Getting Busy Adults Together to Play Games

[Umbran]

When trying to gather a group - especially for an RPG - the central focus is priority. It seems like many people can make it in time for the West Wing, but can never find time to role-play. That says to me that RPGs are just not that high on the priority list.

It isn't that simple. The West Wing takes up an hour of their time, total. No prep, few complications to their day, little effort in execution, small commitment. An RPG session is multiple hours, generally requires some travel, takes much more effort from them while they are playing, and calls for more commitment, and so on.

So, it isn't just priority - it is priority weighted by cost/benefit analysis.

 

[I'm A Banana]

It doesn't seem that economical to me....you might invest hundreds of dollars in games that you never actually play just because the right number of people don't show up. You need a HUGE introductory cost to have the diversity nessecary.

I agree, it's all about sticking to a schedule. People are busy, but if it's important to them, they can set aside an evening.

 

[Joshua Randall]

See here for a recent thread on this same topic.

you might invest hundreds of dollars in games that you never actually play just because the right number of people don't show up. You need a HUGE introductory cost to have the diversity nessecary.

Tell me about it! I have sweet board games that I never get to play because either the right number of people aren't available or no-one wants to try a new game. Ah, Tigris & Euphrates, I gaze longingly at you....

 

[GlassJaw]

This is going to sound extremely harsh but it really isn't meant to be. If you really want to play in a group that meets consistently with very few cancellations, you almost need to find a group where no one has kids. You have to expect some last-minute cancellations from the parents every once in a while.

It isn't that simple. The West Wing takes up an hour of their time, total. No prep, few complications to their day, little effort in execution, small commitment. An RPG session is multiple hours, generally requires some travel, takes much more effort from them while they are playing, and calls for more commitment, and so on.

So, it isn't just priority - it is priority weighted by cost/benefit analysis.

I think it is just priority. I haven't met anyone who decided not to play or join a group because of cost. Distance, perhaps, but not cost. I think it is priority. Gaming certainly takes more effort therefore it must be higher one someone's priority list in order for them to commit to it. If they are content with watching West Wing, then it's going to be very difficult to get them to read the books and learn the rules, figure out their schedule, and then get off the couch and drive to the game.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

This is going to sound extremely harsh but it really isn't meant to be. If you really want to play in a group that meets consistently with very few cancellations, you almost need to find a group where no one has kids. You have to expect some last-minute cancellations from the parents every once in a while.

I agree. You also need someone who either isn't married, or their spouse really supports the gaming time. Ideally you need the single person, no kids, who is in the witness protection program so family visits are not an issue.

I have given up on finding a group for now. It seems all the groups I locate either play on weeknights (not possible) or want to play weekly, which is way more commitment than I can make. When you have all the things you have to do to manage a house, kids, family etc. and you really only have the weekends to do most of it, taking 6 or so hours out of even every other weekend for gaming is a lot of time.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

If they are content with watching West Wing, then it's going to be very difficult to get them to read the books and learn the rules, figure out their schedule, and then get off the couch and drive to the game.

Heh. Heh heh heh.

 

[rushlight]

It isn't that simple. The West Wing takes up an hour of their time, total. No prep, few complications to their day, little effort in execution, small commitment. An RPG session is multiple hours, generally requires some travel, takes much more effort from them while they are playing, and calls for more commitment, and so on.

So, it isn't just priority - it is priority weighted by cost/benefit analysis.

Well, my point wasn't about West Wing in particular, but a funny way of referencing TV as a whole.

I'd bet that 90% of those people who claim they "just don't have time" manage to find time to watch 20-30 hours of TV a week. Probably 3+ hours at a time. If you can fit that much TV in your life, you can fit in a weekly game instead. It's just a matter of which you want to do more.

As an aside, I'd also be willing to bet that people (specifically, adults) who actively play RPGs watch half as much TV as the rest of society. To those people, parking their butt on a couch is more important than heading to someone's house to think and do math. They want the story delivered all in one neat package, without any work. Lazy bones!

 

[The_Gneech]

I suspect that for a lot of adults, "watch TV" is a misnomer, 'cause what they actually do is "decompress from a crappy day at work while happening to have their head pointed at a television set," which I admit is a vitally important activity sometimes.

Myself, I have to carve out time with a pickaxe just to see the occasional DVD, much less watch TV regularly, but I'm something of an oddball.

-The Gneech

 

[Reese]

Here it is:
<snip>

Oooh! Great ideas! Thanks for sharing.

 

[azmodean]

I never understood this 3 hour "decompression period" people mention. I can understand the concept, but at most (if there isn't anything interesting going on) I might spend 15 minutes vegging out when I get home from work. If there is something going on (and gaming is nearly the top of the list) I have no trouble dispensing with it entirely.