Motivating a new group?

[Maraxle]

I'm starting a new gaming group with a bunch of people I know. It looks like we're going to have 5 players, plus myself as the DM. I provided them with the character generator and some background on the world. I gave them several days to come up with characters (even just an idea, not even the stats) and provide me with a copy, as I want to to tailor the campaign and especially the first adventure to them. For example, if they all chose to play as elves, I'd run an elf-themed campaign, and avoid sending them on a quest or starting them in an area that wouldn't be compatible with their characters.

Anyway, the deadline for sending me the info passed this morning, and only 1 player sent me anything. What should I do to encourage them to make their deadlines so I can make the game better for them?

 

[Nifft]

Get them together and do it with them. The difference between players and DMs is that DMs are capable of doing homework.

-- Nifft

 

[Crothian]

I find it's often best to devote a session to character generation. Even with players who are willing to do "homework" it's nice to get them all together and have them find ways to interconnect their characters. Also, it allows you to offer info that is campaign specific for their ideas.

 

[Kilmore]

If a lot of your gang has internet, get a Yahoo! group for your group. Go to http://groups.yahoo.com

Also, work with that player who gave you the details. Work out his history and adventuring hooks that you and him can use to make a better character. Then let him brag to the other players.

 

[barsoomcore]

I second Crothian's idea. Schedule a "character-building" session to start things off. Alternatively, schedule "mini-sessions" with each player to create their characters and run a little side trek that explains how they end up wherever all the PCs are at the start of the campaign. I used that trick for my campaign and it worked really well.

 

[Maraxle]

Great ideas guys! Thanks. This group can only meet twice a month, so I was trying to get straight to the adventuring. But you're right, delaying the start of the adventuring for a character generation session would be better than starting the campaign off with a mediocre or ill-fitting adventure.

 

[ForceUser]

Anyway, the deadline for sending me the info passed this morning, and only 1 player sent me anything. What should I do to encourage them to make their deadlines so I can make the game better for them?

There are a few things you can do. First, call them. Lots of people don't check their email every day, so they can miss things. Maybe they just haven't had a chance to do it yet - many people lead busy lives and D&D is a low priority. Second, encourage them to figure out for themselves if their characters will know each other or not at campaign start time. It's often easier on the DM if a couple of characters are relatives or old friends. Third, the word dealine sounds like "work." Now, as a DM myself, I know how frustrating it can be to be pounding away on your campaign and get a lackluster response from the players (if at all). If worst comes to worst, just spend the first sessin making characters and working with your players on their backstories and integration into the campaign. If they complain about spending a session doing so, just remind them that you did, in fact, send an email out. Finally, if you have to resort to option #3, save your cool adventure for the following session, and just run something a bit more generic to fill time. Then hit them with the real adventure the following session. Most of all, don't get mad at them for not responding in a timely fashion - D&D is usually not a person's priority, and rightly so.

Good luck.

 

[Leopold]

i motion to use a cattle prod and some dynamite..always good motivation..

 

[Dieter]

A sword is only a tool. It's a hard heart that kills. If your killer instincts are not clean and strong you will hesitate at the moment of truth. You will not kill. You will become dead adventurers. And then you will be in a world of . Because adventurers are not allowed to die without permission! Do you maggots understand?

Nerull loves adventurers, because we kill everything we see. He plays his games, we play ours. To show our appreciation for so much power, we keep Hades packed with fresh souls. Nerull was here before you adventurers, so you can give your heart to Nerull, but your ass belongs to the DM!

 

[ForceUser]

A sword is only a tool. It's a hard heart that kills. If your killer instincts are not clean and strong you will hesitate at the moment of truth. You will not kill. You will become dead adventurers. And then you will be in a world of . Because adventurers are not allowed to die without permission! Do you maggots understand?

Nerull loves adventurers, because we kill everything we see. He plays his games, we play ours. To show our appreciation for so much power, we keep Hades packed with fresh souls. Nerull was here before you adventurers, so you can give your heart to Nerull, but your ass belongs to the DM!

heh heh heh heh

I love that movie