Online games like World of Warcraft bring people together around their PCs to enjoy fantasy realms with friends far and near. The ability to detach one’s in-game actions from reality makes it easier for some individuals to open up and socialize with new people. The popularity of such fantasy games has brought about a renewed interest in traditional tabletop role-playing games, like Dungeons and Dragons. Many young gamers have taken an interest in such games, and want to start campaigns with their friends. This task can be very daunting for those who are only familiar with video games, as the tabletop medium is drastically different. However, new players should not be deterred! With a little guidance and preparation, nearly anyone can start their own tabletop gaming scenario.
The first thing for any gaming group to decide upon is the players. It’s important to consider the social dynamic between group members. While it’s certainly possible to start a campaign with people who aren’t friends beforehand, and even find some success, it’s usually best if there is some sort of social common ground first. If you are drawing from your existing friends for the group, consider their personalities. Do Tom and Jake argue frequently in normal situations? This could lead to serious tension in a game scenario, and even animosity between the characters. Even the most experienced role-players sometimes let out-of-character issues influence their gaming decisions, and that sort of behavior can have a major negative impact on the rest of the group. It’s also important to consider the number of players in a group; too many players can be too much for a gamemaster to accommodate, but too few can sometimes limit role-playing opportunities. 3-4 players and one gamemaster is usually a fairly manageable size for a group.
The next thing is to decide on the campaign’s story. Gamemasters who are comfortable with creative storytelling and prepared to come up with new material on short notice might consider writing their own campaigns, but for a new group it is advisable to work from the vast wealth of existing pre-packaged scenarios. Most tabletop game producers (such as Wizards of the Coast, who make Dungeons and Dragons) sell supplemental campaigns with characters, maps, and stories ready to use. These are generally found online and at stores where source-books for tabletop games are sold. For the budget conscious gamer, many fan websites have their own campaigns available for personal use, and game producers will often provide free promotional materials through the websites for their games.
The game is almost ready to begin! There are only a few more things to consider when starting a new role-playing campaign:
- Do you have a gaming space where the players are comfortable meeting? Make sure the space has room for all of your players and their gear, and if you’re playing at a public location (many specialty stores provide gaming rooms for patrons) ensure that your gamers are able to comply with any posted policies.
- Is the gamemaster familiar with the rule set? Players will turn to the gamemaster to resolve any disputes caused by the players’ interpretation of the rules. It is important that the gamemaster is able to resolve such disputes quickly and amicably.
- Are your players having a good time? It’s important to remind players that it is just a game – don’t let in-game scuffles ruin a real-life friendship!
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