My Gaming Goals for 2021

It's a New Year and, while we're still filled with hopeful enthusiasm, an opportunity to start fresh on our gaming goals. Here's mine.

Picture courtesy of Pixabay.​

As I look back on a challenging 2020, it's an opportunity to consider what I would do differently if I had a chance to do it over. I'm fortunately still here and healthy, so I consider that a great place to start.

• Back Kickstarters I Believe In: I love backing Kickstarters, but I've gradually become disillusioned with their fulfillment times. Products I thought I would need for my game took so long to be delivered that sometimes the group didn't even exist by the time the product arrived. As someone who participated in a Kickstarter that took over five years to deliver, I understand why it happens. This is why I so admire Russ' Kickstarter strategy, with a product ready to go before the Kickstarter is completed. If I back a Kickstarter, it will be because I support the product and not depend nearly as much on receiving it in a timely manner; I plan to be much choosier about what Kickstarters I back in the future.
• Diversify the CAR-PGA: I'm Chair of the Committee for the Advancement of Role-Playing Games, a non-profit dedicated to promoting (and in the past, defending) tabletop role-playing games. We've made great strides in reestablishing our digital presence, but now it's time to grow the member base to deflect the diversity of our players. I'm hopeful we can host some virtual events and even have some guests join us as speakers in 2021.
• Finish My Star Wars Campaign: When the pandemic hit, my in-person Star Wars/5E D&D campaign came to a screeching halt. We're down to the very last episode and the grand finale. I plan to wrap things up in 2021 so we can have some closure.
• Print More Miniatures & Terrain: Now that I have two 3D printers, it's time to start cleaning out my game room and replacing miniatures and terrain I bought with stuff I built. I plan to sell it all to Noble Knight Games; this will take time and not everything can easily be replaced (some miniatures are so detailed that I can't print suitable replacements), but any reduction in clutter is a good thing. Also, in some cases if I know I can print a miniature or piece of terrain, I can wait until I actually need to it for the game before printing it.
• Find an In-Person Group: Now that I have my game room and table, I was steadily working up the courage to do this. When the vaccine is fully distributed I plan to look for players I can game with in-person.
• Play More In-Person Games: We play a post-apocalyptic 5E D&D game and with all the cool gaming accessories I got for Christmas, I plan to put them to good use with my kids as players.
• Appreciate My Players: One of the members of my original gaming group passed away last year and that reinforced that we'd stopped playing together for years. I've made a commitment to cherish every moment I have with my new (virtual) group. I'm thankful after every session and so appreciate having adults to game with (my kids have no choice!).

I'm not sure I can achieve all of these goals, but I'm hoping if I even made progress on fifty percent of them that I'd make significant strides in improving my overall happiness with gaming.

Your Turn: What are your gaming goals for 2021?

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

My goal is to finish my one campaign. The characters are at about 8th level, and I plan on ending at around 10th level. I've got a solid idea of the endgame, and have been seeding hints for years. I cannot wait to see their faces when it all finally comes together. Once that's done, I'd like to run some one-offs, maybe run something like DCC RPG or OSE before returning to 5e again (but much will depend on what the players actually want to do).

Now, my hope is to resume in-person gaming, when it is safe to do so. And to go to an in-person convention again. But in all honesty, I'm having a hard time believing that either of those things will happen this year. I certainly hope to be proven wrong, though.

 

[billd91]

• Get back to Gamehole Con in person in the fall (hopefully, that's far enough out that we'll all be immunized)
• Play more D&D on the Roll20 VTT and get better with the tools
• Get the new next generation of D&D players campaign going - they're all teens and 20-somethings, but some of them work 2nd shift at Culvers and are hard to pin down game times with
• Get the PF1 campaign back on track when we can meet up face-to-face

 

[Voadam]

Get comfortable with Fantasy Grounds as a DM and take over DMing for my online group to give the current DM a break. I've been using it as a player for a few months, but this will be my first time DMing with it. In particular I need to get familiar with making custom material like monsters from scratch and adding in custom images and maps for the battle mat function.

Read through the Iron Gods AP and assorted materials for the 5e campaign I will be DMing. I've only read through parts of the first module, parts of the Numeria sourcebook, and some online stuff including some 5e conversions of monsters and loot and discussions of the series.

Read up on 5e Post Apocalyptic and Sci Fi stuff for possible inclusion in the game.

Read up more on stuff the players have expressed interest in including such as White Wolf Mage and Werewolf thematic elements and 2e dragon gods.

 

[The Green Hermit]

Sometimes what I wouldnt give for my closest neighbor to be over an hour away.

I hated the time in my early adulthood when I had to live in a city. Rural life is the best . . . except for finding gaming groups.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I started my own Black Hack hack and I want to get it finished, laid out, and stress tested by some devious players who like to break stuff. Then I'll give that mother away for free.

Hopefully here...

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I would like to figure out how to find an in-person group in the rural area I live in. I currently DM with my kids and would love to actually be able to play (not DM) with experienced players. Along with giving me ideas so I can be a better DM, it would be nice to not have to be the person in charge of EVERYTHING.

Nextdoor may also be an option, depending on how rural you are.

 

[Fenris-77]

Hopefully here...

Yeah, I suspect so.

 

[The Green Hermit]

Nextdoor may also be an option, depending on how rural you are.

What's Nextdoor?

I am an hour away from any real city. The town I lives in only has about 15 people per grade.

We are the definition of rural. Lol!

 

[chuckdee]

I love supporting Kickstarter Projects and Patreon Projects, but I don't use a lot of it. In many cases, by the time I get it in, I'm wondering why I backed it. I'm going to be more focused in the money I spend on the hobby.

I want to get my 3d printer set up and start to use it for gaming.

I want to finish more in the way of games and writing and hopefully get a small Kickstarter off the ground.

I want to GM a campaign via VTT with one of my old groups.

I want to take part in more design and writing contests.

 

[R_J_K75]

I love supporting Kickstarter Projects and Patreon Projects, but I don't use a lot of it. In many cases, by the time I get it in, I'm wondering why I backed it. I'm going to be more focused in the money I spend on the hobby.

I'm not a huge fan of Kickstarters, I'm very selective of what I back for the example you give, they just take too long. Seems Level Up will be relatively complete by the time it hits kickstarter and with no stretch goals the turn around should be somewhat quick I hope. So that's one I'll probably back depending on the price, format and delivery date.