Hobby gaming can get expensive. But, even when you are spending only a few dollars, it’s nice knowing what you’re getting. You can read the reviews (please, include mine when you do) and even read the excerpts released by the company. But, those just aren’t the same as having a character on the table. I’ve seen roleplaying game (RPG) books that read really well, but the game fall apart in play. I’ve also had the pleasure of reading something bad that was a lot of fun to play. The extremes are rare. However, there are RPGs that are sitting on that edge where they can fall either direction after getting the first information. You just can’t tell where it will land until the dice are rolled.
Some of us don’t mind having more game books on the shelf. My wife thinks it is odd I have a couple hundred RPGs, but she understands I enjoy gaming and writing about it. (I even know some people who have way more than I do.) Then again, you might not want to buy something to find out you don’t want to play it.
What can you do?
Take the Game for a Test Drive
There are some great ways you can test out a game before you buy it. If you’re looking at the game at a local shop, ask about it. Almost every time I have seen a game in a shop it is because there is someone in the area playing it. The shop owner can probably give you a lead on who’s playing it. Many times they may even help set up a meeting in the shop. I’ve even known one shop that would go a step further and set up a game in their store.
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| SaltCon gaming floor |
This has a number of benefits. People like to share the games they enjoy, especially when someone new expresses an interest. This gives you the opportunity to find out how the game plays from their experience. If you can sit in on a game, you now have intimate knowledge of how the RGP works. If you have ever had a hard time filling a table, now you have created a broader network of players. I have seen new groups form this way. The experienced players are usually a resource for explaining issues arising within your game. They can be a source of additional game mastering (GMing) material. I know of a GM group that trades adventures they create, which gives them five times the material to run for their home group.
Conventions and game days are other fun places to try out new games of all sorts. I enjoy playing new games at conventions. I like the person to person socializing and learning a game from an experienced GM wanting to teach and play the game. It gives an immediate lift to the session. These games are usually run on three levels.
The first are the organized gaming groups. If you haven’t tried some of the major games on the market, these groups are great at showing what their game is about and helping people get involved. They also have the benefit of having an organization backing them, which usually means they get together on a regular basis and are welcoming to new players.
Next up are the local GMs the organizers have recruited. These can be some really fun games. These people are fans of the games they are running. Their enthusiasm shows and they almost always know the game inside and out. They are running adventures to show what the game is about. They are sharing their fandom with like-minded players, but are also looking to show it off to new people.
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| Part of SaltCon's Game Library |
The third level is game developers and company representatives. I like these people because they are looking for new players. They are willing to talk about the game besides just running a game. Many times I have seen, after taking a short break from a 2 to 4 hour gaming session, they are back in a position answering the questions of those who played. Yeah, it’s their job. And, I’m willing to bet there many people reading this right now saying they would like to be able to play games for a living.
This all applies to the big and little gatherings. Around here we have regular conventions and game days because of a strong gaming community. Many game shops put together open gaming sessions. There is even the free RPG day where you can find games to sit in on.
If you are in a position where you aren’t able to attend an in-person event, there is the internet. All sorts of gathering places are out there for RPGs. If you are looking for a particular game, you can usually do a search and find a support group. They can help find a game close to you, or many conduct on-line games. Some companies support internet games along with sending people out to conventions.
Not every option is going to work for everyone. But, get out there and kick the tires and see what is under the hood and find out if you feel good in the seat of the game. Have fun with it. And remember, there is nothing like that new game smell when you crack the spine of that book.
If you have a comment, suggestion, or critique please leave a comment here or send an email to guildmastergaming@gmail.com.
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