD&D, but as I noted before, the game I am playing in right now is 2nd Ed AD&D. I have never played it before, and currently I have a human Fighting-Man and a backup character of a half-elf Cleric.
The main thing is that you have to get the word out about your game and there are a number of ways to do that. Meetup is a good place to do that, word of mouth, walk by traffic, and of course talking about hobbies with your friends and acquaintances is always good in more ways than one.
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Post by hengest on Mar 30, 2021 22:14:06 GMT -5
I am bumping this thread because it is of general interest to me, but also to say that I think in the US (where many of us are located) over the coming year, as people feel safer socializing, there is going to be increased interest in activities with people. Maybe we should use this thread to brainstorm ideas to attract people to games (and perhaps from those games to this forum as well, but most important, to the games themselves) in the coming months. There are a number of people on here (contributing to the fanzine, posting) who I know could run a game even if they don't have so much experience. I am among those who do not have so much experience, so I am including myself as well. The more experienced refs here will correct me if I am wrong, but I think the following things are true. - You do not have to be perfect to be a good ref
- You do not have to have decades of experience for people to have fun
- You can make things up on the fly better than you think
- You can plan quite easily an intro thingy, a mini-sandbox, that would fill plenty of time when allowing for explanations, laughing, questions, confusion, players getting the idea, and having fun.
- It doesn't have to be 3d6 hours long to be a good session
- The game does not need to be epic in scope, explosive, or world-shattering to be fun
- It is still gaming if you only sit down with two people and no snacks and then another two people two weeks later and then the first two people again sometime, or only one of them. It does not have to look like a rowdy laughing crowd of ten people in a basement to be a reali live group that is playing in your game.
- A lot of people would probably think it was pretty cool that you are doing this
Advertising could happen at community centers, public libraries, coffeeshops, comic shops, game stores, some bars, and by word of mouth.
Advertising wouldn't need to look cool to OSR or Murkhill people. It wouldn't need to say anything about MIY or DIY or worldbuilding or rules or rulings. It would simply need to catch the eye of a few people, gamers or not.
No app needed, no phone, no tablet, no nothing. Bring a friend. Spouses can come together, parent and child can come together (even babies can attend), you could bring a date to get you both out of your comfort zone.
Nostalgia for certain age groups could get a touch of attention. "What was really happening in basements in 1978 / 1988?"
Keep it light and approachable, pregens, focus on interacting with the world rather than the abilities of any character.
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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Mar 31, 2021 2:55:02 GMT -5
I posted on MeetUp and got a reply and then I invited some people from church. I started a new game in 2009 and ran it monthly until I shut it down in 2017 when my wife got sick. I had about 30-35 different people play in the campaign over that time. I will probably try to restart it eventually, maybe a year from now. Right now I am content to play in a campaign, but the ref bug will hit me at some point I am sure. I started it with friends in my home, and then when we added people I moved it to a meeting from at a Donato's Pizza place. Later we moved it to a public mezzanine level at a Giant Eagle Grocery store. We met quite a few people who walked up and asked what we were doing, some of them ended up playing. A couple of people from work were in the game. I may eventually revive my pbp game, but not right away. My games are always OD&D, but as I noted before, the game I am playing in right now is 2nd Ed AD&D. I have never played it before, and currently I have a human Fighting-Man and a backup character of a half-elf Cleric. The main thing is that you have to get the word out about your game and there are a number of ways to do that. Meetup is a good place to do that, word of mouth, walk by traffic, and of course talking about hobbies with your friends and acquaintances is always good in more ways than one. I just realized that I shut my face to face game down a little over 4 years ago. |
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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Mar 31, 2021 2:58:50 GMT -5
- You do not have to be perfect to be a good ref
- You do not have to have decades of experience for people to have fun
- You can make things up on the fly better than you think
- You can plan quite easily an intro thingy, a mini-sandbox, that would fill plenty of time when allowing for explanations, laughing, questions, confusion, players getting the idea, and having fun.
- It doesn't have to be 3d6 hours long to be a good session
- The game does not need to be epic in scope, explosive, or world-shattering to be fun
- It is still gaming if you only sit down with two people and no snacks and then another two people two weeks later and then the first two people again sometime, or only one of them. It does not have to look like a rowdy laughing crowd of ten people in a basement to be a reali live group that is playing in your game.
- A lot of people would probably think it was pretty cool that you are doing this
Great post, have an exalt. I agree with this and I would further add that IMO games that are not epic in scope, explosive or world-shattering are more fun. If they are to be any of those things, let it grow into that all by itself. Don't force any of that, let it happen if it will. |
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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Mar 31, 2021 2:59:33 GMT -5
Advertising could happen at community centers, public libraries, coffeeshops, comic shops, game stores, some bars, and by word of mouth.
Advertising wouldn't need to look cool to OSR or Murkhill people. It wouldn't need to say anything about MIY or DIY or worldbuilding or rules or rulings. It would simply need to catch the eye of a few people, gamers or not.
No app needed, no phone, no tablet, no nothing. Bring a friend. Spouses can come together, parent and child can come together (even babies can attend), you could bring a date to get you both out of your comfort zone.
Nostalgia for certain age groups could get a touch of attention. "What was really happening in basements in 1978 / 1988?"
Keep it light and approachable, pregens, focus on interacting with the world rather than the abilities of any character. That is all great advice, some of the best in fact. |
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Post by Morton on Apr 24, 2021 23:12:13 GMT -5
I am looking to do that myself, over the past few years I have lost most of my players as they have passed away. So I am having to start over with people a whole lot younger than I am and it is strange. We seem to have no common frame of reference. From my point of view they are illiterate, unread and imagination impaired.
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Post by hengest on Jan 30, 2022 13:16:56 GMT -5
Well, I'm finally taking my own advice from above. Doing what I can and running a sandbox with whoever's interested. Yeah, would be great to be at a table, but I'm having fun anyway. And it turns out the unsolicited advice I gave is working okay. But I still encourage anyone who can to get out (or stay in) and do do do something of the kind...
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Post by True Black Raven on Feb 5, 2022 22:59:47 GMT -5
Have not played for a while, I suppose I should look for players.
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Post by Vladimir, The Dark Prince on Feb 21, 2022 21:42:16 GMT -5
The number of talented Dungeon Masters with no players is really bad right now. I see so much potential being wasted. To me, gaming is and always will be, a face to face thing. No computers at the table, and everyone working with pencils and paper. For many, because of limited space or just living in the boonies, you might have to play online, but I honestly don't think that this should ever be the case. I know that my game started with just myself and two players and quickly became a very active club that meets every fourth Saturday. This was accomplished by word of mouth and players bringing other players who they sponsored into the fold. There is a very active interest in Old-School gaming, I know that people come to my table specifically to play AD&D either to just see what it is about, or because they just don't like Roll playing. Do you have any advice for those creative DM's who just don't have anything real going on? I think that we really owe it to our hobby to try and encourage them to practice their trade. There are many DM's who are inactive that I personally would enjoy playing with but can't because of geography. Still true two and a half years later. |
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