Questing for New Players

The time has come. Your group has grown dangerously thin. Gaming has become stale. You are looking for something fresh. The stars are pointing the way.

The time is now for new players.

Beginning Your Quest: Why?

The most basic question you must cover before you actually begin searching for new players is the big “why”. Why do you want new players in your group? The answer to that question can be multi-faceted. Sometimes, a group loses many players to natural attrition. Face it, people move, accept new jobs, get married, graduate from college, graduate from high school, go nuts, or simple disappear. Other times, sessions can be a repeat of the same chain of events. How many times are you willing to laugh about the same joke? You also could be ready for a change and some experimentation with new games. If your why is not answered by at least one of those common answers, you need to make sure you are ready to find new players.

First Step: What?

If you are sure and certain that you want new players into your storied gaming group, the next step is to make sure you know what you are looking for. Finding new gamers is not a very difficult a task, but it will save you a great amount of heartache if you look specifically for the type of gamers or individuals that you know you will mesh with. Often, a cry for “any gamer that wants to play” can be very dangerous. Imagine, you, getting ready to run your Feng Shui game with some newcomers, and then watch in horror as they reveal pile and pile of Rifts books from their dingy library of games. A long (torturous) night may be in store for you with such a disaster.

Rather, figure out the games you want to play. Be prepared to ask specifically for players that play those games (or similar games) so that you can find a match that will work (ideally).

Second Step: Do the Legwork

First, make up some flyers. Throw some goofy clipart on there only if that fits you. Remember to mention the exact games you are interested in and provide several ways of contact. Phone numbers and emails are best. Scatter these at bookstores, gaming shops, and entertainment stores with a clipboard. Then, a week later follow up to each of those places and put a new one up if your first flyer was taken down.

Second, ask around. If you have friends who game, then they probably have friends who game. Sometimes, you can find folks who hadn’t game in a while but are really looking for the opportunity to get into the hobby again. Also, many gamers who “used to game but now don’t” often quit because the games no longer interested them. The possibility here is that you may be preparing to run a game that they would be interested in! Always, follow up on your contacts.

Third, check the internet. Post on discussion forums, search through internet gaming registries, and get involved on some large mailing lists. Chances are you will discover a few more possibilities. With the internet, be patient. Sometimes, one email won’t do. Remember to be polite and not creepy (i.e. your first question shouldn’t be “Where do you live and when can I come over?”).

Fourth, create new gamers. This is simply the most fun of all the possibilities. Find coworkers, friends, acquaintances, family members, or enemies and show them the glories and treasure that is gaming. Begin them with a game that you want to try out. Teach them early that trying other games is a blast to do. Be warned though. You might create a new “Frankenstein”. Also, if someone does feel strange about role-playing, be sensitive enough not to force it down his or her throats. Not everyone is a gamer.

Third Step: Encourage Travel

To insure that this wonderful process can be repeated in the future with better results, encourage your own gaming group to find other groups to be a part of. Encourage them to join a gamer’s association. Insist that they experience the wonder of gaming with total strangers at a convention. Urge them to be on the lookout for new prospects or retired gamers at every turn.

At the end of your quest, a new gaming group should be forged. Your gaming instincts will be freshened, and new adventures will be lurking around the corner.

Of course, you may have better ideas than what I have outlined above.

If so, please share.