Getting Players

[western watcher]

I'm having trouble getting players for a C&C campaign. I've posted on our local meetup message board, hobby shops. and Pen & Paper. I've gotten some comittments, but come game day no shows. A friend of mine believes that C&C may be too "Old School" for the local players. (The 3.5, 4E crowd.)

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Aramis]

Getting a face to face group is tricky, add in a non WOTC game and the chances really drop

The best route is probably to find an established group and "turn" them to your nefarious game!

I found that online games are the way to go. With skype for chat and maptools for a map with tokens, the gameplay is very close to face to face in terms of quality and it is far more convenient than face to face (no travel, eat your own junk food in your pyjamas while you play! )

[alcyone]

I take it you are running the game.

If I had to choose between running a C&C game with nobody, or a 3.5 game with somebody, depending on the day I can go either way. Running a different system might net you a group of gamers-in-general over time, who just want to play and might be open to your game. At the same time, a bait-and-switch might just cause resentment.

Definitely look into the online gaming thing. If you can't get a commitment to that, maybe you can do play-by-post. Sometimes those can evolve into a real-time online game.

If you really want face-to-face and local, maybe instead of just posting a game, you make it an event. In some cases the Trolls have been known to provide materials for these things, it might be incentive for your players, and might get some product into their hands; then they are hooked.

[finerion]

Hey, if you want to run the game a little closer to Conway, AR I'm game.

[Rikitiki]

Hmm...maybe toss out your stuff without specifying the gaming system?

(my advert was: "Adventurers Needed!

No experience necessary. Think you have the boldness,
cunning, and fortitude to slay monsters, fight evil,
and reap treasures in the doing? Contact 'One-thumb'
at The Black Dragon Inn for details -
http://www.earthlink.net/?????????? <-- where ???? was a webpage where
I simply described what an RPG
was and a general description of
my 'world' without mentioning C&C.
And, of course, my e-mail address
so folks could contact me.

Then, if folks show up with negative preconceptions/prejudices ("Oh, man! It's not MY brand/version/edition"), simply ask them to play to find out if they actually might like it. I'd suggest having many types of pre-rolled characters ready to rock so they don't even have to make the effort of character generation, but can start playing immediately -- this'll (hopefully) short-circuit those who might object to such "wasted" time since C&C isn't their 'game-of-choice'.
If you've got everything laid out and ready to play, you can smilingly say, "C'mon, let's play...I'm ready. Isn't that what we're here for?"

Probably best to make sure that first game kicks off exciting and stays
intriguing, while being a good intro to using the SIEGE engine to do all
of what 3e & 4e do AND MORE. I think once a gamer realizes they can try
pretty much anything they can come up with in C&C, they'll be hooked
as I was.

Another possibility: create a group from newbies with little or no prior
preconceptions, and you all learn together. I find that describing
RPGs as 'street theatre in your living room' is a good way to help
folks get it.

Good luck.

[CKDad]

Are there any reasonably local conventions? Does your FLGS have an "Open RPG Night" or similar event? I've had some success in the past with offering to run games at these kinds of events. (Full disclosure - my last attempt got no takers, but it was stuck in a back room with a huge Magic tournament and a bunch of Flames of War games between me and any potential players.)

Once you've gotten a few interested, you may be able to build a group from there, even if a small one.

Or, do what Treebore & I did - raise your own...

[Demiurge]

Of late I've gained players by running in store demos and convention games.

[Omote]

Persistance.

~O

[Joe]

I would say find existing active game groups and get in with them rather than try and build a group from scratch around a game most of your local gamers have likely never heard of.

I built a group of consistent gamers years back while everyone was playing 3.x and though the group has morphed over time now they seem willing to play whatever.

So what i would do...plaster notices up everyhwere i can think of and advertise the exciting fantasy role playing campaign.

Sit at some games at the local store or game group and build a repoire with some there.

[gideon_thorne]

Are there any reasonably local conventions?

Closest ones take place in Tulsa, OKC or in September in Bentonville Ar.

Pity that Razorbattles (in Fayetteville) closed down.

There's an event called Glitch Con that's going to have a C&C presence at it. I should know. I'll be the C&C sales presence.

I know there are players in the Fort Smith and Fayetteville areas though. I introduced people to the game who live in those locations. I see them at conventions so I really don't have any contact info. Local game shops are your best bet though.

For somewhat farther out, but still local, events www.soonercon.com in Oklahoma City in June is a good bet.