Abulia is the “loss or impairment of the ability to make decisions or act independently,” chosen as something of jab at my willingness to question my own decision-making processes. The irony being that I don’t have any difficulty or regrets when making difficult decisions.
Well, my gaming group seems to be suffering from a heavy case of abulia at the moment, and it’s really frustrating me!
We happen to be between games and shuffling things up. Moving to an alternate schedule to accommodate new player(s) and switching GMs. Nothing that thousands of gaming groups haven’t done thousands of times. Yet getting people to converse or share an opinion on what they want to play has been like pulling teeth. The most common answer being, “I’ll play anything.”
Now that sounds good in theory but my experience tells me that “I’ll play anything” is code for “anything except what I don’t want to play.” Turns out that list is considerably larger than you might think.
I appreciate everyone trying to play nice but when trying to plan (and run) a game that everyone should enjoy — and have input on — “I’ll play anything” isn’t helpful. Aside from one idea being tossed out and debated, it’s been pretty quiet. Too quiet.
Perhaps it’s as simple as getting everyone in a room and throwing out random, crazy ideas to see if anything sticks? I’ve tried from the angle of theme and tone, specific game lines, and even broad, generic ideas that aren’t tied to a system. The silence is deafening.
So, right now we’re going to play supers — only half the group seems truly interested — and I’m slightly concerned. On top of it, I tend to feed off the excitement of players when running (and choosing) a game; conversely, lack of enthusiasm, or even being placating, really dampens my enjoyment.
Ultimately no matter what gets chosen, I want people to have a good time, including me. On one level I want to toss them in a room and say that since we can’t come to a consensus (or have the discussion) here’s what I’ve selected to run and just roll with it. Who knows, perhaps they’ll like it? That’s spawned the idea of some mini-games: We get together and play one adventure of a game, like Warhammer, and debrief afterwards. Continue playing or try something else? Next up, Fading Suns. Rinse, repeat.
There are sooooo many games that I would love to play, or run, that having the opportunity to play anything and “wasting” it is just driving me nuts!
Of course, the real answer to all this is may be that I’m thinking about it too much and simply living up to the moniker of abulia….
Don,
I know we’ve corresponded (once:)) regarding online gaming in the past. If your group would be up for it I could run a one-shot in the next couple weeks or so.
I’ve got the following near completion to run via Screen Monkey ( http://www.nbos.com ) . Pre-gens would be made or we can get together online for character creation using Skype and WebEX or Net Meeting.
Iron Gauntlets – http://www.pigames.net
Thieves have stolen a set of beautiful and very valuable bracelets. The owner has vowed to get the stolen bracelets back, and tries to hire the characters to retrieve them by offering a generous reward.
HARP – http://www.harphq.com
Welcome one and all to the Festival of Banapis. A time of merriment for all of Crydee. This year the Duke himself will preside over the right of choosing where master craftsman, the guard and others decide who will become apprentices.
http://www.naturaltwenty.com/downloads/midkemia.pdf (the flyer’s dated but it still represents the intended game)
Dawning Star – http://www.dawningstar.com
The Edge of Shadow – an intro adventure from GenCon used to introduce Operation Quick Launch – Dawing Star, a d20 Future Sci-Fi Game
The Sky Stone Ruin, an unknown force field, an ancient crashed starship, and a map. All the basics for a few hours of sci-fi goodness.
Let me know.
Later,
Greg V.
I’ve tried to help you drive the discussion — sorry if it’s not working out the way you had hoped. I actually don’t put myself in the general category you’ve outlined above, in this case, since I’ve been specific from very early on.
Your idea of one-shot “Does this taste yummy?” games is a good one, and I’d be all for trying a couple of things.
I don’t have a whole lot of experience with supers myself, so since my suggestion of “gritty, hard-choices supers” looks to be off the table, I’m interested in hearing some alternatives — ways that it plays well, in other words.
Greg, I think that offer is very generous and I’d say anyone reading this should take you up on your offer. While my schedule doesn’t allow for an online game right now, I’d love to at least sit in on a session or two to check out online gaming in practice.
Martin, I’m not trying to single anyone out; just general frustration. This is new to me — in the past my groups have been pretty eager to play this or play that. The level of “gee, whadda you want to play?” is kinda driving me nuts.
We’ll still do “gritty, hard-choices,” it just won’t be dark/bleak in the tone of Batman-where-the-hell-is-the-daylight?
I know you’re not trying to single anyone out — I actually think you were being a bit too general, which is what I was getting at.
I’m quite used to amoeba-like indecision in gaming groups, so that one doesn’t seem quite as surprising to me. I think the only way all of us would be spontaneously, simultaneously jazzed by something was if it was new, or was introduced to us and happened to fit perfectly.