WELCOMING NEW PLAYERS TO YOUR HOME GAME: PART ONE

This post series is not about how to find new players. It’s not about playing with new people at a tourney, a convention, or online.  It’s about good old fashioned homegrown hospitality … But first, a short story.

----------------------------------------------------------------

The living room was aglow from a string of fairy lights trailing across the bookshelves, the scent of homemade brownies adding to the air of anticipation. I glanced at the clock—5:45 PM. The table was ready, dice bags in the center, and a stack of fresh character sheets waiting beside a notepad scribbled with “Welcome, adventurers!” in bold marker.

Soon, cars arrived outside. First through the door was Julia, clutching a travel mug and nervously glancing around. “Hi, is this the right place for Vikings and dragons?” she asked with a shy smile. I grinned and waved her in. Next was Lucas, a long-time friend sporting a Sons of Odin tee. Then came Priya, who’d confessed this was her first time playing any tabletop RPG. As coats were hung, I welcomed everyone, saying how much I appreciated new players.

Once settled, I kicked off our session zero. “Tonight is just about getting comfortable. We’ll chat about the adventure and set some group expectations—no pressure, just fun. With any luck we’ll have time to run the opening scenes.” I described the campaign setting: a mythic land inspired by Viking legends, where each character could shape the story.

Eyes lit up as I let the group pick through the pre-filled character sheets. “Feel free to tweak their backgrounds!” As we brainstormed backstories, each player added something unique—a mysterious rune, a lost sibling, a legendary sword—and I wove these into the starting scenario. With each contribution, the excitement grew, and even Julia, who’d worried about “messing up,” found herself absorbed in the group’s creative energy. Dice clattered as Julia picked up her first set, rolling a nat 20 with a delighted gasp.

We took a snack break, laughter echoing as everyone, munched chips and brownies. I shared how it’s important everyone has a voice, encouraged teamwork, and reminded them that mistakes are part of learning. “This is a space for everyone. If you need help, ask. If you want to try something wild, go for it! We’re here to have fun and build this together.” Priya hesitated but soon traded ideas with Lucas about what a shieldmaiden might do in a dragon’s lair.

With everyone’s interest piqued, I suggested we get in some actual play. I began with Vala’s dream … “You stand in a strange room, looking out through a crack in the curtains. Your view shifts from the moon to the interior of the room. It is the sleeping chamber of an old man.” Next, we played through Hervor’s opening scene, and then Bragi’s. We ended with the three main characters meeting up at the Jarl’s hall.

Before wrapping, I encouraged questions and offered a quick recap: As everyone gathered their things, I said “thanks for coming! Next time, we set sail on our first adventure. Feel free to message me with any ideas or questions.”

As the door closed behind the last guest, I tidied up with a smile, already looking forward to seeing how these newfound heroes would bring our Viking tale to life. Session zero had done its magic—friendships sparked, nerves eased, and the promise of adventure shimmering just over the horizon.

---------------------------------------------

… Of course, your experience will be completely different than this. But whatever it is, I predict it will be well worth it. There’s nothing quite like the excitement and camaraderie of inviting new faces into your gaming group. I love running games at home, however humble it may be. And I love introducing newbies to the crazy world of roleplaying.

In Part Two I’ll share my one-page letter to prospective new players. It covers the basics of what, when, and where, and broaches your house rules.  It also includes a short questionnaire. This isn’t a required thing with me, but it’s a compact little tool to get relationships started on solid ground. This seems important for both parties in such an arrangement. In Part Three I’ll go into some tips on group dynamics.