By Jim Reed
One question you always hear people asking is how to start up a gaming group.
Getting a game group together is always a challenge.
1. Find people willing to take part. 2. Find a night everyone can agree upon 3. Getting each person to show up with consistency. ect, ect, ect
Once you've established the group, the challenge doesn't end. There's the issue of who decides what you're playing. Where's it going to be? Will the location rotate or stay at them same place? Is there a back up location if so? Who's responsible for snacks? Is the host always responsible for snacks? Or is it BYOS (bring your own s#$@)?
If you've been through all this and have gotten a game group to work then I applaud you. Even if it's just you and a couple buddies once a month, kicking back a couple cold ones, and gambling on liars dice, good job!
I like to think that there are two types of gaming groups:
1. the leisure players group.
This is usually your game store game night groups, other public location meeting places groups, and your casual home game groups. These game nights usually happen regardless of turnout.
2. The campaign group.
This is your role playing group, and campaign style game group. This group is VERY dependant on every member making it to every scheduled game night.
In my experience, this group is usually easier to put together since it is usually 4-5 people and no more. That said, is very hard to keep these types of groups together, especially for an extended time.
As much as I applaud anyone getting any style of game group together, I give extra props and kudos to those long running and standing campaign groups.
When these groups lose a member, more often than not, the game suffers and may even have to be ended.
Now I'm not going to start on about the causes of this, there are far too many. But I just urge everyone who commits to a group of this nature, don't let the rest of the group down.
Respect the time and effort everyone else in the group has put into it and see it out. At least until a proper jumping out point.
An out of state move, job changes, or serious medical condition are the only exceptions allowed. And new Girlfriends or boyfriends are NOT acceptable reasons for quiting on a game group!
Ok, nuff said!
