What is the biggest challenge for RPG groups? It’s not intra-party conflict. It’s not deciding what edition to play. It’s simply getting people to the table at the same time. Scheduling consistency is the biggest challenge.
Sometimes the only thing that seems to be consistent…is the inconsistency! But I’m convinced that can be fixed. But here’s the key: consistency starts with the DM. Here are four ways I would encourage you to be relentlessly consistent, in an effort to get your gaming group to the table more consistently:
Pick a day and keep it.
Every group needs a DM. Without the DM, there’s no game happening. That means, you need to find a day and time that works for you. Preferably weekly!
For my first 12-13 years of DMing, my group played weekly (except for the summer, when we would take off for a couple months). Even though my group is biweekly now, I still believe that weekly is ideal. Why?
First, the same night every week builds expectation into people’s minds and calendars. Second, if someone misses a session, they only have to wait until next week. If the gaps are longer, it may be 3 weeks or more before they get to the table. And the odds have just risen that they’ll forget.
Now for some people (myself presently included), weekly doesn’t work. I’ve got three small children and a job with regular evening events. This season of life can’t accommodate weekly. But it’s on the calendar for Tuesday nights at 8pm. Why Tuesdays at 8pm? Because it works for my schedule. I didn’t do Sudoku with everyone else’s calendars. I picked the day and time.
Then, when I invited others to join, I told them the day and time. Real simple. And they show up. Why? Because they already knew the day/time would work for them. Granted, things come up. People get sick. Vacations happen. But by and large, people committed not just to the vague concept of a game–they committed to a regular day and time. But that leads to a second way to be ruthlessly consistent:
Start and End on Time
You know the quickest way to get people to quit your game? Don’t communicate clear expectations. Listen, we all like playing RPGs. But we also have to get up for work tomorrow morning (if it’s not a weekend). One of the best ways you can honor the people at the table is to start and end on time. Not only does that respect your players, but it also clarifies expectations to players. If they know you watch the clock, players will text to let you know if they’re running late.
Now this can be tricky, especially if you’re in the middle of a battle or important moment in the game. But it’s easy to say, “Hey gang, we’re gonna wrap in ten minutes after we complete this combat.” Or, “would anyone be opposed to playing 30 more minutes?” It gives players the option to speed up or extend the game. Regardless, it helps everyone feel more comfortable being committed to being in the group. You don’t want to create tension between the gaming group and the rest of their lives. They should complement, rather than compete with one another. But to start on time, you need a third point of consistency:
Establish a player minimum
My group knows that as soon as three players are at the table, the game is beginning. Doesn’t matter the system. If it’s game time and there are three players, we’re rolling. Why? Because we showed up to play, not to wait and stare at each other.
In an IRL game, this tension is lessened. You can grab a beer, eat a snack, or compare miniatures. But my games are online and–while I’m happy to chit-chat with the other players–there comes a point where you just want to play. So once I’ve got three players, I usually say, “OK, we’ve got three players. So we’re going to wait two more minutes for other players, then we’re starting.”
You should set your own group minimum. That may be based upon the system or simply your preference. But once you’ve set it, communicate that to your players. This, again, will urge them to be on time–and will help players know that when they show up, there won’t be a bunch of dawdling around. The game is going to happen imminently! I established this minimum years ago and I’m never going back. Here’s one more way to set a consistent expectation that will get players to your table:
Communicate consistently
Years ago, I played the Star Wars Living Card Game semi-competitively. While I love Fantasy Flight Games, they have not been known for consistent communication through the years. I particularly remember a rules update being released a weekend before a big event…but only through one social media outlet. It was on Twitter only, but not on Facebook or on their website. Trust me, there were some frustrated people at the tourney that did not get the memo. Don’t do the same thing to your players.
Pick a communication method and stick to it. My group uses Discord. Use what your group will use: text, email, Facebook group, whatever. It’s your call. Regardless, let players know: all information about upcoming sessions will be received (a) through this channel (b) in this way and (c) by this time. Again, the goal here is about setting expectations and then keeping them.
When expectations are clearly communicated and consistently kept, players will be more consistent. And if those players aren’t consistent, there are others that will be. And where can you get them? Your local FLGS. A Discord server. Bluesky or Reddit. Wherever you get RPG content, there are gamers lurking around looking for a game. So take the time, establish the standards for your group, invite others along, and get to playing!
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