How To Find New Players (or Make Them), Pt. 5

A few months before I even dreamed my wife and daughter would be playing D&D, I started working on the backstory for my own sandbox land that I could develop adventures for. This later led to me writing a few short stories based on some character ideas I had for this expansive setting. More on that later...

When I started seeding the idea of them actively playing a game, I realized that this would be a perfect way for me to build a game setting, one dungeon at a time. All I needed was the perfect adventure to get them started, nothing to fancy or involved, but one that I could easily plug into a longer storyline if they got hooked. So the search began.

Early on I realized now was not the time to start writing my own modules, and all my old standby classics were a little to heavy for this kickoff, so I jumped on my trusty Mac Book Pro and headed into the wild blue yonder (internet, yay!). I had been prowling around the Dragonsfoot site for a few months up to then, so I perused the module section and lo and behold the almost perfect solution was set there before me.

The Haunted Tower seemed to be the way to go for an eight year old and her mom to get dumped into some cool slaying action. It was written for a single female character perspective, so I did some rewrites to include a backstory to fit my campaign and beefed up some of the encounters to suit three to four first level characters.

The plan was this, start my two PCs off accepting a cleanup job at an old tower/estate a few miles out of town. The local militia was busy handling some pesky orc raiders to the south, so adventurer types were of short supply in their small rural town. There would be a decent reward once the tower and surrounding land was thoroughly inspected. This should be a piece of cake for a thief and elf to handle (cue malicious DM laughter...).

After accepting their assignment, the pair of newly minted adventurers visited the local tavern to celebrate. Unfortunately, their celebration was cut short by a raving lunatic trying to warn them of the perils of visiting the tower and what lies in store for them. This was when the DM gets to do his roleplaying. Man, I love this part...

I search for D&D videos on Google...here's what I find!

To much time on my hands equals me watching things like this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o_VLqxFMrk

and this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMLcy86bZNw

and this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI2Ckx3qswI

and this guy again ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M60zW_Mfm58

started watching this guy (sweet headband)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_i5Yw4ZoDO0

and to wrap up this super good time, I watched this, one of my favorite pop culture moments and best shows ever http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJAGxAeV7YU

I then watched a few episodes of the old D&D cartoon. Then I got a shower. Then I did blah, blah, blah.

If you enjoyed or closely identify with the above information, we should be gaming together. Check out previous posts on this blog for other prerequisites.

How To Find New Players (or Make Them), Pt. 4

The Adventure Begins...

The time had come, finally. The anticipation was high. As I reviewed my notes, I realized this gaming session would either be a glorious introduction to the world of fantasy and adventure, or a lackluster and tedious exercise in bland futility.

My wife and young daughter stared at me, not sure what to expect after the huge build-up to this moment. I unrolled the three distressed maps (props I made from card stock and a lighter to simulate the dragons fire that had damaged them), threw them on the table, and started into my tale.

Sorry WOC - Mentzer rocks!

"You and your adopted sister, a lost, young elf maiden your parents took in many years ago, have decided to seek a life of adventure outside of the small village you have grown up in. The last few years of training and hard work are now paying off! You are ready to find your place in the world. The word around town is that the local constable is seeking assistance in securing an old estate a few miles outside of town. The crumbling tower and the lands surrounding have been inherited by a family in the Northern lands. Before they make the long journey to settle their newly acquired wealth, they want the area investigated. You and your sister have decided this is the opporitunity you have been waiting for..."

And that's how things started.

In the next post, I'll take you through my steps in preparing for this momentous occasion. And maybe, just maybe, we'll see how our young adventurers made out in their first session of Dungeons & Dragons. Was it love at first To Hit roll, or are we on to the next game of Life or Monopoly?

Stay tuned!

Lets Get Back To It Already...

Been away for a while, feelin' pretty crummy about it. Gonna do better, I promise!

For you all who have been following, the game room (or as my daughter calls it, the Gamerage - game, garage, get it?) is almost complete. We got a/c, projector and screen, and rad sound system. Just got to finish some lighting and final painting and we are on go!

The serious gaming begins soon!

Coastal Comics-good stuff!

On another quick note, I was driving down 707 for the first time in a year and low and behold a comic book shop has opened up. I almost drove off the road trying to turn around to investigate! It's called Coastal Comics and the folks that run it seem pretty cool. I inquired about any gaming going on, they said they have a Pathfinder game running on Tuesday evening, but their are some old school guys like myself around, just not very organized right now.

Hopefully that will turn into something that pushes my gaming along. Finding the right people to play with (as you have read about in some previous posts) is high on my priority list. In the mean time, me and the family will keep at it. Next time, we'll talk about more of their adventures in my new RPG world and how their "education" is coming along. See ya'll soon!

How To Find New Players (or Make Them), Pt. 3

So, where did we leave off... oh yeah, we were on our way to pick up the newly redesigned Dungeon! board game from WoTC.

Could this dude BE any more rad!

I have to say, standing in our local Barnes & Nobles, with that box in my hands, I was getting really excited! I am a huge fan of older D&D artwork styles (Trampeir, Otus, you know... the good stuff!), but the illustrations on this box were gorgeous. My main competition with the game was the Nightmare Before Christmas Monopoly they were buying, but I could see the gleam in my daughters eyes when I showed her my awesome find.

I could tell my wife wasn't so thrilled, but she's a good sport and was all for giving some swords and sorcery a go. I did my night of the new Monopoly, always fun, but I was ready for some Dungeon! So we planned a friday night, with all the trappings of a D&D session - Mountain Dew, Pizza Rolls, cheese sticks... junk food galore. Hopped up on a sugar rush, I opened the box to set everything up, man was I impressed! I don't remember to much from the original version I played when I was a kid, but I quickly realized this game was super high quality and visually stunning. Just what I needed to get a seven year old hooked for life!

I was a little worried about the rules being a little above her head, but it didn't take long before she was cuttin' orcs and burnin' up green slime with the best of em'. This was way easier than I thought it was going to be! But the big surprise was soon to come.

Stay tuned, the adventure continues...

The Hold Up

About a year or so ago, when I decided I would like to get back into gaming, I came up with what I thought was a great idea to help facilitate putting together my own group of players and give me and the family a place to hang out to watch movies and play music.

That idea was a full on garage remodel.

This simple idea started the ball rolling on some big life changes. Before gas went through the roof, and before my hernia surgery (which still hasn't healed right), I was a total bass fishing tournament addict. So, sitting in my future new game room was a bass boat that needed a new home. I went back and forth with this for a while. This was going to be a major move for me. I have had a boat in one form or another for over fifteen years. To be without one, wow, that was a crazy thought. But as they say (or sing) - times, they are a changin'.

Fast forward May 24th, 2013 - we finally put the carpet in the other day, got some recessed lighting in the ceiling, walls painted, projector and screen up, ran an a/c and heat duct, got all the smelly chemical stuff out and the place fully fumigated. And you wonder why I haven't posted on this blog lately...

So, all that said, we are pretty close now to a launch date. Got to hang some curtains, put in some more lighting options and find the perfect gaming table. I have to say, I am super excited!

This might seem like a small thing to some people, but to me I feel like I'm preparing for a reconnection with my youth. And this really brings it home. The day I put the carpet in, my daughter spent the rest of the day out there playing with her Play Mobile and Legos. She loves it.

And that brings a smile to my face...

Cold Blooded Death

As I get back into the swing, I thought I'd start things out with this small sentiment of mirthful jest. Or, here's something to give you a chuckle, or something...

Thanks to Scaleydemon over on the Dragonsfoot forums. I needed a good laugh today. Here's a plug, check him out here http://hallsoftizunthane.blogspot.com

I Could Not Have Said It Better...

I know, I know... you're saying "You just started this blog and you're taking a break already?".

Quit whining or you get the HAND!

Well, not really. Here's the scoop - Easter and Christmas, my schedule is full. So, after March 31st, I'm back in the wiz biz. Until then, here's a great article on someone who gets it...

http://www.toplessrobot.com/2012/10/8_
things_that_ruin_dd_games.php

How To Find New Players (or Make Them), Pt. 2

I hope you are still with me after my last rant, but if you are not, it's probably because you are one of the people I described so vehemently.

So option two, since I figured it's going to take a while to find these perfect gaming partners, I decided to try to make some. Here's what I had to start with, a wife who could care less about sci-fi/fantasy geek stuff, and a seven year old daughter who is a chip off the old block.

All I had to do with my daughter is to leave a few old modules and various books with cool covers around and she was in. She is so much like me (a total geek) it's scary.

Family fun!

My wife was another story. She's an awesome chick, but this was not her bag. I wasn't holding out much hope for my homegrown group. It was time to think this thru to ease her into this world of wizards, warriors and the almighty d20.

Starting with a full blown D&D game, even B/X, would be way over their heads, so I started seeing what else was out there. We had all been playing Monopoly, Life and other assorted board games for a while now, so I thought something in that direction might spark an interest. As a kid, I remembered playing the original Dungeon! board game, so I searched around and discovered Wizards of the Coast had reissued the game, repackaging it with some killer artwork.

How cool is this?

This was going to be awesome! I got a Barnes & Nobles gift card for Christmas, so I figured this was meant to be. I couldn't wait to play, the reviews were great and the system seemed easy enough to teach the family. Game night was set, let's see what happens.

Next, who's going to step up to the plate and slay some monsters...

How To Find New Players (or Make Them), Pt. 1

Over the last two years, the desire to start RPG'ing has slowly consumed my everyday thoughts. After breaking out and subsequently reading and re-reading all my old books, modules, etc..., I soon found myself contemplating the main problem and reason why I got out of playing in the first place. It's difficult to find other like-minded players that will commit to a regular weekly or bi-weekly schedule.

Let's break down those two issues real quick. First, when I say like-minded, I mean - stable, nonalcoholic, non drug abusing people who don't have a rap sheet and aren't a giant pain in the butt simply there to make everybody's one chance in a while to get away from reality not worth the effort. These people should know who they are and not bother with any game I would like to be a part of or organize.

I desire this experience again to have fun and fall into a story. Not to examine the minutia of every rule written, not to berate a DM because my character died, not to take the game so seriously that it starts mirroring the junk I have to deal with in real life, i.e people with no imagination and a seemingly large stick up their behind. And if you were overly bothered by any grammatical errors in the last few paragraphs, you can remove yourselves from the list also.

Ok, now that that's out in the open, let's discuss schedule. My schedule is whacked. I work on the weekends, and generally have a few days off in the week. Around here, a bunch of people work in the tourist industry, so that is not so weird, but a typical 9 to 5'er usually can't do the weeknight thing. This stinks because I am really looking people who have stable jobs and familys, a decent supply of morals and ethics, and can actually smile and, once again, have fun.

I'll be honest, now that I'm older, wiser, and way more paranoid, I am even considering background checks on people that are interested in putting a group together. Sounds crazy right? Well, just go on your local sexual predator list for your area, it's a real eye opener, especially if you have kids.

Stay tuned for Part 2 on this topic, where we discuss option 2, making your own gamers from scratch.

Business

Ok, so now that we've got all that out of the way, I guess I need to explain the name of this blog. I wouldn't want to keep all you faithful readers in suspense, so here it is.

I live in a place many thousands of people visit every year to hopefully escape their mundane lives and pickup a sunburn or two. Heck, we've even got our own reality show on TLC! That's right, you guessed it, sunny Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! Or as we call it, The Grand Strand (hence Strand Classic Adventure, yep).

Myrtle Beach - aka Redneck Riviera

Sounds like fun right? Well, it's actually not that bad, I've lived in worse places, but a gaming mecca it is not. I've just started investigating, but I realize once again why I quit gaming when I moved here in 1990.

So, cross all your fingers! Let's just see who's out there. So far, I've got my wife and seven year old daughter into it. Maybe even our neighbors kids seem interested.

This is going to be some experiment...

REBIRTH!

There was a time, many moons ago, that Dungeons & Dragons was my only escape from a world I was hopelessly forced into, a place where I could make few choices for myself, a place where circumstance was a bleak reality.

I was a kid.

This could be misinterpreted as a sob story of sorts, but make no mistake, most of my basic survival needs were met, I had a place to live, food was provided on a regular basis, and I would occasionally have an opportunity to visit strange, sparkly places (the mall). 

A broken home at the age of seven was the catalyst that would shape my desperate battle to escape my surroundings. Displacement from the established norm has a tendency to warp a developing persons views of life. I was plunged head first into a world that was as uncomfortable as it was disheartening. 

I realize now I never really found a place in that world, living with relatives who were, by most standards, completely dysfunctional and wholly narcissistic. They reveled in their own soap opera lives, something I saw as a cycle to escape from as soon as the law would allow.

My saving grace, other than the strong hereditary passion of angling, was discovering the universe that had been created by a company called TSR. I was exposed to this wondrous creation by my older cousin Michael. I was forced to live with him and my two other cousins off and on for years, plagued by their incessant need to surround themselves in drama on a constant basis.

But, I must thank him on some level, because his devotion to gaming sparked my imagination. My earliest memories of fantasy were holding an original monochrome version of the popular AD&D module G3-Hall of the Fire Giant King. The cover of this well used booklet became etched in my mind, displaying all the imagery I would need to begin a journey into a land I could truly become another person in. Finally, a place that I could be something, a hero, a warrior, a wizard. It was a place where anything could happen, there was no school with it’s mind-numbing classrooms, instead there were piles of gold and magical items waiting to be discovered. 

I would eventually inherit that piece of history, saving it from lonely abandonment and eventual landfill destruction, placing it in storage more than twenty years ago. It fell into place in the boxes of my accumulated RPG materials, mainly First Edition AD&D products with a smattering of other oddball periodicals, rulebooks, and assorted many sided dice.

These boxes would get an occasional browse, usually when I would move, but no real desire hit me to rekindle my gaming days. 

This all changed a few years ago. A summer of circumstantial inactivity put me in a position of rediscovery. The stained and mangled boxes came out of the attic, and along with them came a renewed sense of excitement! Times were changing, and it was time I did too. Time to go back to a simpler world, where I think I really have wanted to be for a long time. 

Back to the dungeon...