TOPIC: Discussion about the Rotation sign up process

If we (as a community) are serious about attracting new members, I can promote the club on [EDIT: scratch that, Meetups has a monthly fee] and such. Also, the Gameslore website (which a lot of us use) has a page listing many roleplaying clubs across the UK, from which we are currently absent

Do we have a Facebook page (other than the secret splinter group)? Maybe if we had one that was updated with details about the club, games, etc... it would attract new members from within our friends and friends of friends?

There is a facebook page - it's not terribly exciting. It did come into use during the recent crisis with the Website. I made the Splinter Group secret because it was intended for use only by our little Sunday group. There are possibly other similar groups existing within the club which are better kept secrets. I think if we are going to use a Facebook Page to publicise the club in the outside world, it will need to be more interesting and arresting than the existing BCRPS facebook page. Inept made some comments that I would concur with. I would support his comments about game size, I would put the limit at 1 GM, 5 Players. That would still make it possible to accept one Newbie In a game.

I'm not sure about the Round Robin in Rot 5, it looks like it won't achieve it's objectives in terms of encouraging New GM's, and may even be counterproductive - nearly everybody who wants to participate are GM's already (maybe you guys aren't sending out the right message).

It's time to codify these thoughts and define a new set of rules for games submissions. Some of it is already in existence and has just been forgotten or overlooked in recent times. I think the main changes would be - A limit on the number of campaign games in any rotation, also campaign games need to be posted two rotations in advance rather than just one, and a limit on game size.

I would also like there to be a thread where people who don't have a game could make their status known, preferably including their game preferences, so that potential GM's might know if its worth putting up a game for them.

Any views and comments? Please share!

Thanks

Ive got to say that I disagree that limiting the size of games to just 4 or 5 players will help anything. Yes as Inept says it would create more choice in games & get more games going but that puts the problem back squarely into the remit of not always enough GM's to go around. Most pulished adventures are aimed at 4 to 6 players & I see no reason why games at our club should not continue to be organized around this.
The round Robin is not going to achieve its aims in regard to getting players to have a crack at Gming, thats true. Its a shame but it seems that the "players only" crew want to stay that way. Will it be counter productive? I doubt it very much as so far most of the players are (for want of a better word) - irregular Gm's guys like me who play way more than we GM.
Andrek - What message do you think the RR is putting out? how do you suggest we encourage players to make the transition to GM?

Yes I agree that there should be a limit of 2 campaign games per rotation, yes i agree that they should be posted well in advance.

Yes I think we should be doing more to encourage new players & when new players do arrive we should try do more to keep their presence.

Some folk like playing, some folk like GMing and some folk like both equally. Posting the Round Robin gives folk the opportunity to change but nothing can be forced. I am looking forward to it anyway, since it looks likely I will get a spot.

Also, someone needs to put up another game for R4 as by my reckoning, about 5 players are currently without a game (Anrek, Mal, Paddy, Andy Evans, Antidog, possibly more).

its a shame that the round robin hasn't been embraced by the players only group, its an opportunity to sample the other side of the screen and trial what could be a brand new era for some!

OK so help me out? Who is complaining about the sign up process/games? is it the players or the GM's? if its the GM's then frankly the solution to those problems rests with a relatively small number of people and it can be solved using the guidelines outlined by Scott. In which case the discussion is pretty much concluded.

If its the players, then, I guess I need to understand what exactly the gripe is. I assume its one or more of the following:

• cant get a game
  
• cant get the game I want
  
• can the group I want
  
• cant get the GM I want

More than happy to be advised...
Dare I suggest it though there is a solution.. put a game up!

Yes chaps you've woken me up again!

I think it is a very good thing that these concerns are aired, especially recruiting new members, judging from expo there are quite a few roleplayers (and potential roleplayers) around.

As to the GM thing, some people only want to play, just as some people only want to play certain games, or play with certain friends. I think it is fine if a club member has no interest or intention of running games, just as I think it is ok that I don't really feel it for Savage Worlds.

If some people are thinking of running something, my advice is to find a game you get excited and enthusiastic about, learn the rules as best you can and gather some players. You will have a very sympathetic audience at the club and what's the worst thing that can happen? No one is going to die...oh...er....well they might.

The rotation suggestions are good and should solve most of the problems.

How to attract more women members is a tough one....