How's this for a first draft.... (honestly i got fed up after reading the first 3 or so pages so I just made it up)...
I'll dip out of the discussion but leave you with my draft, which is probably mostly wrong..
I would like to GM a game, what do I need to do?
- Think of a game.
- Discuss it with a few people at the club, oh but not just the ones you regularly play with, discuss it with everyone.
- After discussing it or mentioning to everyone (you do not need to include the bar lady, or the snooker players next door, unless they show interest) you may then post something in the Game Proposals sub forum at least 12 months before intending to play it.
- Check your listing in the Game Proposals sub forum. Do NOT guarantee anyone a place, even if you have discussed it with them (see #3, you must discuss it with everyone), this goes for blood relatives, long standing mates and over-rides any and all prior relationships/marriages/vampiric blood rituals/soul selling or such like. This is not the place to promise someone a spot and thou shalt be struck down in flames if you should dare to do so.
- When you are satisfied that you game has gathered enough interest and feel pretty good about yourself start prepping your game.
- Realise that what you did in #3 is wrong, and find that your proposal thread has been locked until 4 weeks prior to your start.
- Put your prep on hold but make notes on all the feedback you gained by discussing it with everyone (see exceptions #4) ensuring that all those ideas you had for characters discussed with everyone (see exceptions #4) might need to be incinerated if your game is over subscribed (see #
and the alternative method (#10)
- Plan for 4 PCs. If possible plan for a 5th for any new members so they may join in.
- 4 weeks from your game it will be unlocked and you will recieve your requests/begs/sacrificial offerings from players and then wonder why the one person who showed the most interest during the discussion with everyone (see exceptions #4) was asleep when the game was unlocked and missed their place.
- Become a little bit disappointed and then suggest that the person mentioned in #9 leaves the club, has cosmetic surgery and then returns as a new player and takes your newbie slot.
- Feel pleased with yourself.
- Incur the wrath of the club for being a ‘sneaky bas#$%d’ and make the newbie slot open once again.
- Consider the possibility of cancelling the game because of #9-12.
- Decide to run the game anyway and spend the next 4 weeks preparing the awesomeness that is you.
- Over the next three weeks make time to open up a Game Discussion thread in the appropriate sub forum.
- With a very real possibility of playing with folks you haven't gamed with before, take time to get to know them. You may find your future lover/wife/partner. You may, on getting to know these people decide to opt for #13.
- Rethink #11.
- Try a last ditch attempt to circumvent the situation arising from #9. Suggest that if your game is oversubscribed then all names should be put into a hat and drawn out, citing the fact that the one person who was asleep (see #9) is only human and cant be expected to ‘take a stab’ on when the thread will be unlocked (unless of course #6 and #9 is done in such a way to receive a notification the moment a thread is unlocked).
- Curse the gods of luck as the individual who was asleep (see #9) is not drawn out of the hat.
- Cancel the game.
- Decide to ‘have a go’ and prepare for your first session bearing in mind that you may be one of many games running and are limited to 2 long tables. These may be arranged in any fashion that satisfies health and safety regulations and fire escape routes are not blocked. Tables may not be placed on top of one another (please see accompanying risk assessment).
- Arrive at club and set up. Arrive early to avoid the real estate police. Check gangways and chair/table proximity.
- Wait for players to arrive.
- Wait a bit longer.
- Go for a wee.
- Have a drink.
- Look happy as your players arrive minus one.
- Run the game with one less that you expected whilst looking glassy eyes over at the sleeper (see #9) squirming awkwardly as they settle into a niche game that they said they'd never play this side of the apocalypse.
- Send them a love note.
- Try to block it from your mind for the next 7 weeks.
- Count them down.
- Slowly.
- At the end of the 8 weeks explain to the players that you will be changing all of their player names and calling the game something different otherwise it will be a continuation game. Which is only a little bit allowed, ok, well 2 at a time.
- Repeat.
