How To get people to sign up for games


Pathfinder Society

Dark Archive 3/5 5/5 *** Venture-Captain, Alabama—Mobile

I'm a new Venture Captian and I am having trouble getting tables to make. Games are posted on Warhorn and announced in our facebook page yet it I have 2 active gms (counting myself) and 5 active players (counting both gms). I've asked the community to tell me what they want for game times/days and types of scenarios to run with little to no feedback. I fear my area may be dying or even dead. I have flyers up in the local game store with contact information on them. I'm about burned out over the whole thing.
I just want to know how other venture officers in small areas get people to come to games. I have no idea how to get offical support other than to email the orginized play cooidnator or the venture officer over me. I just want some help or advice to get the community back into the game.

Thanks

4/5

sure...
You have advertising in place (in store and online). Have the advertising point to a facebook/meetup/webpage where people can chat. You may need a separate webpage (such as warhorn) for scheduling. Physical advertising can be on quarter page cards down to business card size, something players can take with them.

Make up a watermark or artwork for your Mobile AL group with contact info. Print that as background art on Welcome to Pathfinder boons and what not. Put that logo and contact info on everything you hand out.

Ask if the store has signed up with Paizo retailer program.

you know when your players and GMs can play, schedule for them. Post schedules online at least a week ahead (two weeks is better). Keep it regular and consistent. Try to spread the love to game stores in your area so meet in different locations at least monthly but practical matters will guide where you meet. Hopefully it is on a weekend when other gamers are free. Times usually are 1000-1500, 1700-2200, 1300-1800. Weekday times are more problematic as 6-10pm might be the time window.
When people see players having fun they will watch or want to join in. Being there on a predictable schedule gives people confidence that you will be there and they can join in (later). So it is a combination of word of mouth, referencing, and networking.

Make sure that your group lets the store staff on duty know that they are there and especially when buying things. This helps the store employees know that you're there and active. That way if someone asks the employee they can point them your way.

Starfinder / Advtr Card Game / Pathfinder all have their appeal and fan base. Don't discount one over the other. Each has a synergy with the other and similar games. So it depends on the interest of the players you currently have and attract.

If you want a game to go on at a specific store you have to be there even if it doesn't make. Pull out your Pathfinder CRB and sit there for an hour doing paperwork or cruising these messageboards. See who in your group can travel. Offer hard to get scenarios at that store to entice them to travel. Post online you were there, nobody showed, had a great game, etc... let people know.

To help GMs and players, run CORE. They get a replay in that system and the characters can flip to standard campaign by just playing a standard scenario. REALLY! It's also easier on new players (less choices) until they learn the basics. Long term if they want to flip to standard campaign it is best to use classes that can multiclass into something else or switch to a prestige class. Remember first level characters can freely rebuild.

Preparation... have a full set of the iconics, some PFS cards, Welcome boons, a spare Guide, some character sheets, ITS, faction cards, spare map, dry erase markers, and a couple of scenarios on hand(like Phantom Phenomenon, The Confirmation, and We Be Goblins).

as you are aware PFS is a volunteer organization. We can't make people do stuff or magically make players or GM's appear.

4/5

You could get a Regional Event going but I'd work on a consistent turnout first.

Grand Lodge 4/5 5/55/5 ***

Don't discount advertising at local colleges, book stores, and libraries. A quick search found four colleges with enrollment over 1000 and a few smaller ones as well. All of them could be sources of new players and should have some form of student services department. If nothing else, you should be able to advertise in whatever form of student union they have. Larger locations like U of S Alabama may have a gaming club on campus.

Active recruitment is almost always more effective. If you simply post your schedule and wait for people to show up, you probably won't be as effective. Maybe visit the store on nights when people are there for other events and pass out flyers.

Check with the local book stores to see if they have any book signings scheduled. If the author is SciFi or Fantasy, maybe you can leave some flyers to be distributed during that time.

If you have video game stores, especially the ones that buy/sell used games, you might be able to advertise for your events there as well. Many gamers are not dedicated to a single game type.

The key is to do all the obvious things, but also think outside the box. Anywhere gamers go is a potential recruitment point.

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

Ask your remaining people what could be improved with the current venue.

Is there a table fee that's off putting?
Is there a player that needs to "tone it down a bit"?
Is there air conditioning?
Is there a "no outside food" policy that's too restrictive?
Would a different time work better?

Sometimes you can be doing all the right things, and miss the things that needed improvement.

5/5 5/55/55/5

the pfs out of maCnarB Gaming over in mississippi might have some players that can either commute , are in between your venues, and or know some geeks nearby that would show up to a game.

4/5 *

I think recruiting new blood is key to sustainability. Run a "Learn to play Pathfinder" event and run some Quests with pregens. Show up on other busy nights and chat with people, and tell them about PFS.

When you're playing, and someone walks in and looks around, pause the game and say hi. Tell them you're playing pathfinder, and hand them your advertising sheet. If there's room at the table, offer them a pregen and let them sit down. (Any time I'm playing a group of 3 plus a pregen, I'm always looking for someone walking by I can hand the pregen off to and hook another player).

When you're GMing in public, don't just GM for the players, GM for the room. You want other people in the store or at the con to want to play whatever you're playing. Bring color maps or 3D terrain or anything eye-catching.

Every Lodge has ups and downs... when your regular players are on a down, it's time to ramp up recruitment. When you have lots of players showing up, it's time to look at grooming more GMs. When you have lots of GMs, it's time to look at running more tables. There's always something you can be doing to grow.

Good luck!

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