Getting a Gaming Group Full of Strangers

[Mr_Nevada]

Hello, this doesn't really relate to Paizo, but, I am in a program where I will be with a 102 people for six weeks. And, I am looking to start a Gaming Group that will be done every other day (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). I am going to be running Star Wars D6, and I was wondering what should I do to attract 14 - 18 year olds to the idea of roleplaying and gaming. I am doing Star Wars D6, because I am thinking that they'll have a lot of D6s there to use.

I was thinking on doing a poster or notifications taped to walls and stuff like that. I hope that this thread will get plenty of comments and suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

[GermanyDM]

Warning: I don't have much to do with people in that age group, so please take my advice with a grain of salt.

I think a few posters etc. is a good start. If you think they won't have much experience with D6 or roleplaying in general, start with a couple of 'find out what it's all about' sessions. You know, a few words about how to get the most fun out of roleplaying, hand out a few pregen characters and go through a single scenario that includes some social interaction and a combat.

Having snacks on hand is usually a big bag of win. No need to spend a lot; the cheap ones are fine.

Make sure you get some easy-to-use contact info, be it email, twitter, skype, cell #, etc. so you can set up the first 'real' gaming session.

[Heaggles]

snacks work well :p but I would have to say try running a scenario with premade PCs and then if people want to still play the can make new PCs or keep the old ones that you made.

[Ascalaphus]

Posters are a way to start from scratch; from thereon you can also advance by word of mouth; your players might know other interested people. If you're open to that, tell them that you appreciate them bringing people into contact with you.

It's my experience that getting a first group is tricky, but that groups tend to be heavily networked into each other and once you're in one group, it's easy to get into other groups and round up players to start new groups.

Which leads to tactic #3: contact/join existing groups and see if they have players interested in joining another group.

If you know a local game store, you could also talk with the owner/salespeople; they might know potential players or spread the word.

Good players to poster would be game stores, bookstores that sell RPG books and/or fantasy/sci-fi books, and colleges/schools/universities. In the university you should in particularly try the history, archeology, philosophy and computer science sections. The psychology, drama and literature sections are probably worth checking out as well.

[Mr_Nevada]

I am doing D6 because it is a very beginner system. It is very easy to understand unlike Pathfinder where you have Fort, Ref, Will, and so on. But, yea, I'll set up a poster, and I'll see if it will get anything. Thanks.

[Calybos1]

You might also check out the free Kids' Track PDF; it assumes the Pathfinder Beginner Box, but it has tips on how to introduce new and young players to RPGs.