Is "finding the right players" a solvable problem, or just luck?

[RenleyRenfield]

I am late to this, but hey = anytime I look for new players = this helps = C.A.T.S. method of session 0 (link)

It does not guarantee I find the perfect player - but it does take those players i do find and let them know pretty much day 1 if our playerstyles and rpg desires are compatible...

 

[Neonchameleon]

But how do you sift in a way that makes sense? How do you develop that personal barometer?

One part practice, one part visualisation and knowing which skills you are looking for. You don't just want good players but ones that vibe with the game you want to run. And a big part trying rewarding certain things and seeing how they respond.

 

[Desdichado]

It is very much a solvable problem. After all, I solved it!

That's not how data works. There are things that can help encourage a solution, but it's not a guarantee that you can even FIND the right mix of truly compatible players in a given area, especially if your tastes verge on the esoteric or eclectic.

 

[Brendan Byrd]

Luck seems to be a running thread in this forum, which I know I shouldn't be surprised at, but that also makes a lot of sense. I wish it did not need to be so luck-based, or random chance.

< silly humour >
If the games you play involve math rocks…

At least ”luck” and “random chance” are constants.
< /silly humour >

 

[TwoSix]

One overlooked aspect: BE the kind of player that other good players want to play with.

 

[GrimCo]

I think it also depends on do you run online game or face to face one, and if it's second, do you play in public space or private space (usually DMs place).

I run only f2f games and mostly play at my place. So, when you are invited to a game, you are invited to my home. Behave like a guest and you will be treated like a guest. Because of it, i put heavy emphasis on vibe check with new people i'm not familiar with. Sometimes, people just don't click. You can't put your finger on precisely why, someone just didn't sit well with you and that's that. Other reason is, this hobby eats decent amount of free time. You hang around for 3-4-5 hours with your group every week, or every other week. Don't know for others, but for me, if i'm spending that much time with someone, i wanna spend it in a group that has decent chemistry & similar sense of humor.

Online gaming is more forgiving since social aspect isn't that pronounced. In my experience, in online games, people focus on the game itself much more.

 

[Scott Christian]

I've been thinking about this a lot and have started building something around it. Curious whether others have developed any reliable signals or methods for compatibility before session one, or whether it's mostly still vibes and luck.

I also use my home to run and play in games. For me, it is about screening prior to that. I played in a short campaign. It was one where we were all paying $25 a session to play. Some people at the table I kept, others I didn't. I think this is key. The group I had, knew that before inviting anyone over, they needed to ask. Most of the time, no problem. If they were to join our group, it warranted a discussion among all of us. This took almost a year to get to a great place.

But even now, there will be complications. New players want in because they are a friend of someone at the table and think it sounds fun, and we have to decide... Is this going to work? Then they show up as a "trial" run for a few sessions.

I have said no several times to co-workers. It's painful.

We are now capped at seven players. And for some of us, that is too much. But, we all get along, have fun, and enjoy the same playstyle. And in part, that is because of the screening I did, and later, we did, early on.

There have been other times I let people invite me, and I decide if I am a good fit for that table. I am very fortunate in the fact that almost everyone I have played with through a campaign has been good. I am lucky, and I understand that may not be the norm. But for me, the coin has just always seemed to land on the right side.