Everyone, Tell us about your games, please!

[Arkhandus]

1.) How many players in your group?

On average, the groups I game with tend to consist of 7 people, tending towards 8 but sometimes only 4, 5, or 6. I've had, technically, about 14 different groups (I may be forgetting 1 or 2); only about 3-4 of those groups have been relatively long-lasting and consistent (playing for one or more years together in each case). I've run only a single one-shot, for a single player, but have also run several gladiatorial matches. Most games I've played or DMed in, though, have been full campaigns or adventures (or were at least intended as such, but several fell apart before completion). Most of the groups I played with only for part of a single adventure, or maybe one full adventure, before the game fell apart or ended. This included my few chances to play non-D&D games, unfortunately.

My high school buddies only ran/played RPGs once in a while. Later, I was briefly in a gaming group/club at my college, but that group didn't last long due to everyone's different class schedules. In both cases, there were about 3-5 players and 1 DM/GM in any given game, and they were all one-shots or mini-campaigns. I ran my first campaign at a local game/collectible/comic shop, with a group that varied in size but generally had 5 players most of the time, with a few sessions of 3-4 or 6-7; it didn't last beyond the first two adventures though, due to scheduling problems as usual.

Since moving to Arizona, I've had to pretty much go online for RPGing. In groups playing The 13 Kingdoms setting, I've gamed with 3-7 people in each campaign; only one of those groups had 3 players, the others had 4-7 players but varied a bit within that range over time. One of those groups was also the one I had played with in Emiricol's Bandora campaign (and his brief attempt at a Forgotten Realms campaign), which switched to playing T13K after Emiricol and his internet comrades finished the T13K setting PDF. In my Oriental Adventures campaign, there were 4-8 players at any given time, but a few had to leave as schedules changed, and new players joined occasionally. In my Rhunaria campaign, there have been 3-12 players at any given time, with the campaign initially splitting into 2 groups of 6, running on alternate weeks, until a few folks from each group quit and the campaign merged back into 1 group of around 8 PCs; since then it has fluctuated, with 3 at the worst times and 8 at the best; for the past half year or so, it has remained fairly stable with 5 consistent players and 1-3 flakey players.

2.) Do you DM?

Most of the time, somewhat unfortunately. I would appreciate the chance to play a PC more often than I presently do, but I like DMing too.

3.) Do other people in the group DM, and how many?

In most of my groups, yes, other people have DMed. In my most recent groups (Rhunaria, and The 13 Kingdoms), there have been 3 other DMs in For More Than Glory (T13K), 1 DM in Entropy's Kinrisar campaign (T13K; I don't DM that group), and 3 other DMs in my Rhunaria group (but not actually DMing the Rhunaria campaign; those 3 have just DMed other games, only 1 of which I was actually a part of, since only that 1 ran while I was in the group; the other 2 have DMed only before my Rhunaria campaign and during the current hiatus in said campaign, while I've been busy and unable to game).

4.) What's the Male/Female composition of the group?

Most of my groups have been, as normal, entirely or mostly male. My Oriental Adventures campaign had 2-3 female players at any given time, compared to 3-5 male players at any given time, plus myself (male).

5.) Got a good gamestore near you and what is it?

Ehhh, sorta. Currently, living in Arizona, I know of just a few game stores in town, but just 2 of them are within any reasonable proximity; Beyond Gaming and Manawerx. Beyond Gaming is a few blocks away, and primarily sells collectible card games, collectible miniatures games, and roleplaying games; they have a little bit of other material, such as some non-collectible games (Munchkin, Three-Dragon Ante, etc.); their CCG coverage is pretty good but not excellent, their CMG coverage is likewise (and they only have a few miniatures for games like Warhammer; mostly they carry the various WizKids minis lines), and their RPG coverage is very limited (mostly D&D, some White Wolf stuff, some WotC D20 non-D&D stuff, and just a bit of HERO, Shadowrun, and miscellaneous material). Manawerx sells exclusively Magic: The Gathering stuff, plus dice, counters, card sleeves, etc. Both places run M:TG tournaments, and Beyond Gaming occasionally runs other tourneys. I don't really know of any game stores that might be in the area and sell a broader selection than Beyond Gaming's fairly-decent selection.

Back in Michigan, there are 3 stores in town (that is, the town I lived in) that sell a bit of RPG material; one (I forget the name) only had a tiny bit of RPG and CCG material, and mostly sold comic books; another, the Fun Factory only sold a bit of RPG and comics, focusing mostly on CCGs and collectibles; the other (Hocus Pocus I think it's called?) was as much a costume/halloween store and magic trick shop as it was a game store, with the games stuff being a rather good selection of new and old RPG material, some miniatures stuff, dice and whatnot, and a few CCGs.

6.) Mainly modules or homebrew stuff?

I, and the folks I play under, typically use homebrew adventures/campaigns and such. I've only played briefly in 1 or 2 modules, and never had the opportunity to run any modules myself. I have nothing against using modules, but I personally tend to DM in homebrew settings most of the time (not familiar enough with published settings to avoid gawdawful conflicts with pernicious players who are obsessed with certain settings, so after 1-2 such conflicts, I made certain that I'd generally stay away from published settings).

The OA campaign I ran was set in a modified/expanded Rokugan; Emiricol ran a brief Forgotten Realms adventure that I played in; my high school friends and later college associates (I wouldn't call them friends, never had the chance to hang out with them) ran a few games in published settings, such as Planescape; I played very briefly in two games run in Dragonlance by another guy at The Fun Factory, but he was rather callous and killed both my characters quite mercilessly, as each time I tried to do the most logical, cautious, or wise thing, only for him to take glee in twisting my wise decisions into making my character caught in unavoidable deathtraps; I played in one brief Greyhawk campaign also at The Fun Factory, with a different group; I also played in one brief Rokugan play-by-e-mail campaign that ended quickly as the DM stopped responding to e-mails from the group, for no perceivable reason (we were all doing quite well in roleplay, far as I could tell, and hadn't done anything disruptive or non-Rokugani-like); I also played through a small part of The Night Below, a module that I don't recall the setting for, but that group fell apart from the DM growing busy with other stuff.

7.) How long have you been playing and how old are you?

I've been playing since, I think, sometime in 8th-grade (maybe late 7th or early 9th). So, probably since 1997 or thereabouts; roughly 10 years, give or take 1, since I don't feel like spending too long right now trying to remember and calculate the exact year I started RPGing. I'm 24 years old now, and less than half a year from 25. So I started playing RPGs (mainly D&D) around age 14 or thereabouts.

8.) Who taught you to play?

My high school buddies taught me to play D&D, after I was curious what they were up to some afternoons, what they were talking about shortly before leaving school some days. Prior to that I just chatted with them and played Magic: The Gathering with them, which I had also learned from them. Mostly my friends Travis and Johnny taught me how to play M:TG and then D&D a year or so later, with some help from Steve, Cory, Jason, and Justin.

 

[Tsillanabor]

1.) How many players in your group?

6

2.) Do you DM?

About half of the time. I create most of the world.

3.) Do other people in the group DM, and how many?

Yes, one for now though another might be interested.

4.) What's the Male/Female composition of the group?

4 male, 2 female

5.) Got a good gamestore near you and what is it?

Yes, Gallery of Champions (also card stuff, hence the name).

6.) Mainly modules or homebrew stuff?

Homebrew nearly always. Every now and then I'll still an idea from an old module.

7.) How long have you been playing and how old are you?

22 years, 37

8.) Who taught you to play?

Myself I suppose.

 

[Goblyns Hoard]

1.) How many players in your group? Five but we're about to adding a sixth

2.) Do you DM? Yep

3.) Do other people in the group DM, and how many? Yes most of them have done so but only occasionally - these days it's pretty much just me

4.) What's the Male/Female composition of the group? 4 to 1 rising to 5 to 1

5.) Got a good gamestore near you and what is it? Not near home but a few near work in central London. Playin' Games mainly, but Orcs Nest and Forbidden Planet occasionally.

6.) Mainly modules or homebrew stuff? Exclusively homebrew - though I occasionaly use modules for inspiration, maps, etc.

7.) How long have you been playing and how old are you? Started when I was eight so 23 years ago

8.) Who taught you to play? A friend of my older brother

 

[Aeric]

1.) How many players in your group?

Technically seven, but the seventh player is absent so much it's effectively six.

2.) Do you DM?

Yes.

3.) Do other people in the group DM, and how many?

There are two other DMs, and a third player who runs other (non-D&D) games infrequently.

4.) What's the Male/Female composition of the group?

Five male, two female.

5.) Got a good gamestore near you and what is it?

Two, actually. The Game Castle and Brookhurst Hobbies, both in Anaheim.

6.) Mainly modules or homebrew stuff?

Mainly homebrew, although I use a lot of sample locations and plothooks from the books, the WOTC website, and Dragon/Dungeon.

7.) How long have you been playing and how old are you?

I'm 33, and I've been playing for eighteen years now.

8.) Who taught you to play?

I learned how to play by reading the book ("red box" Basic Set), which my dad bought for me.

 

[wedgeski]

1.) How many players in your group?

3

2.) Do you DM?

Yes

3.) Do other people in the group DM, and how many?

Yes, 2 (different games)

4.) What's the Male/Female composition of the group?

3:1 male:female

5.) Got a good gamestore near you and what is it?

No. I have to make do with a major book-selling franchise that happens to have a gaming shelf.

6.) Mainly modules or homebrew stuff?

About 50/50 depending on the game.

7.) How long have you been playing and how old are you?

I've been playing for 20+ years and I've just turned 33.

8.) Who taught you to play?

A friend.

 

[JoeGKushner]

1.) How many players in your group?

In the group I normally run every week...5 players and 1 GM. On the Midnight group, 4 players and 1 GM.

2.) Do you DM?

In one of the groups.

3.) Do other people in the group DM, and how many?

In the group I'm in now, almost everyone has GMed at one point or another.

4.) What's the Male/Female composition of the group?

5 male, 1 female.

5.) Got a good gamestore near you and what is it?

Gamer's Paradise (one at the HIP and another at Century Mall), but both pale compared to Games Plus.

6.) Mainly modules or homebrew stuff?

When I ran stuff out of my apartment, it was all homebrew using preexisting campaign (FR/SL), now it's all Shackled City.

7.) How long have you been playing and how old are you?

Early 80's. Going on 35 this year.

8.) Who taught you to play?

Self taught from the original yellow box Marvel Super Heroes.

 

[Sketchpad]

1.) How many players in your group?

7-9 Depending on the night.

2.) Do you DM?

Yup. Usually am the main DM with two other players as back-up DMs.

3.) Do other people in the group DM, and how many?

2

4.) What's the Male/Female composition of the group?

3:1 Male:Female ratio

5.) Got a good gamestore near you and what is it?

It's okay ... could be better. Fantastic Planet.

6.) Mainly modules or homebrew stuff?

Homebrew all the way with modules used for mining ideas.

7.) How long have you been playing and how old are you?

26 years ... currently 35

8.) Who taught you to play?

Learned a few things from a friend when I was kid, but self-taught for the most part.

 

[Nellisir]

1.) How many players in your group?

6 players, 1 DM.

2.) Do you DM?

Yes.

3.) Do other people in the group DM, and how many?

At least 2 others do, in their own groups.

4.) What's the Male/Female composition of the group?

6 male, 1 female. I'd like a better balance, but that's what I've got.

5.) Got a good gamestore near you and what is it?

Yes. My FLGS, Collectibles Unlimited, just moved to within 300 feet of my house. Literally. I never have to worry about parking again.

6.) Mainly modules or homebrew stuff?

Homebrew.

7.) How long have you been playing and how old are you?

15 years playing, 19 years reading D&D game material. 34.

8.) Who taught you to play?

Self-taught.

 

[Lord Ipplepop]

1.) How many players in your group?

11... although not all at the same time.

2.) Do you DM?

Occasionally

3.) Do other people in the group DM, and how many?

5 DM's and 2 in training

4.) What's the Male/Female composition of the group?

1 female, the rest are male.

5.) Got a good gamestore near you and what is it?

Not yet... I am going through the process of opening one now.

6.) Mainly modules or homebrew stuff?

Almost always homebrew... although we are currently going through a DM updated Temple of Elemental Evil, and next week, we start an every other week running of a module based DL campaign.

7.) How long have you been playing and how old are you?

I am currently 40, and have been playing since Octobner of 1978.

8.) Who taught you to play?

Although the guys in my first group taught me the mechanics, and how to play, and such as that, I have learned from almost every player that I hav ever sat with at a table.

 

[Festivus]

Everyone, tell us about your games, please.

1.) How many players in your group?
Thursdays - 4 players, 1 DM
Saturdays - 5 players, 1 DM

2.) Do you DM?
Thursdays - Yes
Saturdays - Occasionally

3.) Do other people in the group DM, and how many?
Thursdays - No
Saturdays - Yes, 1

4.) What's the Male/Female composition of the group?
Thursdays - 4 males, 1 female
Saturday - 5 males, 1 female

5.) Got a good gamestore near you and what is it?
Nearest "good" gamestore is an hour drive

6.) Mainly modules or homebrew stuff?
Modules

7.) How long have you been playing and how old are you?
D&D for 15+ years, I am 40 years old

8.) Who taught you to play?
1st edition, some friends of my parents, 3rd edition self taught.