A fun group of people that want to play RPG or board games.
Goals
1. To have fun.
2. Play RPG or board games.
Methods
1. Get together once a week. Usually on Wednesday nights starting at 7pm or 6pm if you are coming for dinner.
2. Weekly email is sent out notifying people about scheduling. People are asked to respond ASAP if they will NOT be attending.
3. DM/GM opportunities are open to anyone that wants it.
4. The current DM (that's me) is of a gamest orientation. Which is to say that as long as the game system is providing a fun experience it need not represent reality or simulation.
Game Table Atmosphere
1. Bring food and drink if you like it's not a problem. Beer at the table is a norm (drunkenness is not a norm).
2. Please be on time to start as some people have to leave at 10pm.
3. The group usually games in 3rd person ("My PC opens the door."). That's not to say that anyone that wants to speak/act in 1st person ("I open the door.")
would be shot/ridiculed just that most of us aren't into that much theater (but maybe we could be converted or something).
4. Occasionally players are asked to help out with a task for the DM. (i.e. update the Adventure Journal, run the initiative board, lookup a rule or keep notes on the white board).
5. As a general rule we try to work together as a team and not play "screw your neighbor" with other players (Dopplegangers inflicted on the group by the DM being one exception).
6. Normally we are less into the detailed plots (and sub-plots and sub-sub-plots) and more into the fun (read simple) plot with a large portion of combat along the way. Role-Play does happen, but a night without combat is unusual.
7. A PC's "back story" is brief account of your PCs life...in three to four sentences (if you WANT more that's up to you).
Character Creation
How You Play the Game by Tracy Hickman - Co-Author of Dragonlace wrote a great peice to help players build interesting and fun characters. I've given a copy a home on this site.