BlueNose

How can I find TTRPG partners who are compatible with me?

#ttrpg

Mar 10 at 1:55amWeb
Show threadPteryx the Puzzle SecretaryMar 10
@rollmetal
Well, first, you need to figure out what "compatible with you" entails. This is needlessly hard because TTRPG discourse involves a lot less agreement on vocabulary than you would think would accrue over the course of fifty years.
Show threadBlueNoseMar 10
@pteryx That's exactly right, which is why it's been bothering me!
Show threadPteryx the Puzzle SecretaryMar 10
@rollmetal
How would *you* describe what you're looking for? That's at least a place to start, even if it's likely to take a few iterations to clarify your meaning.
Show threadGM Fuzzy Flumph (capheind)Mar 10
@rollmetal
I tried genetic recombination and upbringing but its taking FOREVER. 9 and 6 years and they can just barely read the rules.
Show threadPteryx the Puzzle SecretaryMar 10
@capheind @rollmetal
Plus that method is so volatile that the resulting kids might actually *not be interested* in TTRPGs. Other hobbies! What a concept, right? đŸ˜œ
Show threadGM Fuzzy Flumph (capheind)Mar 10
@pteryx
Thats what the box is for.
@rollmetal
Show threadBlueNoseMar 10
@capheind That looks like a great project; keep up the good work!
Show threadjerome0Mar 10
@rollmetal I've had pretty good luck on discord servers. a little harder in person. but I'd say: find a game you are excited to play and jump on a server where other people are also excited to play that game. which begs the question: what game do you want to play? may not give a full compatibility profile, but I think its a good start
Show threadBlind MapmakerMar 10

@rollmetal Running games at cons seems like a great way to find folks in theory. In practice I found everybody in my friend circle or through online ads on specialised RPG sites. Hit-and-miss was a problem, though.

It's easier if you're fine being a forever-GM.

Show threadBlueNoseMar 10
@blind_mapmaker You're right, it means it will take time to work things out. I'm finding it really tough right now.
Show threadPteryx the Puzzle SecretaryMar 10

@rollmetal @blind_mapmaker
Hit-and-miss can be incredibly draining and demoralizing, too. There's a reason I've come to refer to social trial and error as "trial and trauma"...

I've been through so much that it's a wonder I didn't give up years before winding up with my current GM and group. Heck, said GM was someone I wound up essentially sharing bad-game trauma with, and it was almost a decade after that before she decided to start running our current game.

Show threadBlueNoseMar 10
@pteryx @blind_mapmaker I used to have a regular group of friends, and we played together for three years. We had a great time! It wasn't until I came across OSR and tried introducing its concepts to my players that things changed. They just couldn't understand my perspective and found OSR incredibly dull. Not only were they uninterested, but they also had no desire to learn more about it. I had no choice but to part ways with them. So now I'm looking for new players-those who can understand OSR
Show threadBlind MapmakerMar 10

@pteryx

I completely get the being drained by trial-and-error. I probably couldn't start with new groups from scratch. It helps if you're in a long-term relationship with someone you share the same likes, I gotta say - even if you never get around to one-on-one play. If you have a best friend that's compatible that's almost a group (in my case we went from writing group to playing RPGs to best friends). Partner, BFF Plus One has been our setup for quite a while now and Plus One is on the way to becoming a real good friend too.

Blathering on, I realise there is actually a point here: Don't get hung up on numbers. If you have two folks you like playing with, do so. If the genre or adventure needs more PCs, just have them play two each.

@rollmetal

Sounds like you had a good group, but you had a specific thing you really wanted to do. Have you tried doing adjacent things that are maybe a bit more mainstream? Or worked out exactly what makes you love OSR?

I honestly never really connected to the OSR folks, but then I read a good article about simulationism being similar in the main regard: world first, rules and story second. If that (or something on that level) is also your main point, maybe you can see which systems are in support of that and discard the stuff that is not so important to you and boring to other folks.

Parting Shot:
If you have one person who is into the same things and they are better at the social / organising / networking side you could split the workload and let them do most of the searching and inviting and maybe design and GM a trial adventure yourself.

Show threadBlueNoseMar 10
@blind_mapmaker Your advice is very thoughtful! The kind of gameplay you mentioned—similar in essence but more mainstream—is exactly what I've been learning and experimenting with lately. I'm trying my best to lower the barrier to entry for players, even though I personally feel that OSR itself is already simple to get into. What I love about OSR is its creativity and freedom. More importantly, no railroading.
Show threadBlind MapmakerMar 10
@rollmetal Wishing you the best of luck! May the dice shine on your next meetings!
Show threadGames People PlayMar 12
@rollmetal That depends on how rarified your tastes.