How to revitalize an area for gaming? (Specifically Baltimore)

[Xer0]

I'm going to bump this. I play with atomn and another friend. We are three - we used to be bigger, but lost a couple of our guys to moves and other sundry issues.

Jezter and I at one time tried to hook up and get something going but it didn't hash out. Speaking of which, Jezter, I saw your reply in Gamers seeking Gamers, so keep your eye on this thread instead.

I think we're out there, it's just hard to get anything going. There's a Yahoo! group out there called Maryland Roleplayers, but it's been mighty silent.

There's a game store up in Fallston, Renaissance Games, the owner Bruce is one of the nicest guys I know as is the rest of his staff. They don't have a huge amount of space, but there are tables and places to play at the store. He's also got signup lists for people looking for games.

I've heard a lot of good ideas about reviving the community and maybe it's time to take steps. I suggest that those of us who want to get the community back up on its feet meet and decide what to do and how to do it.

Who's with me?

 

[TheTick1701]

I am with you.

Now you just need to figure out who I am Not that it will take you very long.

What are some of the good ideas you have heard?

 

[Xer0]

I am with you.

Now you just need to figure out who I am Not that it will take you very long.

What are some of the good ideas you have heard?

Took you long enough to get here.

Read the whole thread, looks like we need to do a lot of advertising.

 

[krissbeth]

My gaming definitely dried up when I lived in Baltimore (now in Boston). I really hope you guys can bring something together and get it going again.

 

[bigeshu]

Xero can probably guess who I am instantly.

Back to the topic, I'm suffering the same pangs of gaming as described above. My current group is four deep (myself included) and due to work responsibilities it is often reduced to three or two when crunch time arrives (and until recently I haven't really considered the possibility of one-on-one play but that is going to change). In either case, We Need Blood! Not necessarily fresh blood who needs their gaming hunger set, neither necessarily old heads who game once every month or two, just blood in general. I need warm bodies and an excuse to buy an extra chair! In a word, I need gamers!

As far as the way to get people to greet, I'll agree that LFGS may not work out as the one I go to (Legends in Towson) is mostly a card game/board game store (which is excellent for gateway mind you, but restricts the times/days that can be used for standard tabletop).

Personally, I think that having a sort of thumb tack map (perhaps frappr I think it's called) that shows who is in the area. A virtual message board (hmm...looks around) that says "I'm running X, in Y, come play." One other thing that worked kind of well at RPG.net is a secret santa book exchange, where you give up some older books and it's randomly passed around to all participants. It's how I was introduced to Traveller, and how I introduced someone to Deadlands classic (which I miss deeply dammit!). The reason I suggest that is that all too often people's main problem with wanting to play is a feeling of blase "been-there-done-that-itis" which results in lethargy, but a fear about wasting cash on product that stinks (Cynnibar or That-which-shall-not-be-named for instance).

Anyway, now that I've surpassed typical first post limits by a thousand, I'll cancel by saying. This gamer is in and wants to play, and is currently (hopefully tonight for the first time) running an L5R 3rd campaign, entitled the Coronation of Conspiracy. An action thriller that deals with the basic core assumption of the setting and screws with it to deliciously blasphemous levels...... or at least that's what I tell myself. I can be a bit vain

Speaking of which Xero, Atomn, I completed my Star Wars character.

Sudden note, it's a shame we don't really have a convention to go to in the area with pick-up games. That would set things ablazing. But I do second the idea of hugging colleges.

 

[Xer0]

Xero can probably guess who I am instantly.

Wish I didn't....

Speaking of which Xero, Atomn, I completed my Star Wars character.

Good, looking forward to see what you've done.

Sudden note, it's a shame we don't really have a convention to go to in the area with pick-up games. That would set things ablazing. But I do second the idea of hugging colleges.

Ah, but we do. There are two gatherings going on in the near future for us to get together.

 

[The_Universe]

Queen_Dopplepopolis and I are in Odenton, and we're always willing to consider games and/or players. Send me a PM or something if any of y'all are interested. I've theoretically got a 3.5 D&D campaign ongoing, but we haven't played since March, so I've got time on the schedule, as it were.

Also, despite the fact that I work in the same place as Madirishman, and we briefly discussed getting together for some gaming, we haven't done jack crap about it! Dear god, we're part of the problem!

You might also consider coming to the 27 October DC/MD/VA Gameday and attempt to "network" with other area gamers. Check out this thread for more information: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=173737