Been gaming for over 30 years.  My small group has gotten even smaller because as we age, life is making it challenging for my buddies to continue to play.  Right now I have one friend that comes to my house and another that Skypes in.  My wife joins half way through the game if the kids go to bed with out a hassle (they are 3 and 5).  Playing with 2.5 players is not as satisfying.  If one person can't make it, we cancel.

In order for me to play, the game has to be at my house.  I've run the last few campaigns.  I have 5-6 players before, but some have dropped to get us to our current status.

How can I get more players?  I'm not inviting a stranger into my house right off the bat, especially where I have kids.  Playing elsewhere is currently not an option.  I've thought about advertising to get others to Skype in or something similar, but I'd like to get locals so that eventually I could invite them here.  I want more than just computer screen interaction.

I would advertise style of play and expectations as well as games played to try to get a better match from the start.

1) How do you think I could get new players that fit my gaming style that are also willing to drive here if it works out online?

2) We've had two Skypers at a time on a split screen.  Is there another progrm that works better for games like D&D and the like?

Thanks

Are there any local gaming, comic, or hobby shops?

Would the local library be an option for meeting? Its how I DMed for a couple of years by renting a room for 3$ per session.

Failing that you are in a fix as you do not want strangers in the house. That means you have to get out and game with these people outside the house first somehow.

There are also at least two RPG networking systems out now. Been a few threads on it in the last few months. WOTC sanctioned one for 5e stuff.

Well, considering that there are -- according to the FBI -- around only 100 abductions of children by strangers in the whole of the US each year, the notion that Every Stranger Is A Threat To Your Kid is pretty damn overblown.

I also figure a lot of potential players would get really POed if they got the notion that they had to pass CORI checks before they were allowed within LOS of your kids.

Kinda in a cleft stick there: either you have to wrap your head around that the overwhelming number of gamers aren't child molesters, or get a babysitter and game at a local college or FLGS.

In this day and age, or any for that matter, a little caution is healthy, especially when inviting strangers over.
And I am also wary of just scooting off to someones house out of the blue.

Personally I try to get a feel of the person before inviting them over. Though honestly I much prefered gaming at the library as it opened more doors to meeting new players than trying to entice any home.

If only so I know if playstyles or personalities are even compatible.

You either need to play at a neutral venue, be willing to invite people to your house, or get used to playing online - Dragonsfoot chat is my favourite venue for that.
You can't get around the fact that to play with people in person you either need to go elsewhere or let them into your house.

Edit: I don't believe that playing with people online is any kind of good prep for seeing if you'd let them into your house. Much better to meet them at a bar (etc) to discuss your game and if you want to invite them.

Ravenswings, you missed my point.  Not worried about child molestors.  Easy to see how people might misinterpret where my emphasis is when typing online.  There are many reasons for not wanting to invite a stranger into your home . . . not really interested in presenting a thread on that, though.

I get that my situation poses significant challenges with its limitations, but that is what I have, that's why I posted here.

Does anyone play D&D, COC, and the like with either some people present and some playing online or all online? What do you recommend for the online medium?  All I have used is Skype.  Is there something better?  Let's assume I am the GM, if that matters.

S'mon, whyy do you like Dragonsfoot Chat?

Quote from: Vic99;851898Does anyone play D&D, COC, and the like with either some people present and some playing online or all online? What do you recommend for the online medium?  All I have used is Skype.  Is there something better?  Let's assume I am the GM, if that matters.

My security tech has played RPGs via voice chat. Ventrilo I think it was called? Think they played Gurps and Rifts? We even discussed the idea of me DMing to "ghost" players being present at the table with meat players as a hybrid session.

Quote from: Vic99;851844Been gaming for over 30 years.  My small group has gotten even smaller because as we age, life is making it challenging for my buddies to continue to play.  Right now I have one friend that comes to my house and another that Skypes in.  My wife joins half way through the game if the kids go to bed with out a hassle (they are 3 and 5).  Playing with 2.5 players is not as satisfying.  If one person can't make it, we cancel.

In order for me to play, the game has to be at my house.  I've run the last few campaigns.  I have 5-6 players before, but some have dropped to get us to our current status.

How can I get more players?  I'm not inviting a stranger into my house right off the bat, especially where I have kids.  Playing elsewhere is currently not an option.  I've thought about advertising to get others to Skype in or something similar, but I'd like to get locals so that eventually I could invite them here.  I want more than just computer screen interaction.

I would advertise style of play and expectations as well as games played to try to get a better match from the start.

1) How do you think I could get new players that fit my gaming style that are also willing to drive here if it works out online?

2) We've had two Skypers at a time on a split screen.  Is there another progrm that works better for games like D&D and the like?

Thanks

Decide what to do first. Play at home only? Face to face only? Video conference is ok or no way? Go to a MeetUp place?

Then start looking for players.

Since the game has to be at your house, I'd look into some of the online options out there.  I remember Estar (poster here) had some good experiences with using online tools for playing.  Not sure if it was roll20 or fantasy grounds or another, but he gave one of them high praise.

Quote from: Vic99;851899S'mon, whyy do you like Dragonsfoot Chat?

Great player base, very good dice roller, using text-chat means I can keep a log of each session and post it to the campaign blog. I find the text-chat format also encourages more in-depth roleplay than you get in a voice-based game.

You can't run 3e or 4e there but I'm running 5e currently, and in the past have used Labyrinth Lord, OSRIC, 1e AD&D.

You might want to try out a game - see ads at http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewforum.php?f=44