Interviewing New Players

[just__al]

Make sure you eat with them and see if they salt their food before they taste it.

everything else you just gotta pick up from conversation

 

[JoeGKushner]

I'd just try to set up a quick game away from the game to see what type of character they make and how they played. Questions can be worked around and at the same time, can piss someone off. A person's atypical answer might not be how they really play for example.

 

[frankthedm]

First question, "You want to hit the mall?" or "A few freinds are hitting the ."movie gaming group will like" movie, want to come with?". If the person is not fun to hang out with[which you find out by hanging out with them], them gaming with them is a mistake. If the person sittiing high on the social totem pole and won't hang out with you, tell them to cram the pole the rest of the way in.


Invite them over to somewhere to play a few videogames and measure thier reactions, some groups can handle players who yell out ethnic slurs along with trash talk, some groups can't.

2nd question, How is work? Find out how thier schedual is, people enslaved to a badly schedualed job will be disruptivly absent.

3rd question, "How is the family?" If the person has a kid 'You know not to bring the kid over, right?" should not have to be asked, but it is best to keep things straight.

 

[ThirdWizard]

I would advise against grilling. Also, don't bring a clipboard to record your results. That's way too impersonal, and I would definately be put off by that. Unless it is a reflection of your gaming environment, don't do it. This is just as much them learning about your game as you learning about them, first impressions and all that. If you come off as controlling and detatched in your interview, and they don't want that in their gaming, you might be misrepresenting yourself.

Just talk. Have a conversation about gaming, and don't worry about any particular questions or what you're looking for. After a couple of hours of talking about gaming, it should become clear whether or not you're compatable, or at the very least whether they are someone you want to invite into your house to game with and find out how compatable you are.

 

[fusangite]

I conducted a series of interviews with potential players; frankly, most of the bad signs one can pick up about a potential player can be easily detected without asking any particular gaming questions. The key thing to watch for is people who either can't understand or don't care what the other human beings around them are saying. Most people will give away their general social deportment in the course of 30 minutes over tea or beer. One way to really figure people out, to paraphrase the governor of California, "Be silent for one minute. A man will reveal all his weaknesses trying to fill a minute of silence."

Things you need to make sure the player is on the same page about:
- what level of character exploration you campaign has versus his/her desires. Is your campaign the kind where a character falls in love or explores psychological issues? Does the player want it to be that kind of campaign?
- what level of playing out diplomatic/economic interactions your campaign has versus the player's tastes. Do people haggle with words, dice rolls or some combination of the two? Are players expected to keep track of the names and motivations of political actors in the game and remember those during interactions with NPCs?
- how PC is the person? Will he/she be offended by the kinds of jokes that are told around your gaming table? Or is he or she likely to offend your players on that front?

For me, these are the biggies. Don't sugar coat anything about your gaming group. Give an honest assessment and hope your potential player does the same.

 

[fusangite]

What RPG games have you played before? How long have you been gaming?

What kind of characters do you prefer to play? Tell me about your favorite character.

What do you like and dislike about D&D 3.5e (or whatever system you are running)

Tell me about the best gaming moment that you have had.

What kind of game play annoys you?

Why do you play role-playing games? What is it that you want to get out of your role-playing games? (this should probably be the last question...well, right before...)

Do you have any questions for me? About my game? My players?

Underlining and bolding mine. This is an incredibly good list. But finding out what kinds of behaviours get to people certainly foregrounds differences in play style really effectively.

 

[Chimera]

One thing not really mentioned above, but high on my list;

"Are you a good house-guest?"

Just asking the question lets them know that they'll need to be on good behavior at your games.

Observe their cleanliness and personal grooming while you're interviewing them. If they show up unkempt, dirty or foul smelling, you know they'll do the same at a game session. If you're in a restaurant and they're dropping food bits everywhere and throwing wrappers on the floor, chances are they'll do the same at your house.

Ask what kind of snacks they like during a game.

If they say "sunflower seeds", run like heck, because they'll very probably leave the shells everywhere.

I once encountered a player who refused to eat Pepperoni (no, he was not a Vegan). If your group ever orders pizza, a person like this can seriously throw a wrench into things.

 

[Baron Opal]

I always met prospective players at a resturaunt or pub. If I advertised on a newsgroup or by flyer, I try to have a phone call before a f-t-f meeting. I ask three questions.

"What keeps you busy during the week?"
- The correct answer is either a job, full-time student, or a combination. I've had some bad experiences with those who are unemployed.

"How would you get to the game?"
- The correct answer is you would drive. Again, bad experiences with those who can not afford their own transportation or those who don't have the wherewithal to obtain a drivers' licence. If I lived in a town where public transportation was a bigger player, than this question might be less inmportant.

"Do you mind small children?"
- The correct answer is "No, I don't mind." I have a yound child who sometimes sits on my lap while I run, and sometimes one of the other players brings over their little ones. My wife provides the child care, but we don't confine them to the playroom.

If that is okay and I get a good feeling, then I meet them at the pub. I tell them that I run a casual game, and it's casual by necessity. We meet at my place, and my wife cooks dinner and other people bring salads and side dishes. We're all 30+ y.o. We have dinner at a mid-game break. We then chat and get to know each other.

If, and only if, they like what they hear from me and I and my wife get a good vibe from them do I invite them over to my house and tell them where I live.

 

[pntbllr]

I once encountered a player who refused to eat Pepperoni (no, he was not a Vegan). If your group ever orders pizza, a person like this can seriously throw a wrench into things.

I really don't see a problem with this. When my group orders pizza we always get more than 1 (often more than 5), so 1 cheese piza won't hurt.

 

[Oryan77]

This is the roleplayers #1 tool when meeting potential gamers:

http://www30.familywatchdog.us/Search.asp

Just type in your address and cross reference the new gamer with the folks near your house.

Also, if the guys name is Frank and he likes muffins, be afraid.