This is a site for discussing roleplaying games. Have fun doing so, but there is one major rule: do not discuss political issues that aren't directly and uniquely related to the subject of the thread and about gaming. While this site is dedicated to free speech, the following will not be tolerated: devolving a thread into unrelated political discussion, sockpuppeting (using multiple and/or bogus accounts), disrupting topics without contributing to them, and posting images that could get someone fired in the workplace (an external link is OK, but clearly mark it as Not Safe For Work, or NSFW). If you receive a warning, please take it seriously and either move on to another topic or steer the discussion back to its original RPG-related theme.

Author Topic: How does your gaming group choose what to play next? How are new games introduced?  (Read 1704 times)

Spinachcat

  • Toxic SocioCat
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • S
  • Posts: 14805
In my experience, new games are almost always introduced by the GM.

AKA, "I wanna run this. Who's in?"

Does your group operate differently?

How do new games get introduced into the group?

Or do new games usually require new groups?

Justin Alexander
BANNED

  • BANNED
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • ?
  • Posts: 3057
None of the above. Over the past year or so I've had:

- "I'm the GM. This is what I'm running. Who's interest?"
- "I'm the GM, here are some options. Let's talk it over and come to a mutual agreement."
- "I would like you to run this for me."
- "I need to playtest this ASAP. Who's free on Tuesday?"
Note: this sig cut for personal slander and harassment by a lying tool who has been engaging in stalking me all over social media with filthy lies - RPGPundit

S'mon

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13315
I don't have "a group" - I'm currently running 4 campaigns for distinct but slightly overlapping groups of players. As GM I'll pitch a new game either to friends/people I know, or publically to the D&D Meetup, see who wants to play. From what I see that's what other GMs do too. When a campaign ends, that particular group of players ends. Some likely come together again for a subsequent campaign. I rarely see more than 50% player follow on from campaign to campaign. Eg my newest campaign, Nentir Vale, has 5 players - 2 are from my former Loudwater campaign, 1 is new player but gf of one of those 2 trying D&D for first time, 1 is from my current Varisia campaign (and several others back to 2004), 1 is my former GM in two other campaigns who I have also played alongside in another GM's campaign; but I haven't regularly GM'd for her before.

AsenRG

  • Bloody Weselian Hippy
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5036
    • http://storiescharactersandsystemsinrpgs.blogspot.com/
Quote from: Spinachcat;952089
In my experience, new games are almost always introduced by the GM.

AKA, "I wanna run this. Who's in?"

Does your group operate differently?

How do new games get introduced into the group?

Or do new games usually require new groups?

Which option is "depends on the GM's mood"? I have used the following in the last few years, depending on how much inspiration I've got, with the first two options being the default:).

"I'm running this next. Want to play?"
"I am wondering what to run next. Here are the options, which ones do you like most?"
"I have no preferences at the moment. What do you want to play?"
"I want to play. Who's going to run something for me? Wuxia or Exalted preferred, BTW. I want a character who can punch you in the face and collapse it into your ass".

So, which option is it;)?
What Do You Do In Tekumel? See examples!
"Life is not fair. If the campaign setting is somewhat like life then the setting also is sometimes not fair." - Bren

Baeraad

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • B
  • Posts: 139
I have had one of my players ask me to run specific games a few times, though those were always games I was already running elsewhere and had told her enough about that she'd gotten interested. Other than that, I'm usually the one to decide I want to run something and then ask around to see who might be interested.

Though one of my current ongoing campaigns came about as follows:

1. I suggested, based on the known tastes of the players, that we play a 1920s pulp game, like Spirit of the Century.

2. All the players agreed and we started discussing character options.

3. One of the players, just to mess with me, asked if he could play a talking rabbit.

4. I, just to mess with him, announced that in that case, we were playing GURPS Bunnies & Burrows.

5. We have now been playing GURPS Bunnies & Burrows for a full year, and it's been one of our more successful campaigns.


No, I'm not sure exactly how we went from 4) to 5), either. It just sort of happened. :p
Add me to the ranks of people who have stopped posting here because they can't stand the RPGPundit. It's not even his actual opinions, though I strongly disagree with just about all of them. It's the psychotic frothing rage with which he holds them. If he ever goes postal and beats someone to death with a dice bag, I don't want to be listed among his known associates, is what I'm saying.

K Peterson

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 982
Sometimes the Viking-hat approach, and sometimes this, if I haven't made up my own mind between a couple of choices:

Quote from: AsenRG;952110
"I am wondering what to run next. Here are the options, which ones do you like most?"

mAcular Chaotic

  • All Evils of this World
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2263
I'm the GM, I made the group, I organize everything.
Battle doesn't need a purpose; the battle is its own purpose. You don't ask why a plague spreads or a field burns. Don't ask why I fight.

flyingmice

  • Flunchist-Cruftist
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9757
    • http://www.flyingmice.com/flyingmice.html
Depends on the group. My face to face group is my alpha test group. We mostly play whatever of my games is being currently worked on, though our campaigns generally last through release and beyond. If I don't have anything ready, we generally go back to an old favorite, like In Harm's Way Napoleonic Naval or StarWars-ish or a Blood Games variant.

My Sunday IRC group has a very long running StarCluster game going, starting in 2003 and going on now. We play that six months at a time, then we usually play IHW NN. or maybe Outremer the other six months. Generally, they decide what they want to play, and I run it for them.

My Thursday IRC group is more wide ranging. They decide what they are interested in playing. Right now it's my son's supers game Look! Up In The Sky!. Before that it was Volant, and before that it was OHMAS.
clash bowley * Flying Mice Games - an Imprint of Better Mousetrap Games
Flying Mice home page: http://jalan.flyingmice.com/flyingmice.html
Currently Designing: StarCluster 4 - Wavefront Empire
Last Releases: SC4 - Dark Orbital, SC4 - Out of the Ruins,  SC4 - Sabre & World
Blog: I FLY BY NIGHT

Simlasa

  • Lemon Tart
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5832
The face-to-face group I play with pretty much go with whatever the GM wants... except for one guy who ALWAYS wants Pathfinder (but will play other D&D stuff).
The online groups I play with are mostly locked into one game... if the game changes it is usually at the GM's whim, but is presented as a new group, even if most of the Players carry over.
For games I run, online these days, we just sort it out as we go. Like right now we all want to play something with supers... but are still figuring out where our common ground is, which means it may or may not happen...
« Last Edit: March 17, 2017, 10:40:23 AM by Simlasa »

Tod13

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1249
Quote from: Justin Alexander;952095
None of the above.

Same here.

We play(test) the RPG I've been writing. Me or my players may ask about other games--we playtested a game from a company we all like recently.

What I do is also ask them after every session:

What did you like about this one?
What did you not like?
What do you want more of?
What do you want less of?

And when we finish an adventure, I ask "I've got X type of adventure, sound good?" or "what sort of adventure do you want next?"

darthfozzywig

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 403
Quote from: AsenRG;952110
Which option is "depends on the GM's mood"? I have used the following in the last few years, depending on how much inspiration I've got, with the first two options being the default:).

"I'm running this next. Want to play?"
"I am wondering what to run next. Here are the options, which ones do you like most?"

Pretty much these two. I have something in mind, or two or three somethings in mind, and see what folks are most excited about. Or I just say "we're playing this next" if I'm really fired up for it.
This space intentionally left blank

Skarg

  • Venerable Gamer
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2380
Mostly like what you mysteriously called "viking hat"(?).

For RPG's, it's the exception rather than the rule that a "gaming group" picks what to play. It happens, usually as a suggested brief variation, but usually I and the GM's I know have campaign worlds they've developed on their own and host games, and people then choose if they want to play in those campaigns, which then play those campaigns.

For other games (wargames, boardgames, computer games, etc), it's much more likely for the game played to be up in the air until the game starts. Has a lot to do with the investments of time/energy GMs put into their worlds.
« Last Edit: March 17, 2017, 01:52:42 PM by Skarg »

Voros
BANNED

  • BANNED
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3537
I offer options and then we decide what everyone wants to play. That includes the general setting. Trying to encourage others to take on the GM role for one shots so they get comfortable and I don't have to GM all the time.

Madprofessor

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 709
I run the games that I want to run.  That's the only way it works.  I've tried the voting thing.  It doesn't work.

Philotomy Jurament

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1971
  • Prisoner 24601
The DM decides what will be run. Players play, or not. If a player wants to DM something, that's fine, and in that case the DM decides what will be run.
The problem is not that power corrupts, but that the corruptible are irresistibly drawn to the pursuit of power. Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito.