So You Want to Play…

We’ll begin by laying down the most general advise that can be given before playing any roleplaying game. Well, nearly any roleplaying game. The industry has some pretty odd ducks from independent publishers and “outside the box” designers.  Anyway, the most basic materials you’ll need before you get started:

1) The game you want to play.

This is square one. Pick a game before you get anybody together. If you don’t than the players will either seize control and start sending your group in a spiral or bounce questions around without any choices being made. Having the game picked before anything else gets underway will save you alot of time.

2) People to play with

Friends are best. Do not game with people you don’t like. Once you start you won’t want to stop because it would mean breaking up an established group. Best not to establish until your pretty sure you want to hang around with everybody involved for several hours. Also make sure that all of your players can be around one another for several hours without problems breaking out.

3) Secure a place to game.

Different games have different requirements when it comes to ambience which we’ll address as we run through various games. A regularly available site to play is important to a continuing group.

4) Have dice, paper, and pencils on hand.

I lump dice in because most games use them but there are exceptions. Writing paper is nearly universally useful because people aren’t going to remember everything that happens perfectly. Maps and something to track numbers on is part of alot of main stream games. Virtually any game you play you’ll want to jot down a few notes about major events, especially the names of people or places.

Once you’ve properly secured these four basic elements you’ll be able to expand to the specific requirements of your particular game.

When I’m getting ready to play or run and game for the first time I like to try and do some research on it. I’ll read the book, maybe check the internet and see if there’s anything worthwhile to hear about the game. But that’s about as much as I can do most of the time. I seldom have other people around who’ve used the system themselves to ask for advise and the net, while helpful, isn’t interactive or as welcoming as it could do. So, one day, I did a google search for “so you want to play” and the name of the game. I got lot of “so you want to play chess” sites and some junk, nothing else.

I figured the net needs a place where you can get real, practical advise on running a game from somebody who’s run it before, ideally with actual sound and maybe some pictures. So, my concept is born.

Welcome to “So you want to Play…”