Maybe Thursday then?

Probably one of the most challenging things about a gaming group is finding a time to gather, roll dice, and have a good time.

I have joked in the past that my original set of dice are old enough to drink (except the d4 it was lost traversing the dark forest never to be seen again), and in that time I’ve see the lack of gathering cause a group to cease. The members stayed friends but the gathering at the table just never seemed to happen again.

To that end I’d like to share a few of things that seemed helped the groups I gamed with over the years, hopefully they can help your group. A quick A-B-C.

Agree on a night

This is likely one of the easiest and hardest things to do, once the group is established pick a night.

For me I got lucky with my current group. The core started when we all worked in retail which meant Sunday nights were free for all of us. We opted to start a little later, 7:30pm so that those of us that needed to close up had time to finish those tasks and get to our gaming location. Having a set night on your calendar really helps, the group doesn’t guess, and there’s no discussion every week.

The night has shifted around over the years as the members of the group have come on and gone, now the current group gathers on Tuesday nights, it’s no longer rolling dice, we’ve shifted to other games, but the spirit is still there. It’s also just as likely to be online so our member who lives out of state can join us.

Build in Breaks

This might sound a bit out there but plan breaks into your gaming schedule.

At one point we had a member you drove an hour to join us every week. He didn’t mind doing it, his wife sometimes joined him, but it was a drain especially since, if memory serves, we were gaming on Thursday nights at the time. Our solution was simple, third week of the month was an off week. It was built right in so folks could plan other activities. I think it made the group stronger.

Communication

Yes, communication is one of the keys to any successful plan.

When trying to schedule sharing calendars, upcoming events, and when you’re group has been around as long as mine, when the family is down for the count with some bug.

A simple “Hey guys, everyone still up for Saturday? Can’t wait to see what’s in that cave!” email to the group does wonders – lets folks know you’re available and still looking forward to gathering.

The same goes when you schedule changes. If you’re suddenly on night shifts for the next three months let your group know – maybe you can work out a weekend afternoon to play.

Remember, it’s about the fun

While not part of the ABC above, this is one of the most important aspects a group can have to help find time to game – it’s about the fun, not the game.

Some of the best “gaming nights” we had didn’t even include breaking out the gear but instead firing up the grill, dropping some burgers and just hanging out – with the group, the significant others and yes, eventually the next generation of gamers (my son is now a Game Master).

Don’t get hung up on the need to game, be flexible with your friends. If you’re enjoying the game and the people, the world will shift and you’ll find that gaming night.

May your dice roll well.