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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sword of Spirit" data-source="post: 5899778" data-attributes="member: 6677017">An interesting discussion.I almost always play with friends. I make new friends through gaming, too, but we generally meet through at least a "friend of a friend" type of situation before they're allowed into a game.This means that my criteria is the same criteria I use to choose my friends.I think one might have to use slightly different criteria if they are creating a group without that sort of background. In that case, I think an "interview" is probably a good risk-analysis.In my group of gamer friends, most have no current, noticeable, mental health or substance abuse issues. One of my dearest friends (like a sister to me), had a breakdown a few years back, and has suffered pretty severe anxiety and depression since then. Her husband (also my really good friend), is currently our GM. Since they host our games, it's easier for her to participate, but sometimes she just isn't feeling up to it, and everyone knows to be extra sensitive to her current needs. When I run my games, I wouldn't dream of not having them both be a part of them.As for myself, I suffer from a depressive disorder, a certain amount of anxiety, and perhaps a very mild case of OCD (or just perfectionism). None of these would be noticed by casual friends, or even gaming friends (with the possible exception of a perfectionistic need to control certain aspects of pre-game campaign design when I'm a GM <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/devil.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":devil:" title="Devil    :devil:" data-shortname=":devil:" />). I'm also probably the most reliable "on the ball" player in this group of mostly healthy individuals. I generally get the work done on new characters before anyone else, and often try to help others get their work done. In a group of heavy role-players, I'm one of the most amenable to choosing a character concept that fits well with the GM's campaign ideas (I have a lot of character concepts I can enjoy getting into). I ease the GM's burden during the game by looking up rules he's forgotten or is fuzzy on (without trying to pull "rules lawyer" on him). As far as I know, I've been considered a valuable contribution to any of the games I've been a player in (with this group and others).Would I necessarily pass an interview from a stranger on some of the criteria that have been suggested? Probably not, unless references are involved. Would I understand not being accepted into a game based on said interview? Absolutely. Would I be very careful about who I invited into my home for a game? You bet. When it comes to issues on who you are going to bring into a game, there are a important considerations, and how you get your players is a major consideration in risk-analysis and player management.</blockquote>

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