rainy day game

[Khayankh]

I work as a lifeguard during the summer. When it rains, we just sit in the lifeguard shack (basically a break room tacked onto the same building that houses the bathrooms) and hang out all day. This is quite boring. Today I realized that it would be possible to run a tabletop RPG campaign on a rainy lifeguarding day, as I'd have: 5 people between the ages of 16 and 24, lots of chairs, a really big table, an essentially captive audience (we're not allowed to leave, in case the storm clears up) and eight hours.
The difficulty is that said five people are random high school and college kids, most of whom are unfamiliar with the concept of tabletop role-playing games and have never seen a d20. I like the idea of encouraging everyone else's inner geek to grow and strengthen, but I'm not sure how I would go about creating a campaign for 'mundane' youths. I was also thinking that a simpler system than Dungeons and Dragons might be better suited to this.
Does anyone have any ideas? Is anyone interested in acting as a sort of collective hive-mind GM? Or should I just play Scrabble endlessly like everyone else?

[FirstAidKit]

I too am all about starting up a tabletop game whenever possible, especially when you've got a bunch of people stuck in the same place. As to influencing the mundane of gaming, you have two decent options.
The first is to just explain the system you want to use and poll them as to who would be interested. DnD 3.5 is a pretty easy system to explain in that matter, so long as you have people that are decently quick on the uptake. Your other choice is to start them off with something like Munchkin. If you're not familiar with it, Munchkin is DnD without all the complications of... everything. Gain levels, grab the loot, stab your buddy. Makes a great segue into DnD too.
Lastly, though I can't be your DM (as much as I would like to) I'd be happy to give you any pointers that I've picked up over the last 10 years or so of doing it (until this forum game, I have never had a PC). It's not that bad, so long as you remember the golden rule. You are the DM, your word is law and you are the storyteller. Lemme know if I can help.

So, that's my two cents. I really, really, want to start up a gaming group here, but I don't know if we have the time here anymore. Oh well. Good luck, and lemme know how it turns out!

[Lunaroki]

Is anyone interested in acting as a sort of collective hive-mind GM?

Sounds like fun! I'd love to help you come up with ideas for your campaign! ^_^ Ooo! Just had a fun thought: puffballs that cause you to have hallucinations if you breath in the spores! @,@

[Thunderhowl]

Here in Saskatoon, we usually lure in new gamers by starting them off with gamer-favoured boardgames like Settlers of Cataan(sp?), Munchkin, Chez Geek, Arkham Horror and the like. Once the newbies get into those games, the "Geek Stigma" usually falls away and they become more willing to try a good old fashioned dice chucker like D&D.

The great thing about some of those games is that their set up and take down times are really quick, so games can start with a moment's notice, which might make them perfect for play during lulls at work. Really, it's like playing cribbage or poker at work, which also might be a good way to get them into a gaming mood so you can transition into a game like Chez Geek or Munchkin later.

[Wxgirl]

I got hooked onto Munchkin first, then LARP then DnD / tabletop I know weird.

I would say if you can get Munchkin get that and play it with them. I got a few not as nerdy friends addicted to that and it was fun to play with them. Then from there move on up and suggest tabletop would be my guessing.

[McManus]

Oooh... hive minding..

"We require more minerals.."

Erm...

You might wanna try out with lighter boardgames first, like ticket to ride or carcassonne, which are pretty easy for even the thickest of treetrunks to grasp... then maybe moving on to something more complex?

McM

[One post wonder]

The way they lured me in was by simply convincing me that I have always been a geek, and that I simply never knew it. Though I admit that I have no idea how you can do this with your friends, I know that you must make them realize that they have some geeky traits. Otherwise, they are not likely to get into a RPG. The concept of D&D never appealed me before I played a game based on it's rules. Though I must admit that I have yet to play a tabletop RPG, I am no longer opposed to taking part in one.

[Tom the Fanboy]

I would suggest a geeky card game like chez geek first, THEN go into Munchkin. Munchkin is easy enough to learn but it's still pretty weird and nerdy.

Chez Geek has broader appeal and the very apt game mechanic of slack. Since you're looking for a game to play WHILE slacking at work Chez geek is very appropriate. Gauge their reaction to cards like "RPG" and "Mr. Gamer" to plan your next move.

[Wxgirl]

I forget what it is called now ... I think it is spy games.

However in the past it was called "Before I kill you Mr. Bond" that was a hilarious card game. That might get them to chuckle a bit then move them on up to other things. Also euchure ^.^ now that I am in ND no one knows how to play that game and makes me sad T-T

[Thunderhowl]

I forget what it is called now ... I think it is spy games.

However in the past it was called "Before I kill you Mr. Bond" that was a hilarious card game. That might get them to chuckle a bit then move them on up to other things. Also euchure ^.^ now that I am in ND no one knows how to play that game and makes me sad T-T

I have "Before I Kill You Mr. Bond".
I got one of the final print runs. Cheapass Games was getting the hellass sued out of them by MGM Studios for copyright infringement of the Bond Franchise and after weeping piteously and begging profusely their execution was stayed as long as they stopped printing the game.
Cheapass games makes good stuff. It's fun and quick and, well, Cheapass.
They are an excellent resource for the type of gaming situation described.
Here's the link.
http://www.cheapass.com/products/cardgames/cag530.html

[Wxgirl]

Ahhh yes Cheapass Games ... fun stuff. Devil Bunny Needs a Ham is another good one. I played it live action style once and that was great!

[Narf the Mouse]

Risus is a great simple RPG.

[Dustman]

Mmm... The simplest tabletop I know of is the Marvel Roleplaying Game--granted, it's one of the only three I've actually played, but I've read up on a few others as well, and MRPG is pretty simple stuff. There are no levels; the experience system was really simple--but also hellaciously difficult to improve yourself with, I must admit. It's resource-based, so you don't even need dice, you just need counters: and you can use a handful of change for that. It's also pretty cheap: the whole game comes in one book, which I think I picked up for 20 bucks. Plus, it's superheroes, which is pretty mainstream, and the system has holes which are really easy to exploit if you want to spot your rules-lawyers early on

Hmm... looking back, I find it ironic that I played a Cleric my first game, considering all the preaching I seem to do.

[Khayankh]

Thanks, everyone! The cheapass games look fantastic, I'm probably going to order stuff from there shortly.

[Wxgirl]

Yeah cheapass games ^_^ like I said it should be good times with the people you play with and since they are fairly cheap you can buy a few of them and mix things up.