Gaming group scheduling: what do you use?

[WayneLigon]

We just use phone and email to communicate with each other, assuming we don't see each other between games. Any scheduling glitches got ground out years ago, and new people either fit with our schedule or they don't stay long. All our jobs are over with by 5, the SO's (the ones that don't play) don't strangle their partner with apron strings (if you can't stand one night apart, something is wrong and it ain't the gaming), and the kids are either grown, being cared for by the SO, or are being groomed for a place at the table later on. So, life is good. We miss about five or six games a year due to unexpected circumstances, or everyone goes on vacation around the same time or something.

 

[wedgeski]

I use a Google Group to plan my weekly D&D game. I simply post a thread with the date of the session (usually only one or two in advance) and everyone "checks-in" to say whether they can make it or not. Assuming we have enough players, we go for it.

Like any regular appointment with leisure, maintaining a gaming group takes a lot of work. A fixed schedule is an absolute must (we play every Sunday, 1pm-5pm). Plus, you have to push the game up your priority list perhaps higher than you would expect, turning down invitations from people who don't know or understand about your game and might be somewhat surprised that you'd put "an afternoon lounging about with your friends" above a trip to see a relative or whatever.

In my experience though, it has to be done. There's a tipping point in a gaming group where one person's non-commital to the game can easily snowball into the entire group wondering if it's worth it, *especially* if that group is only friends because of the game and didn't know each-other outside of it.

I play in a band as well and exactly the same kind of thing applies there. In fact, the politics of a D&D group are surprisingly similar to that of a rock band.