This is the second part of a three-part article on finding players that are a good match for your game. Last week, I covered defining what your game is like. This week, I’m describing how to figure out the traits you (and don’t!) want in a player. The third part, which I’ll post next week, is about how to put it all together to create a “player’s wanted” ad.
Step Two: Favorite players
If you’ve GMed before, write down a list of your favorite players from previous games. Why were these players your favorites? What did they do (or not do) that made them so great? If you’ve never GMed before, think back over games you’ve played in. What players did you enjoy playing with? What was it about them that you liked so much? Do this for at least three previous games; you’ll want enough players to begin to see trends in what you like. Of course, if you’re new to the hobby, you may not have three previous games to draw from. In that case, just use as many as you’ve had. Even a single game will give you some useful information.
Write down each of your favorite player’s (or character’s) name—you just need something that will jog your memory. Next to their name, write at least one trait you particularly liked about them or the way they played. Maybe they were always respectful or maybe they always stayed in character. Or they learned the combat rules quickly and were willing to help others learn them. It could even be something as simple as they always brought great snacks or as complex as they found creative uses for spells. Notice if a particular trait appears in your list more than once. That means it’s most important to you.
Now rank your list of traits (just the traits; we’re done with the players’ names) in order of importance to you. Is “always stays in character” more important than “always on time”? Then place it closer to the top of the list. Now take a look at your top five traits. Those are the ones we’ll use when it comes time to write the player ad.
Step Three: Least Favorite Players
Now repeat step two, only this time, use your least favorite players. Who really got on your nerves with their constant droning of “In my game, I do…”? Who really set your teeth on edge every time they brought a combat to halt to bicker about an obscure rule that affects no one else in the game? Again, make a list of players and at least one trait per name that just wanted to send you screaming in the streets? Rank these traits by how much you hated them. You now have a “things to avoid” list. This won’t go in your player ad, but will be very useful when it comes to interviewing potential players.
This is an excerpt from the GM’s Field Guide to Players, the up-coming book from rpgGM.com, due to be released this fall.
[Photo courtesy of Rodrigo Moraes via Flickr Creative Commons]
Other articles in this series
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- My Players Really Want To Kill Each Other (dicemonkey.net)
- On New Players And Making Connections (rpgblog2.com)
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). As usual, I’ll keep you posted here as things progress.
