The difficulties of finding a game

[Greylock]

I found all three of my recent games via the internet. The one that is going to start up here in about two weeks was a direct result of posts in ENW's GSG forum.

Don't despair. Just keep trying.

 

[scourger]

What about a lunchtime game? I read about one over at WotC. Seemed like fun. An old cafe area in my office building has beckoned me many times, but I have a weekly group. It seems like it would be easy for people to carve out an hour a week.

 

[DragonGames]

I am extremely lucky in that not only have I been able to maintain a relatively stable group for over 4 years now, but also we recently purchased Magic Dragon Games in Boise, Idaho. One of my first priorities when we got the store was to first, expand the hours so we are open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, second to have food and snacks, and third to put up a 3' x 6' cork board for gamers to post gaming notices. Game store cork boards and game store gaming areas are a major way of finding like-minded gamers. Hopefully ours will serve the community well. Good luck finding a game! I know I would be lost without mine.

 

[The Lemon Merchant]

I have the uneviable honor of being unable to find a group. First and foremost for me is the difficulty in locating players, overcoming the other obstacles mentioned would be a welcome challenge. I moved from Boise, where there is a relatively healthy gaming community, to rural Idaho where I seem to be the only active gamer. I'm desperate enough that I've considered a monthly trek back to Boise (2 hours away) just to rejoin my old group.

 

[Balgus]

I have the uneviable honor of being unable to find a group. First and foremost for me is the difficulty in locating players, overcoming the other obstacles mentioned would be a welcome challenge. I moved from Boise, where there is a relatively healthy gaming community, to rural Idaho where I seem to be the only active gamer. I'm desperate enough that I've considered a monthly trek back to Boise (2 hours away) just to rejoin my old group.

I actually live 2+ hours away from my family and friends. i make weekly (minus one here and there) to visit them. So i know the feeling. G'Luck

PS- Gas is a *DOG*

 

[Valdur]

Preach on brother!

I second this! Your situation afflicts many players in our hobby. Our group has had absolutely no success from posting ads online (including all of the boards mentioned) or at FLGS. While we get many new players that way they never last more than a few sessions. The problem has always been compatibility, in game and out.

In game compatibility is easier to deal with (if both sides are willing to compromise) but out of game compatibility is a killer. OP described out of game compatibility quite well as far as scheduling goes--varying levels of interest, although I would add another category: the player that wants to play several times a week (guys in their 20's and 30's!!!).

My current group works because:
1) We are friends even when we don't play D&D together.

2) We respect each other and are considerate of each other. We treat our game sessions as we would a job. No one would ever just not show up or be late without calling.

3) We all have professional jobs (no shift work, are flexible and understanding when others have to work overtime)

4) We all have similar family situations: family responsibilities that keep us from playing too often but still allow us to play on a regular (if infrequent) basis.

5) We all have other interests and hobbies, many of them shared. (no one gets disgruntled when we don't play very often and help us keep in touch)

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Exactly the same situation.

Same here. Great post, Lod Zardoz.

 

[Lord Zardoz]

Well, ColonelHardisson, as I mentioned in the post, I have had way too much time to think about the reasons why its so damn hard to find and sustain a game outside of College / University. When I was in school, I was able to run a weekly game very easily. And after getting a 'real job', that ground to a halt, despite working with people not that dissimmilar from those I went to school with.

I personally think that the Internet is a great tool for finding potential games, but using that method pretty much opens you up to the magical world of "Meeting Strangers over the Internet", which has an even money chance into turning into a horror story as it does of succeeding.

END COMMUNICATION

 

[takasi]

This is one of the main reasons to support your FLGS. It's the best place to host a gameday or meetup. Always start with one shots at first to get an idea of long term campaign compatibility. The more "open minded" and flexible you are the easier it is to get a group together.

I suggest picking one night during the week that everyone else is willing to sacrifice every week (or every other week) for a game night. Even if you're in your late 20s, 30s or 40s and have a family and a full time job you should ALWAYS have room for a poker night at least twice a month. I game on Wednesday nights, despite the fact that my kids are into sports, scouts and other after school stuff. My wife understands that I need at least one night a week for myself. Most people work during the day, although already I've lost three players in the last year due to shift changes. It helps if you can find players with stable jobs and a weekly routine.

Don't give up. Pretty much no matter where you live there will be at least three or four people who are in almost the exact situation you are in within a half hour of driving. Find your nearest FLGS, run gamedays, post on boards (online and off), use meetup, heck even use your newspaper if you have to. You will find a table as long as you don't give up.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

There are five universities in Ottawa, according to Wikipedia: Algonquin College, Carleton University, La Cité Collégiale, Saint Paul University, and the University of Ottawa. Perhaps one of them will have a gaming club through which you can meet gamers to arrange gaming off-campus? I know my club at the University of Sydney has a lot more off-campus gamig than on-.