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OK, so I have a dilemma that I would like some opinions on.
So here is some background. I have recently started running the Council of Thieves AP at my FLGS, which is not that big. My FLGS charges players $1/hour to play there but "awards" the GM $1/hour credit to host a game there. I have also told my FLGS that I would run the game there.
Now the dilemma is that there are some issues I am running into with running the game there and I don't know if I should move the game to my own home or try to continue playing there.
The issues are that since it is a FLGS people come in and out of the place all the time, and since it is not that big it can be a bit of a distraction to both myself and the players. And the other thing is that two of my four players don't really like having to pay for playing.
So to the question. What should I do? Should I go against what I told my FLGS and move the game to my home? Should I continue to play there with the distractions and the players who don't want to pay?
Of the two options (running at home or running at the FLGS), which do you think would result in you running a better game?
You'll certainly have better control of the environment at your house. Is the playspace (table, chairs, etc.) at the FLGS better than what you might be using at home?
Regarding the money issue, your FLGS is awesome for having the policy it does. $5 for an afternoon of gaming is something I would gladly pay as a player, and the credit you receive as DM is a nice perk. I generally think that FLGSs are a barely sustainable business model at best, but I like that policy. Is the money really so big a concern for your players? I mean, if they can't afford it, that's one thing, but if they're complaining because they believe they shouldn't have to pay, I have basically zero sympathy for them.
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Personally I think running it at home would result in running a better game. And my home is suited quite well, I am a really big tabletop RPGer and have a really nice set up to play and everything.
Its not such much how much it is, it is more they just don't like the idea of paying when we could be playing at my own place. As well as paying with so many distractions. Overall they just think that the amount they are paying for the actual amount of game play they get isn't worth it. Oh and it is $1/person/hour so with 4 players for 4 hours it is $16 for an afternoon.
An example of this is the last time we played we did so for 4 hours and then continued at my home when our time ran out and played for about another 4 hours. The amount of actual game play was double if not more at my home.
Another thing is that they said that the environment would be different than it used to be (I used to run games there a while back but it stopped because of players being childish and flaky) but overall it is not and the distractions are still there and to be honest, new ones have appeared as well.
My big worry is that if I choose not to game at my FLGS after already promising them that I would run a game there I will be look at badly by them. Especially since two of their other games just stopped because of the GMs being childish and stupid and upsetting each other because of some stupid "High/Middle School" drama.
Overall I just feel kind of guilty for giving up on them again and almost just wanting to not do anything there anymore. I am just really tired of the drama that goes on there but I still want to support them. I just don't know if it is really worth it anymore.
*****Sorry for this little rant*****
Personally I think running it at home would result in running a better game. And my home is suited quite well, I am a really big tabletop RPGer and have a really nice set up to play and everything.
Its not such much how much it is, it is more they just don't like the idea of paying when we could be playing at my own place. As well as paying with so many distractions. Overall they just think that the amount they are paying for the actual amount of game play they get isn't worth it. Oh and it is $1/person/hour so with 4 players for 4 hours it is $16 for an afternoon.
An example of this is the last time we played we did so for 4 hours and then continued at my home when our time ran out and played for about another 4 hours. The amount of actual game play was double if not more at my home.
Another thing is that they said that the environment would be different than it used to be (I used to run games there a while back but it stopped because of players being childish and flaky) but overall it is not and the distractions are still there and to be honest, new ones have appeared as well.
My big worry is that if I choose not to game at my FLGS after already promising them that I would run a game there I will be look at badly by them. Especially since two of their other games just stopped because of the GMs being childish and stupid and upsetting each other because of some stupid "High/Middle School" drama.
Overall I just feel kind of guilty for giving up on them again and almost just wanting to not do anything there anymore. I am just really tired of the drama that goes on there but I still want to support them. I just don't know if it is really worth it anymore.
*****Sorry for this little rant*****
You made your promise based upon them keeping their promise. Their place is still noisy. I am sure, or at least I hope, that your not giving them 16 dollars does not break the bank. I think you should play at your house since the store seems to not benefit you. It is not your fault the other games crashed, even though you feel bad about it. Once again I suggest the house.
The house sounds like the way to go to me, too. It's incumbent upon the game store to make their environment inviting enough that you'd prefer it over your own set up. For some people, the game store might be better than anything they could get set up, but it sounds like that's not the case for you. I don't know if this is something you'd want to do, but explaining to the store that they aren't really giving you a reason to play there might encourage them to find other ways to entice gamers to run games in their store.
Just tell the store that you've tried it, but it doesn't quite work for you. It would be a good idea to give them recommendations for what they could improve on to make you more likely to try again, that way you can still leave on a positive note.
For me, I can't imagine trying to run a roleplaying game in a public venue. Passersby asking questions, and random noise all the time would break immersion right away.
Give notice in advance. Explain your reasons maturely.
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And you did take a vote, right? I mean, it is pretty obvious that those two of your players really want to move to your place. But what about the others? Do that first, and then go to the owner of the store. And like Taliesin Hoyle said, be mature and they'll respond in kind. If they don't, then you shouldn't feel bad about leaving anymore anyway.
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Just as a side note. All of the gamers I have known for over 4 years, one being my wife. And two want to move it to my home the other two don't care either way.
Another thing is that the shop doesn't pay for staff. When I said small I mean small it is owned and run by a husband and wife, who are kind of like friends. I live in a small town in the Northern California Mountains and the nearest other FLGS would either be Paizo.com or Amazon.com or about 2 hours away.
Thanks everyone for the advice. I think I know what I am going to do.