I too believe that chemistry is paramount to the harmony of a gaming group and wouldn't hesitate to remove a player with whom I do not get along. If, however, I were a player in another group and encountered friction with my fellow players, I would leave. It's as simple as that.
Player Tryouts
- Thread starter HiLiphNY
- Start date
broghammerj
Explorer
JDyal:
Well as JDyal's "new guy" I'll give you my perspective as it might help. I went to a Detroit Gameday which was great. I had never went to an organized event before. I'm not sure how to meet new gamers if you don't have an event like this in your area. I guess you could talk to people at a local game store. Anyways, I kept the option open of meeting people to possibly play but wasn't actively searching for an opportunity. While everyone I met was very pleasant and friendly, I could immediately tell that there were people that weren't my style of play. JDyal and company sort of seemed to approach playing from the same perspective.
Glassjaw:
That being said, we have only played together twice (including that Gameday). If things started not to work out I would take no offense if I wasn't asked back. Nor would I have no regrets about leaving if I wasn't enjoying myself. We're all there to have a good time.
My old group posted a sign in a local gaming store asking for new players. One guy called and there were several conversations over the phone. They invited him over and played a few games. He was a bit of a min/maxer and didn't really fit the DMs style. Since he wasn't a close friend he was sort of marginalized out. I'm not really sure if an actual discussion was held, but I think he kind of got the point. I'm sure it could have easily worked out with someone else. Part of the question you have to ask is how much do you need another body to play. In my old groups case, we had lost several players. So after dismissing him, they opted not to play for a while.
Well as JDyal's "new guy" I'll give you my perspective as it might help. I went to a Detroit Gameday which was great. I had never went to an organized event before. I'm not sure how to meet new gamers if you don't have an event like this in your area. I guess you could talk to people at a local game store. Anyways, I kept the option open of meeting people to possibly play but wasn't actively searching for an opportunity. While everyone I met was very pleasant and friendly, I could immediately tell that there were people that weren't my style of play. JDyal and company sort of seemed to approach playing from the same perspective.
Glassjaw:
This strikes to the heart of the matter. Although they're may be people out there that play my style, there are definitely those out there that aren't MY style. It was more important to talk about experiences in college, football, the dynamics of moving to Detroit, etc instead of DND. It became pretty clear that JDyal and company would be a good fit for me.
That being said, we have only played together twice (including that Gameday). If things started not to work out I would take no offense if I wasn't asked back. Nor would I have no regrets about leaving if I wasn't enjoying myself. We're all there to have a good time.
My old group posted a sign in a local gaming store asking for new players. One guy called and there were several conversations over the phone. They invited him over and played a few games. He was a bit of a min/maxer and didn't really fit the DMs style. Since he wasn't a close friend he was sort of marginalized out. I'm not really sure if an actual discussion was held, but I think he kind of got the point. I'm sure it could have easily worked out with someone else. Part of the question you have to ask is how much do you need another body to play. In my old groups case, we had lost several players. So after dismissing him, they opted not to play for a while.
HiLiphNY
Explorer
True - there is something about a Con or gameday that makes for great gaming folks. Perhaps it is the energy level of the room, perhaps it's the outgoing nature of the attendees. I have met a very dear friend at a Con in Toronto, whom I still keep in touch with since being in NYC for the last 8 years or so. THAT was a great gaming player experience.
The only problem with the larger Cons, such as Gencon and its ilk, is that it is hard to attempt to meet people from your region. Because they are so well attended, most of the folks are not from your part of the country (World!)
That said, I'm going to Gencon!
The only problem with the larger Cons, such as Gencon and its ilk, is that it is hard to attempt to meet people from your region. Because they are so well attended, most of the folks are not from your part of the country (World!)
That said, I'm going to Gencon!
the Jester
Legend
When Brain was joining our group, we first met for lunch and talked. Then he came and sat in and watched a game- which turned into an epic tpk. 
Then he joined our low-level group.
Then he joined our low-level group.
Evilhalfling
Adventurer
I had a try out when my group went from 4 players to 2. It was a oneshot adventure, where we invited 4 new people. I also posted a player want add at the FLGS the group liked two of the new people, but one moved away and the other didn't have regular transportation. I would have a talk to each new person for a while, mostly about gaming style. Finally some called about the ad. and we added him to the campaign. Then the two players who I thought had left the game came back, and added thier younger brother. I had 3 other callers before I took the ad down.
I wouldn't bother with the trial, just talk to the other players after a session or two to see if the new person is working out. The one-shots were fun, but were unsuccesful. The player from the FLGS is a min/maxer - but he will write a 3 page history and provide a wealth of details with every character. The brother is a background player- but with a party of six players I prefer 1 or 2 that stay out of the limelight.
I wouldn't bother with the trial, just talk to the other players after a session or two to see if the new person is working out. The one-shots were fun, but were unsuccesful. The player from the FLGS is a min/maxer - but he will write a 3 page history and provide a wealth of details with every character. The brother is a background player- but with a party of six players I prefer 1 or 2 that stay out of the limelight.
der_kluge
Adventurer
barsoomcore said:
HAHA!
"I am.."
*rolls dice*
"..pleased to meet you!"
My friend in college was talking to some guy at a bookstore that wanted to game with him. This was an older guy (of course, we were college-aged, but by older I think he was like 40), and he was talking about things like psionic, fire-breathing bunnies and things like that. So yea, there are some real freaks out there.
True story -
When I first moved to Richmond, I started gaming with drife (on here), and he had another player in his group whom he'd met off the WoTC boards. We'll call him Dale, because that's his name.
I got to Drife's early, and was making up a character for his game, and Dale shows up and says, "The funniest thing happened to me last week." And then drife asked, "what was that", and Dale said, "my girlfriend had a miscarriage."
Needless to say Dale doesn't play with us anymore.
So yea, it's important to screen people out before they get into your group.
MoogleEmpMog
First Post
I wish I could screen out new players. :\
I've just started running the FLGS weekly d20 game, and it's always operated under the "those who show up get to play" basis. It's not so much that any of the players are bad, it's just that there's so many. -sigh-
I've just started running the FLGS weekly d20 game, and it's always operated under the "those who show up get to play" basis. It's not so much that any of the players are bad, it's just that there's so many. -sigh-
