Hospitality in Gaming or Gaming in Hospitality?

[jester47]

I have been thinkning about this for a while (several years in fact). I have always wanted to game more casually. But I never could seem to pull it off. But I think that is a result of the fact that I always want to run a campaign. Then I finally realised tonight that I was putting the game first and the players second.

I have noticed that in my experience do gamers put the game first and extend hospitality as a result? Or are they all about hospitality and just happen to game?

Its seems to me that it has to be one way or the other. After thinking about it, I find that I think the Hospitality should come first. If Hospitality comes first, then you are genuinely interested in spending time with the other people. If the game is first then you are basicly using the others for your own ends. That is to say "Ah I have a new idea for a campaign, hrmm gonna need some players..." is the wrong way to go about it. "Come over, we'll be having some people around. We might watch a movie, go bowling or play D&D." seems to be a better way.

I think some changes are in order.

Is your hospitality a result of your gaming or is your gaming a result of your hospitality?

Aaron.

 

[maddman75]

I get together with my friends. One of the things we do is play RPGs. We may also play board games, computer games, or just drink beer and look for dirty pictures on the internet. It does have its down sides - sometimes the casualness can cause a DM's hard work to go down the drain. I've said before 'guys, if all we want to do is drink beer and act silly, we really don't need to haul all the books over here.'

 

[ThoughtBubble]

My "Gaming Hospitality" isn't really driven as "Hospitality caused by the need to game". It's more of a compromise between my drive to socialize and my drive to create. I could be hanging out, or I could be writing. Instead I'm trying to blend the impulses to gain a different expierence.

However, it's still gaming hospitality (gaming first). The reason why is simply that DMing a game is a lot of work. There's a lot of time, effort, and preparation that goes into even a single session. There are maps to draw, modules to look over, mosters to stat, tactics to think out, and hooks to be baited. Thus, playing D&D isn't an alternative like bowling, watching a movie, playing Halo 2, or going for a hike. It requires mroe time and effort, like, say, a neiborhood barbeque. And I simply wouldn't want to spend a big chunk of time (and sometimes money) on a game that's not going to be used. My evening hours are rare, and I could use them for other things in that case.

Now, in the cases where the effort in preparing for a D&D game is more like going to an arcade (say, ad-libbed, briefly sketched, or low/no stats) then I'm more up for 'gaming as an outlet for hospitality'.

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

I like having my friends over and have everyone participate in the group game of an RPG. It is a lot of fun and there is a wide variety of activities to do within a game: excitement of combat, puzzle solving, investigation and role playing. Some nights go better than others but sometimes the real fun is just getting together with your friends and playing something.

 

[Hand of Evil]

If it is at your place and you are the host and DM, then charge a fee I say! While you can be a wonderful host, DMing and hosting is a lot of work, hospitality is nice but week after week, month after month, it is draining.

 

[Seeker95]

None of the Above

My gaming and my hospitality are independent of each other in their formation and development. My gaming makes use of my hospitality, but does not form it, and is not formed by it. So... I couldn't vote in this poll.

 

[Davelozzi]

I mostly agree with ThoughBubble. Running a game takes way too much prep to pretend that when I invite friends over for it I'd be satisfied to hang out and do whatever.

However, everyone in my gaming group are friends and hang out anyway, and I do invite them over to casually hang plenty of other times.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

All of the people I play RPGs with are friends outside of playing RPGs so I guess my hospitallity comes before my gaming.
If we are not serious when we are playing the however we stop and doing something else for a while, to quote what I've said when I've GMed, "If you guys just want to hang out thats cool. We'll go outside and cause havoc and mayham or stay inside and play video games. BUT if you want to play the game then calm the hell down."

 

[Henry]

If I'm understanding the question right, I game as part of my palling around with friends. I don't often game with complete strangers.

On the other hand, I've met the majority of my friends BECAUSE of my gaming. Acquaintences and friendships I've fostered at ENWorld Gamedays came through getting together with people not only during the games, but before and after through meet 'n greets and so forth.

I guess I'm trying to say they go hand-in-hand. After I get to know someone and they become a good acquaintence or friend, we start getting together outside of gaming for dinners, movies, road trips, etc. I have rarely met a gamer I couldn't stand.

 

[diaglo]

i have complete strangers over to my house to play.

i have complete strangers sleep at my house.

this is more just me. not b/c i game.