Gaming across the generation gap

[CrusaderX]

He cast Continual Flame on his gauntlets to add to the "bling."

Ha! Now that's funny.

 

[S'mon]

Well, this fellow professes to have been a DM for his group who moved away, so I am hoping for the best.

That his expressed interest is in playing monster characters leaves me nervous, though.

If you feel apprehensive on the info you know from talking to him, there probably will be a problem, so unless you can clarify the issues to the extent that you come to feel completely comfortable, I'd recommend against taking him into your group.

 

[S'mon]

Yeah. That's a potential red flag. I tend to meet all potential players I don't pull in from my circle of friends for about an hour over beer or coffee. And I tell them, pretty much flat out, that I'm meeting them to determine if they will be a fit for my game.

Yeah, me too. Although I've been really fortunate with my current group in that everyone I've met at the pub for my current campaign has been very welcome. I did use to have the problem of being far too indiscriminate in who I accepted.
I turn down most prospective players at the emailing stage though - or rather I put them in the Pending folder, I can always go through it to see if there's anyone I want to contact if I want new players.

 

[S'mon]

they liked my interview, I wish I had interviewed them a little more

Yeah, prospective players need to interview the GM too (& the rest of the group - though the first session is probably fine for seeing what they're like). My newest player I interviewed to fill a vacancy, I interviewed her, then she interviewed me. It worked really well & I now have a player who seems to be working out really well.

 

[S'mon]

I don't mind a little silliness now and again, but I honestly think it wonder if it would be difficult to maintain authority as a DM when your players are significantly *older* than you are.

I haven't had a problem with older players Respecting My Authoritay (except once in a Western PBEM, many years ago), but it probably helps that I lecture for a living. And I probably wouldn't have been comfy GMing for older adults when I was young (pre-University). Most older players I've GM'd have also been GMs themselves, which I suspect usually helps as GMs know better than anyone what makes a good player.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

First- I've introduced kids as young as 14 to the game...with their parents' permission. It wasn't a problem.

And anyone over 18 is legally an adult. If they're not living at home, let them participate.

Second, re:

* An inability to create a character that doesn't emulate current urban/black/rap culture.

Does no one remember campaigns in the 70's and 80's where everything was influenced by hard/classic/metal rock culture? Where NPCs were told they "rocked" or were called "dude?"

If not, you probably had a totally bitchin time in your awesome DM's game!

* No ability to concentrate

Varies from player to player. My last campaign of more than a year featured a player over 25yrs of age who couldn't keep combat mods straight, and another who had the magic system scrambled. Both, however, were cool people who ran interesting characters.

* Juvenile sense of humor

Well DUH!

Like you've never had a game night disintigrate into giggles over a malapropism or bad turn of a phrase? Especially one that involved NAUGHTY WORDS?

Please.

* Attention Whoring.

I see that in gamers MY age...but it can be a little more obvious when the player is a n00b to your table. It may just be nerves- trying to make an impact quickly to make a good impression.

 

[Bront]

I went harvesting potential new players at the FLGS, and got a few numbers in the hope to round out our group a little.

One lead turned out great, a promising new player with some good experience.

The second one, worries me. I called him and it turns out he's a senior in high school.

We talked for a bit and decided to get together and make some characters. When he asked if it was going to be a problem about his age, I said "it really depends on your playstyle."

But I am worried that he might be playing, well, at the level I was when I was in high school. But at the same time, the last thing I want to do is discourage young players.

So, anyone grapple with issues like this? Have any war stories, good or bad?

By the age of 15, I had won an alternate spot in a team RP competition (which ment I was one of the best with a particular character among the non-advancing teams), and won an individual RP event at a table where everyone else was over 30 (Playing a Paladin actualy). Both at Gencon.

When I was 10, I joined my fathers game, being the only one under 30 again, and did quite well with my character.

Now, in some ways I've become a better RPer in my older age, but there were things I was actualy better at when I was younger.

Now, every person is different, but I would give this person a chance. I've played with very mature and capable younger players, and I've gamed with some that werent. Honestly, in a setting where he's the only younger player, he'll probably be better. I've found individual younger players tend to work better than a group of them (A group of them gets distracted too easily).

 

[Howling Coyote]

Around here age isn't really an issue. I run games for a group whose age varies between 15 and early thirties with the average being just above twenty. Although, their styles do vary somewhat their age doesn't seem to be the issue in all cases. Sure the most troublesome cases have been about 17 year old, but we give them a chance, and if they can't seem to adapt we cut them off eventually.
Actually, I think that in the end the most troublesome players are those old hardened roleplayers, as the older they get the more childish and harder to control they seem to get. A friend of mine runs regularly games to 30+ players with the oldest being about 60, and while he's the youngest in the bunch he constantly complains that he feels old in that group of "children".

Btw, that no RL talk during games is something that I've always wanted to experience, but the sad fact is that around here it will never happen.

 

[Ycore Rixle]

I know it's a generalization, and doesn't apply to everyone (and certainly not to you, the reader or anyone you know and like) but young players tend to act really, really stupid.

I'm not sure why, but the sheer number of guys who seem to think that their Elf needs to be named "DaShawn" or "G-Money" or something akin, and speak in a "Whassup Dawg?" type patois is just beyond me. Fantasy, Western, Star Trek...no difference. Easily half of the youngsters I've gamed cannot seem to get their minds away from the notion of tyei characters being themselves, but "the Baddest Gangstas at the Mall"
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Why exactly would you consider this really, really stupid? Isn't it just a different play style? Robin Laws, I think, would say that there are many ways to enjoy RPGs, and none of them are "right" or "wrong" (or "really, really stupid").

Isn't this just another way to re-interpret the real world? Isn't that what art does?

Rap is a vibrant and valid art form. I think it's fine to mix it with D&D, and not anymore anachronistic in the fantasy milieu than, say, gender equality.

 

[Jdvn1]

I'm probably at least ten years younger than the average player in my gaming group. More specifically, I'm in my early 20s and my gaming group is in the 30-40 range. We get along well, I think. Just depends on the person, I suppose.