SoulDragon298 |
Recently, I've been getting into doing PbP since it's easy and convenient. However, I've always wanted to run a group the old-fashioned way: Around a table, dice in the middle, GM behind a screen. However, I can never get one going, and my friends are usually too busy to commit to a weekly game, and I'm not sure if they are still interested in Pathfinder. So how should I go about getting a group together? I know about the Gamer Connection forum, but due to my younger age, I'm hesitant to post there as it may bring unwanted attention, if you know what I mean (No offense to the Paizo community though, it's a good community, one of my favorites in fact :))
Landon Winkler |
Most of the groups I knew back in school were formed by groups of friends who started gaming together. Even if you just have one or two people to play with at first, already having a group makes it easier for other people to jump in.
If your school has any sort of geeky club (board gaming, chess, computer stuff, quiz bowl, even debate), joining that might get you in contact with people who share your interests.
The other thing that ended up getting us a couple people was actually players reading books at school. Not sure if that's allowed or suggested at your school, but it's a pretty good conversation starter. And if it doesn't work, it's not like you were wasting time :)
Best of luck!
Cheers!
Landon
SoulDragon298 |
I have brought PF books to school before, and I've thought about bringing them to read during lunch just to see if there's interest. I did try to organize a Emerald Spire game with some friends on the last day of school last year, but....apparently they forgot, because they all went home early instead of staying to play XD.
We did have an afterschool gaming club I occasionally went to, and I'd have my rulebooks sitting beside me while we played Munchkin, but all I got out of that was "Isn't that like D&D?" "Yea." "Ok" lol
Use Headbutt!! |
When I was in high school it was hard getting a gaming group because everyone had so much going on, but once I reached college there were a number of groups to choose from and I made some of my best friends that way. So when you say "young" which category are you talking about? If you are still in high school I would honestly suggest sticking to pbp and focusing on school/other stuff until you graduate. Things will get easier once you reach college. If you are having trouble finding a group in college then I honestly don't know what to tell you. Advice would depend on which college, where, ect (all information you shouldn't be giving out online).
Captain Marsh |
I live in a very rural area and for years assumed that it would be impossible to get a local game going. I was wrong.
These days , there are a lot of people out there who've played over time and who have 'lapsed.' Others have heard enough about fantasy and gaming (through movies and computer games mostly) that it's less of a hurdle.
The secret is to steadily, constantly, persistently get the word out.
First, put up notices anywhere that you think might be a good fit: hobby stores, club billboards, the library, etc.
Second, start a local Facebook page for your (still theoretical) gaming group. In your notices, direct people to this facebook page. Fill it with cool images of fantasy adventures, and ideas about what kind of stories your gaming group might take on. Make it seem a bit more tangible than just "Hey, would you like to try Pathfinder?"
Third, be more persistent. Don't occasionally go to the after school gaming group. Go regularly, develop friendships, play other people's games. Then they'll be a lot more ready to try your game.
Fourth, keep it light. Make it clear that people are always welcome but don't have to commit week-to-week. My group grew dramatically when it started to feel more like poker night and less like a mandatory obligation. (This requires some work on the GM's part, but it's totally doable.)
Fifth (sorry that this is personal), make sure that you're not being a turn-off. You are the cheerleader for a kind of unique game - so you have to be a good cheerleader. Fun and relaxed is inviting, desperate and awkward isn't.
Fifth, keep an eye out for computer gamers who you might be able to win over. If they're playing Halo or World of Warcraft or Call of Duty, they're halfway there.
Finally (repeating for emphasis) be persistent.
Our group now has literally too many gamers, which is a great problem to have. People come and go, but almost every week we have between 5 and 10 people who want to play.
And that's in our tiny town.
We did that by keeping it fun, by continuing to spread the word, and by making sure everyone always feels welcome.
--Marsh
Oddman80 |
so- i know you are looking for a "sit around a table together" game... but if you are having trouble getting one set up, and you want something closer to it than your PbP games, you can also try Web-Hosted games.
I have been playing in various D&D 3.5, 4e & Pathfinder games for the past couple years exclusively on Roll20.net The Flexibility of finding a game that worked with my time needs was terrific as I am a working father that can only reliably budget regular "game time" after i have put my kids to bed. being able to pull other gamers from around the country (and the rest of the world as well), made getting a group quite simple.
While it doesn't have the full benefit of everyone being in the same location - the games move at the same pace as if you were. You can use that site or even Skype to handle voice, and depending on which game you join, you may have maps and tokens to move around on via the interactive game screen.
I will admit - with it basically being a conference call, it is harder to have side conversations or fool around - as it can be disruptive to game play. But that isn't to say that your typical roundtable tangential conversations and tomfoolery don;t occur en mass either.
Torbyne |
Are there any hobby shops that sell table tops in your area? pretty much everyone i have seen has a board to post looking for group messages. check out the PFS scene in your area or chat with the employees at your FLGS about when pathfinder players come through.
Aside from Gamer Connection on this forum there are sites like Nearby Gamers where you can post your location as a nearby library or other public space if you want to try meeting people in neutral locations. Coffee shops tend to be great places to screen people to see how you get along or want to form a group.
SoulDragon298 |
so- i know you are looking for a "sit around a table together" game... but if you are having trouble getting one set up, and you want something closer to it than your PbP games, you can also try Web-Hosted games.
I have been playing in various D&D 3.5, 4e & Pathfinder games for the past couple years exclusively on Roll20.net The Flexibility of finding a game that worked with my time needs was terrific as I am a working father that can only reliably budget regular "game time" after i have put my kids to bed. being able to pull other gamers from around the country (and the rest of the world as well), made getting a group quite simple.
While it doesn't have the full benefit of everyone being in the same location - the games move at the same pace as if you were. You can use that site or even Skype to handle voice, and depending on which game you join, you may have maps and tokens to move around on via the interactive game screen.
I will admit - with it basically being a conference call, it is harder to have side conversations or fool around - as it can be disruptive to game play. But that isn't to say that your typical roundtable tangential conversations and tomfoolery don;t occur en mass either.
I have done Roll20 games before. But as a GM, it's hard for me to come up with maps and I'm worried I won't be taken seriously due to my age. and as a player, I can never find a game to join that works with my time schedule. So while I do enjoy Roll20, it's hard for me to get a game going or get into a game.
SoulDragon298 |
Are there any hobby shops that sell table tops in your area? pretty much everyone i have seen has a board to post looking for group messages. check out the PFS scene in your area or chat with the employees at your FLGS about when pathfinder players come through.
Aside from Gamer Connection on this forum there are sites like Nearby Gamers where you can post your location as a nearby library or other public space if you want to try meeting people in neutral locations. Coffee shops tend to be great places to screen people to see how you get along or want to form a group.
Unfortunately, I live in an area where you'd probably have to drive hours to find a game store. I get most of my PF stuff from Books-A-Million as that's the only place I know that carries PF books around here. As for PFS, I'm not too fond of how PFS works. I like my gaming to be relaxed and fairly unrestricted, where as having to complete a session in a certain amount of time and having some restrictions on characters doesn't appeal to me.
Jaunt |
Read Captain Marsh's post, like, 4 more times, dude is really smart.
Be loud, be persistent, and know how to tell people no. You will, I promise you, get at least one potential player who will ruin the entire group. Half of this forum is "this dude is ruining my game, what do I do?". And the answer is invariably "talk to the player, let him know how to get his crap together, and if he doesn't, get rid of him".
Being a kid interested in RPGs is rough, I know, I've been there. High school D&D was some of my first D&D, and it was by far the worst I've ever been in. Starting from nothing and making a solid, good group of players requires a whole lot of social skills that a lot of kids don't have. And that's nothing against you, mind you, but I know I certainly didn't have the chops to do it in high school. I was probably the guy who ruined half his games, in fact. But enough about me.
The best thing you can do is find an existing group and see if you can fit in somehow. It'll be way easier than starting your own. Roll20 is cool too. If you're worried about not being taken seriously, there are a few good ways to be taken seriously. First, be persistent. If you keep showing up, they'll have to take you seriously sooner or later. Second, listen to your elders (and everyone else). People might think something like "oh, he's just a dumb kid, his voice squeaks annoyingly when he talks and his ideas are dumb". If you listen to the other players, do your best to be a team player, help the group with what they do, and don't do rash, impetuous, stupid things, you won't be able to help but win the group's respect. If they still think you're a joke, they're a bunch of jerkholes and you're better off without them. But I've seen a lot of online groups who are very patient and kind with no players, even ones who are quite unusual (not that youth is unusual. I mean they handhold some really strange chracters).and if you find one of those, you wouldn't have to worry about any of these things you're worried about
I think your best bet is to join online groups until you find one that makes you happy. Live gaming is great, but it's a lot easier when your easy-to-access peers are older, wiser, less flaky, experienced, good players.
Avaricious |
Soldier here... found a player, started playing in a public forum on-base, and they gathered around us.
If you roll it, they will come.
Through a trial-and-error, and being honest, tyrannical reaving of undesirable personalities through passive-aggressive tactics, and manipulating players to assassinate each other (without ever saying it out loud), the core of "best" (social personality) players was forged. But that's a bad way to go about it, in hindsight, but I did what I had to do to protect the players willing to cooperate.
We became a "poker group" I guess, and the game went outside of pure gaming and became hanging out, with gaming as an activity we would do, or not. Bridge club, bowling team, whatever analog works.
Size will fluctuate, just be able to fluidly tailor encounters based on group size. I hate to advocate this, but a "Party XP" system is the lesser of two evils to avoid having 3s adventuring with 8s. Unless players are amicable to having multi-tier characters or multiple/simultaneous campaigns. The main downside is inactives that pop in that have to update builds. But that's what extra paper or Hero Lab is for.
To seed the campaign, the greatest challenge, start at your Friendly Local Game Store (FLGS). Talk to the employees; a positive environment would have them encourage you and even set aside time/space for you, even put up a notice that there is now a resident group starting/formed. If not, oh well.
Even in isolated places, a book store that sells the products is a good place to ask the staff if they actually want to get side-advertising that can only boost sales by putting up a group notice in the aisle. Example: Hastings supports Friday Night Magic and has a robust gaming section begging to be exploited in their cafe. My main venue is just 5 minutes away not half an hour is why I haven't pulled that stunt.
A community college would have rec facilities too filled with eager, budding neckbeards along with a wider age range of students that may be open to the game. You may even end up with players who remember AD&D.
Since you are worried about security, I highly advise the FLGS route. Its public, has business hours, and the employees would frown on having predators within their establishment. Unless its that kind of FLGS...