Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="grimwell" data-source="post: 3167127" data-attributes="member: 3694">I turn 35 this month, have been married for 11 years, and my son turns 10 in December... so gaming around family obligations has pretty much been my norm for the last decade. Most of the people I game with have kids, in fact the only people who don't are about to get married... It's a bit of a rehash of some of the points made above, but here is what works in my house:<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Schedule a consistent time to game -- and game no matter who shows that night. Like others have suggested, have backup games at the ready such that you can roll with the punches. The goal is to turn "D&D night" into a social "Game night" where people know that they will be able to show up, play D&D, or something else, and have a good time. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Adhere to your schedule. Even if just one person shows up, break out a game and have some fun. Watch a movie. Do something! This way everyone else hears about it and (believe it or not) wishes they would have shown up. The key is to make "Game night" an event that is not to be missed. Once you build up that anticipation, people find ways to clear their schedule -- and they come energized to have fun.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Secure your partners support! My wife and I have a clear understanding -- I get to game bi-weekly, and she gets a 'Wife's night out' bi-weekly. We take turns watching the kids. Everyone deserves their time in the sun, so make sure your partner gets it, and she will support your gaming night all the more. This assumes your partner does not game -- but its good to remember.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Abuse the internet. Even if your group of gaming friends does not want to do an online game session, and won't respond to emails -- overload them with reminders about gaming! They will read them! Send people reminders about the game coming up one week prior. Three days prior send them a 'reminder from last session' that wraps up what happened. GAME ONLINE with them! There are hundreds of *free* MMORPG's out there, and more and more of them are coming from Asia to the West in English -- so there isn't any reason you can't be social with the people between games (which builds friendships and loyalty).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">D&D is a lifestyle. My parents belonged to a fraternal order. I play games with friends. It's really no different in practice. Each is a social activity, and each can affect your life beyond the actual group meeting. I'm a gamer, and I'm proud of it. My friends know I'm a gamer and even the non-D&D geeks enjoy coming by and playing a game of Catan, or Euchre, or Monopoly. My wife and I host another couple (or two) at least once a week for the sake of social gaming. It's an atmosphere we create and enjoy. Our friends know this, people who meet us learn it quickly. Most people want to play games and have a good time, they just need someone to make it possible (not joking).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Get involved in the local gaming community! Today we are having our homeschool/church friends over to celebrate National Games Week (yes, early, but we do more than one event...). I'm also active in two area Meetup groups. I'm registered at AccessDenied.net, and at PenandPaperGames.com to make it easy for people to find me. I also scan the EN board for people 'looking' in my area. I visit all the local FLGS's at least once a month and read their board.</li> </ol>That lifestyle point -- it's a big one. Gaming isn't something I do every few weeks -- it's something I do daily. With my kids, my family, my friends, and anyone else who chances by at the right moment. I still manage to hold down a career, the social activities of three kids, and take care of Mom's yard each week (in addition to my own, about 3 acres of yard total are in my tending).The one thing I don't do? Sleep before midnight, and after 8am. ;P</blockquote>

Verification