Tips for getting a group of strangers to gel as a group

[NewJeffCT]

Before I ever introduce someone new to my group, I always try to have coffee or lunch with them, game with them elsewhere or something else to gauge them and let them gauge me. Then I try to get everyone there early that first night of the game so that the new folk can introduce themselves. I try get as much socializing done as possible prior to game time.

Then, for the game itself, I try to run as brisk a game as possible, keeping the inevitable (at least in my group) in-game-socializing to a minimum. This keeps everyone involved in the game, crucial with new folks in my experience, and also makes sure the newcomers don't feel left out or left behind from all the in-jokes and in-conversations.

Thanks - more good ideas. I'm going to try to meet up with folks beforehand, but I don't think it will be do-able with everybody.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Tips for getting a group of strangers to gel as a group?


When you get down to business: KISS, keep it simple stupid. Roll up characters fast. Have some pre-gens on hand even. Then run 'em through something for just the night while you talk about what kind of games you like, what kind of play style, group style, their past, etc. Guys tend to loosen up as long as they are working on something together. You could even substitute playing Poker, but as $'s involved, that might lead to a problem.

You could also opt to interview everyone separately, but that takes a lot longer.

I'm trying to get a general feel from the various players ahead of time about what types of players they like to play, but I'm debating whether or not to have at least some of them do character gen ahead of time based on a point buy system. That way, we can socialize a bit, tell some old gaming stories and then get down to gaming.

Somebody had suggested on here a while back a "3 Musketeers" type beginning where the PCs get involved in a chase in the city. Some rich merchant or noble screams "stop thief" as some obvious thief races by PC 1 (not a mage) - PC 1 gives chase, and then another PC joins the chase, and so on & so forth. Maybe a bodyguard for the merchant/noble joins the chase to keep yelling for the thief to stop...Finally, the last PC will hopefully catch the bad guy. The grateful merchant or noble offers the PCs a reward and a job to do something else for him.

 

[Ry]

Somebody had suggested on here a while back a "3 Musketeers" type beginning where the PCs get involved in a chase in the city. Some rich merchant or noble screams "stop thief" as some obvious thief races by PC 1 (not a mage) - PC 1 gives chase, and then another PC joins the chase, and so on & so forth. Maybe a bodyguard for the merchant/noble joins the chase to keep yelling for the thief to stop...Finally, the last PC will hopefully catch the bad guy. The grateful merchant or noble offers the PCs a reward and a job to do something else for him.

This could go great, but it could go badly - and you're trading on dice and players seeing what you want them to do to make it go great.

I know it's kind of going back to what I said above, but why not say "you guys caught a thief for a merchant, and that's how you met. Tell me how you tried to catch the thief, you can roll that, and whoever gets highest actually caught him. Everybody else nearly caught him in their own way, with degrees of success we'll pull from the dice."

That way you don't have the awkwardness of players that say "I'll let him go by" or the very real possibility that the first player will crit the thief and nail his ass to the floor with an AoO.

 

[NewJeffCT]

This could go great, but it could go badly - and you're trading on dice and players seeing what you want them to do to make it go great.

I know it's kind of going back to what I said above, but why not say "you guys caught a thief for a merchant, and that's how you met. Tell me how you tried to catch the thief, you can roll that, and whoever gets highest actually caught him. Everybody else nearly caught him in their own way, with degrees of success we'll pull from the dice."

That way you don't have the awkwardness of players that say "I'll let him go by" or the very real possibility that the first player will crit the thief and nail his ass to the floor with an AoO.

Thanks - good idea. Maybe I can have them go over the history of how they met via the thief catching on their journey to the job they're supposed to do for the merchant.

 

[Asmor]

I'd say just play. It's always a little awkward joining a new group, but on the bright side since everyone's new, that actually makes it a bit less awkward... No chance of being the one not laughing at all the inside jokes from years of sessions, y'know?

Let the dice start rolling and you'll probably find yourselves all becoming close friends quickly enough just as a random side effect of hanging out together and interacting with eachother alot (whoda thunk? )

 

[the black knight]

Booze. And lots of it.

 

[Phlebas]

If you want an ice breaker make the first session an old fashioned bar-room brawl (low level pre-gen characters, few each, couple of Npc's, last one standing wins).

it takes the pressure off, teaches / reminds people the combat rules and gives the opportunity for the group to see each other OOC before getting IC

or just play a few rounds of munchkin / another quick game while tossing ideas out for the campaign - maybe even let the winner have first choice of character class.....

 

[NewJeffCT]

I'd say just play. It's always a little awkward joining a new group, but on the bright side since everyone's new, that actually makes it a bit less awkward... No chance of being the one not laughing at all the inside jokes from years of sessions, y'know?

Let the dice start rolling and you'll probably find yourselves all becoming close friends quickly enough just as a random side effect of hanging out together and interacting with eachother alot (whoda thunk? )

Thanks, good points. Nobody really has to worry about not getting a joke from the group's campaign 5 or 10 years ago...

 

[William drake]

After several years of not being able to game regularly, my wife finally gave me permission to game again, as long as it was at our house (my wife does not game, but because of family and work reasons, it really does have to be at my place)

We also recently moved to another part of Connecticut and the guys in my old gaming group are all over an hour drive away.

So, I put out some requests for gamers on here, the Wizards boards, etc and have actually been pleasantly surprised at the number of responses I've gotten. And, most of the respondees have been guys with families in my age range - so, hopefully they are responsible enough to show up regularly! (and, then they go announce 4E when I'm about to hopefully get into my first 3E/3.5 campaign!!!)

But, nobody in this group really knows anybody (to my knowledge) - and, I know sometimes it takes a little while for personalities to mesh and for the group to gel and to get everybody onto the same page.

Any tips on how to accomplish that?

I'm likely going to be the starting DM - if things go okay in the beginning, I'll stick to DMing. But, otherwise, we might alternate.

Thanks!

I have recently been in the same situation.

First, meet all new people anywhere else but your home, sorry, must protect yourself from scary people.
Second, meet at a bar or a coffee shop. Talk, really. About anything, just keep the questions going. Ask what they are into, what they like and dislike...about gaming and w/e. Make sure they messh with your and don't bother any feelings you have about a subject which would impeed the game and or just your ability to stay sain.
Third, make sure they know what you as the DM are looking for. What you except and don't. If you don't tell them, then they can't be blamed for doing something you don't except later.


Fourth...good luck and Game On

 

[Gentlegamer]

After several years of not being able to game regularly, my wife finally gave me permission to game again, as long as it was at our house (my wife does not game, but because of family and work reasons, it really does have to be at my place)

We also recently moved to another part of Connecticut and the guys in my old gaming group are all over an hour drive away.

So, I put out some requests for gamers on here, the Wizards boards, etc and have actually been pleasantly surprised at the number of responses I've gotten. And, most of the respondees have been guys with families in my age range - so, hopefully they are responsible enough to show up regularly! (and, then they go announce 4E when I'm about to hopefully get into my first 3E/3.5 campaign!!!)

But, nobody in this group really knows anybody (to my knowledge) - and, I know sometimes it takes a little while for personalities to mesh and for the group to gel and to get everybody onto the same page.

Any tips on how to accomplish that?

I'm likely going to be the starting DM - if things go okay in the beginning, I'll stick to DMing. But, otherwise, we might alternate.

Thanks!

Have the new group get together at a pub for drinks and talk about gaming, life, etc. Play darts, pool, shuffle board, or what have you. What I'm saying is have them socialize outside the gaming table first and you will find them geling when they do belly up to the gaming table.