Since I posted my blogging resolutions for 2009 last week, it only seems proper that I join in with the spirit of this months RPG Blog Carnival and post my gaming resolutions for 2009.
Play More Games
Since I managed to play a grand total of zero games in 2008, I feel I really have to make an effort here. I feel rather bad writing a blog which focuses on RPG gaming when I am not, at present, gaming.
Although I have learnt that you should always have the whole campaign written before you round up a game group – this was my main failing last year and why we ended up having a character creation session followed by four months of me being drowned in seas of uni work.
Need to get a campaign written, get a group together and just go for it.
Buy/Play More Indie Games
I’ve only really played D&D before now, but picking up Call of Cthuhlu and some of the World of Darkness books has shown me that there are games that I’d far rather be playing out there. The collective mind of the RPG Bloggers Network tells me that quite a lot of these are indie publications. My first purchase will be the highly acclaimed 3:16 in the near future.
Get My Settings Out Of My Head And Online
I’ve had very positive feedback on my post-apocalyptic Fallout: Glasgow (name change pending) and Doctor Who based Torchwood Archive settings. Unfortunately, I’ve failed to get very much about them online, which is a shame because I think that both of them could be used by others, even if I don’t have the time/players to run them myself.
This is a big resolution: I will get much more of these typed up and online in the next twelve months.
Accept Offers To Join Games/Look For Open Groups
At least twice in the past year, I’ve turned down invitations to join the group of a friend, who sums up her GM’ing style in the following manner: “My aim is to kill all the player characters in the most horrific way I can”, which really does appeal to my sadistic side.
I also blatantly neglected to attend my universities RPG society, although this was due to a combination of the politics society (which is more relevant to my degree unfortunately) being on the same night and a shortage of free time.
Both of these are missed opportunities and something that I should take advantage of, if not as a GM then at least as a player. It would also help with my first two resolutions.
And finally, on a general note I really need to Achieve A Good Work/Life Balance
Final year of Uni came to me as a bit of a shock. Suddenly, I’m on the cusp of stepping out into the real world from the cosy ivory towers and I’ve had to work a lot harder, while dealing with the fallout from the breakup of a three year relationship. It became very easy for me to just abandon myself to my work and neglect my social life and hobbies (as a look though the October/November site archive will show). It was also very unhealthy of me as far as my mental well-being is concerned.
So, one of my major tasks this year is make sure I make time for myself, my friends and my hobbies, not shutter myself away in that ivory tower.
Hey, we’re almost on the same boat!
Most of my gaming resolutions are very similar to yours and almost for the same reasons!
Good luck in yours!
I hope GUGS has changed over the years. I only have bad memories of the place.
I’m with you on indie gaming and feeling a little like a fraud at times. The way I look at the fraud side of things though is that only a part of GMing is actually the playing of the games and we’ve both done that for years anyway. I’ve stayed well clear of commenting on the current systems because I just don’t know them.
And if you end up staying down this neck of the woods you have an open invite to any games I get up and running although I understand it can be a bit of a treck up here for a few hours gaming.
Bob’s last blog post..“The First Amendment does not cover MERPing”
@Bob Thanks for the offer. You’re out in EK aren’t you? I actually live right on the bus route that goes though the city to there
I have no problem commenting on current system without fully playing them. It’s not that hard to test combat system solo, and the amount of RP is always going to vary from group to group. But then I do love the sound of my own voice as well
Hopefully GUGS has changed from when you tried it out. I’ll be honest though, trying to fit in with a large established group has been one thing putting me off going so far. There is always their gaming con though – think it’s in March.
Yeah I’ve been looking at that. The only one in this neck of the woods really so I was going to try and wangle a visit.
Bob’s last blog post..“The First Amendment does not cover MERPing”
@Bob There is Compulsion in Edinburgh, on the last weekend in March as well. The blurbs on the website make it sound much more welcoming then the GUGS event TBH.
http://ajaxnz.net/conpulsion/
Thats on my birthday weekend. Hmm
Might be worth it to see Loren Wiseman.
Bob’s last blog post..“The First Amendment does not cover MERPing”
Steer clear of WOD… It’s not the system thats the problem it’s the players that it attracts…
Personally my favourite game system is Champions, purely because you need to have a degree in Mathamatics just to do character creation…
Ohmz’s last blog post..Morbid Thought…
Yes, there are good reasons I didn’t even consider picking up the the Vampire book. Mage does come highly recommended by sane people, so I’m willing to give it the benefit of the doubt.
[...] in 2009 Jan.04, 2009 in Cooking, Misc So, I’ve done a general blogging in 2009 post, RPG gaming in 2009 post and finally, 4 days into the new year, I’m going to riff about what I want to do with the [...]
[...] Games of State New Year’s Gaming Goals and Resolutions echoes work/life balance others stated, a desire to play more indie games that was another recurrent theme, and a resolution to accept more invitations to join games. [...]