An Old Dog's Tricks

 

I have decided that for January of 2013 I would start the year off with something different. Inspired by Noisms and both encouraged and challenged by some of the comments to my previous post on the subject, I am going to be doing a series of 'Gamemaster Advice' posts entitled 'An Old Dogs Tricks'.

Now, before I begin this first post in the series I want to put forth two very important claims that hardly matter at all.

First, my Gaming Geek Cred:

I've been playing RPGs for 35 years, largely as a Gamemaster. I have run practically every RPG published (and some that weren't) prior to 1995. From 1995 to present I have still GMed and/or played a huge number and wide variety of RPGs. In recent years, having created a number of games of my own design or modified existing ones to my own specific tastes, I tend to play my favorites more often than trying new ones. As time and funds and accessibilty allow, I do still enjoy playing games I've never played before.

I was the RPG buyer for the Forbidden Planet stores in the New York City for 3 years and worked at The Compleat Strategist in NYC for 2. I have done demo games at conventions and game stores for Wizards of the Coast, Last Unicorn Games, West End Games and a number of independant game companies. I have GMed at NerdNYC's RECESS Game Day Event about 5 or 6 times already. I have professional gaming credits in West End Games' Star Wars D6 books and Last Unicorn Games' Star Trek RPG. I currently use RPG principles to teach 2nd to 6th grade students in Brooklyn how to improve their reading, writing, notetaking and speaking skills.

Second, none of that matters.

I do not know you. I do not know your players, what they like and what they don't. The vast majority of you enjoy Dungeons & Dragons in some form. I don't like that game. I am no one to tell anyone what to do or how to do it when it comes to something so personal as gaming.

Except...

Where these two factors cross is experience. In my personal experience, in the gaming circles I have been a part of, I am constantly asked back to run games for players I have campaigned with in the past. There have been several campaigns I've run in which players have crossed two or three states to get to the games. People nearly always leave my gaming table asking when we are running the next session.

If the above, and only the above, is not happening for you, than maybe, just maybe, there is a chance that I may have some tips that can help.

Wish us both (all) luck...

AD
Barking Alien

On a related note, ERIC! at Chronicles of Ganth is also on the Gamemaster Advice bandwagon. although his approach is somewhat different than I expected its definitely woth a look see. Check it!