Tell me about your experiences running games at a FLGS

[aramis erak]

It's one of those things that, if you do public-GMing, sooner or later, one of your players will turn out to be some form of creep.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It's one of those things that, if you do public-GMing, sooner or later, one of your players will turn out to be some form of creep.

For sure. There have been a few folks I've brushed up against in MMOs like that.

"Oh, you didn't hear why he hasn't been online in months? He's in prison ..."

 

[Vael]

My LGS has a discord server to organize games. I DMed a Daggerheart one-shot, and have joined a DnD Rime of the Frostmaiden Campaign. The shop / boardgame cafe doesn't charge DMs for running games there.

I also ran Light of Xaryxis for a comic book store, they asked for DMs to submit a proposal.

All my experiences have been positive, with one exception. There was a little lack of communication at the comic book store, I applied for a summer spot and didn't get one ... only to find my campaign had been scheduled for the Fall sessions without so much as an email confirming I was still available to run it. But I got a decent amount of store credit for it, and the actual campaign went well.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

I don't like it. Right now I'm running a Pathfinder 2e game at Hex and Co on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and the environment is usually pretty loud and cramped. No room for maps or to spread out a GM's screen. I'm going to keep running but the fact that I have to pay for a suboptimal space kind of grinds my gears a little bit. My players are great but the environment? Not so much.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

In my experience, in the beginning, attendance can swing wildly. Sometimes just two people will show up, sometimes 11. Eventually, things will reach equilibrium. But one lesson I wish I had learned is that no matter how much you want everyone who shows up to get a seat at the table, set a maximum number of players for your table, don't be afraid to turn people away. The people that do get to play will have a more enjoyable time and you won't be miserable trying to keep track of too many PCs.

 

[Elvish Lore]

I did my research and I was lucky - a new game store owned up and I kind of jumped on the gaming space that he had available. It's a small shop and he's only got one table avail - I host a private game there which inevitably gets some spectators and a table full of people having fun gaming is a good advertisement for his business.

So, overall, a very positive experience.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

In my experience, in the beginning, attendance can swing wildly. Sometimes just two people will show up, sometimes 11. Eventually, things will reach equilibrium. But one lesson I wish I had learned is that no matter how much you want everyone who shows up to get a seat at the table, set a maximum number of players for your table, don't be afraid to turn people away. The people that do get to play will have a more enjoyable time and you won't be miserable trying to keep track of too many PCs.

I have been amazed how many people who have paid to be part of the game I've been playing these past few weeks have skipped out on it. I assume that was meant to guarantee a certain level of attendance, but some folks have money to burn, I guess.