Bringing in a new player

[Bullgrit]

My group is bringing in a new player starting this coming Thursday game night. This is a "blind date" kind of thing, so I don't know at all what to expect.

Have you brought in new players whom none in your group really knew? What was the experience?

Bullgrit
Total Bullgrit

 

[Scribble]

I've had various degrees of success with this...

Back in my early gaming days we had a few people join because they were friends with one or two of the players and none of the rest. They ended up becoming good friends of mine outside of gaming, most of them still to this day (like 14 years later...) One of them is still in my current group.

I've joinded game store groups consisting of people who didn't know eachother,. and had sucess with that as well.

I put together a group of random people once thought hat was NOT sucessful... A few of the people creeped me out, and I could tell at least 2 of them were VERY different types of people, and destined to be at odds...

In my current group 2 people just joined, who were friends with one of the players, and it's been a sucess so far.

I think the key is if it's someone you wouldn't mind as a person outside of gaming, then they'll probably also work in a game group as well.

 

[fba827]

As with any type of "blind date" scenario - I've had some good experiences, and some horrible experiences.

Frankly, the horrible ones still haunt me so I have a momentary cringe every time it is suggested. But I try not to let a past experience ruin the opportunity for a new one.

Every one is different. THeir mood, their tone, their 'vibe', thier play style -- it can all vary. Also realize it will throw off your current balance. The new person may be very outspoken and overshadow other people, and so on.

It's good to make the first invite clear as a "sure come over for one game, we'll see how it goes" Ask the other players (email is fine) afterwards if they had any strong opinions. Unless the person does something terribly wrong, then invite him over to stay "i think that went well, we'd all officially like to invite you to continue joining us for future sessions." Or, if not, just point out that "it was fun/nice/etc meeting him and having him with you for the session, but we're not totally sure it would work for future sessions. some things were too distracting (or whatever the reason said in a polite way)

But, yes, as said, it can go right, or it can go horribly wrong. It's like rolling dice in a game or something...

 

[Wolfwood2]

My group is bringing in a new player starting this coming Thursday game night. This is a "blind date" kind of thing, so I don't know at all what to expect.

After reading that other thread about your group and their speed demon combat rounds, I'd be worried the new guy couldn't keep up.

 

[Mallus]

I've been that person, just once, joining a group that I was put in touch with via ENWorld. I met nothing but good people through the experience and am happy to call the odd lot of them, plus or minus a few faces over the years, friends.

In fact, some of them will be over this Friday, for gaming, superb Indian take-out, and general camaraderie.

 

[Bullgrit]

After reading that other thread about your group and their speed demon combat rounds, I'd be worried the new guy couldn't keep up.

Nice. Not only completely misrepresent what I've said, but do it in a completely different thread.

Bullgrit

 

[Dausuul]

Nice. Not only completely misrepresent what I've said, but do it in a completely different thread.

Bullgrit

Dude, chill. I'm pretty sure that was a joke. And your group does move 3.X combat along much faster than many other groups, as that thread demonstrated.

As regards "blind dates" with new players, I've had about fifty-fifty luck with that. Sometimes it works out great, sometimes very very badly.

My suggestion if you're worried (although it sounds a bit too late to implement in this particular case) would be to invite the guy over for a one-shot adventure; don't do anything to suggest that it's more than that. See how the one-shot goes, and if it goes well, invite the guy to join the regular campaign.

That way, if things don't work out, there's no awkward moment where you have to figure out how to tell the guy, "Sorry, we don't like you, go away."