D&D General Shocked how hard it is to get new players now-a-days

[CleverNickName]

When the lockdowns ended and things started to open back up, my gaming group discussed whether or not we would return to in-person gaming. Only one person (out of 7) voted in favor of it; everyone else wanted to keep using Roll20 and/or Foundry. (We go back and forth between these platforms, depending on who our DM is at the time.)

There is a lot I like about in-person gaming: the little impromptu dinner parties, the camaraderie, the physical dice and graph paper. Everyone in my gaming group loves those things too, and misses them...but nobody misses driving across town, dealing with traffic and parking, hiring a babysitter, designating a driver, hauling their books and dice and pencils and etc. When it comes to actually getting my group to show up, on time and ready to play, online gaming can't be beat. It's the easiest and best option for us.

 

[Juxtapozbliss]

When the lockdowns ended and things started to open back up, my gaming group discussed whether or not we would return to in-person gaming. Only one person (out of 7) voted in favor of it; everyone else wanted to keep using Roll20 and/or Foundry. (We go back and forth, depending on who our DM is at the time.)

There is a lot I like about in-person gaming: the little impromptu dinner parties, the camaraderie, the physical dice and graph paper. Everyone in my gaming group loves those things, and misses them...but nobody misses driving across town, dealing with traffic and parking, hiring a babysitter, designating a driver, hauling their books and dice and pencils and etc. When it comes to actually getting my group to show up, on time and ready to play, online gaming can't be beat. It's the easiest and best option for us.

This

 

[Reynard]

We might have gone back to face to face gaming, but the player who was the host because his place was centrally located (so a 45 minute drive for all rather than an hour and a half for some) decided not to go back in person so we stayed online. That person has since retired from the group and I am getting ready for a move so maybe I can find in person gaming again (besides cons, which I love).

 

[Remathilis]

In a physical game at a game shop. I have no desire to play online.

I've been trying to get 2 more players for a while. A lot of bites but I bring next to nothing to shore.

I've tried friends and family. Had one cousin express interest but never show.
Friends, same thing. "Sounds cool" but don't show. Even when they lament about not having anything to do that day.
Online boards in my metro area. Made a post about what I'm DMing and wanting players. I've had 3 people say they wished to join. None of them actually show.
People at the store approach and ask if they can play next week. Sure! Don't show.

Closest I had was a co worker and his 2 friends. All 3 showed. Next week the co-worker was sent to another state for surprise job training and his 2 friends were MIA.

I asked my local store to put up a notice board so I can put a posting, can't be bothered.

Why is this so hard? I thought this was the RPG golden age?

I had a much easier time getting players to a table for 3rd and 4th ed. This is like pulling teeth. If my current group ever decided to break up, I don't know what I'd do.

People mock me when I comment that the "my way or the highway" DM needs to be considerate of their players desires lest they end up without any. I was told that players fall out of the trees in other areas and never want for players.

Your experience is closer to mine.

 

[darjr]

I have some advice if you want it.

 

[Morrus]

The pandemic definitely introduced online gaming to a lot of people who discovered they quite liked it. I think it changed the landscape.

 

[Oofta]

I haven't looked for new players since covid, although somehow I ended up with a second group anyway. But I used meetup.org when I was looking. I still see posts there for our local store and it seems active.

It will probably vary by area though. Good luck.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

@DarkCrisis
Did you ask people you played with before?

 

[Vael]

I miss in person gaming, the tactile nature of rolling dice, it's easier to read the group. Plus I'm less likely to get second screened, a friend of mine is always playing WoW during our online sessions.

 

[Katarhas]

For me I still vastly prefer in-person gaming, but I can agree it's a lot harder to get a game going. In the time that I've been trying to get an in-person group, I've GM'd two full campaigns and played in 3, all online. For me, it's significantly more of a hassle to prep a game in a VTT than in person, since it feels like in person play requires a lot less things I need physically prepped (like a map/walls in Foundry or token art) since there's a lower expectation of what's going to be available as play materials than online. There's also a lack of technical difficulties I'll face in person, since for in-person games I handwrite my notes in notebooks, use home made tokens, and draw on a flip map for dungeons/location encounters. It's also nice because if I do feel the artistic edge to do some more work I can give physical prop/materials, which always feels cool to do.

I can see, however, from a player perspectives that the downsides of in person play can outweigh the good, since it's not mechanically making anything easier or harder for you with in person (other than improved social interactions with being able to see each other in true real time and read faces easier), and it adds a time barrier of travel to and from the location, and a possible cost if it's at a game store or other location that charges to use their space.