Tomorrow is the first time I am running a game for the Nottingham Roleplaying Games RPG Meetup Group (catchy name, eh?). I’m running a game set in Fellmyr using the Dungeon Fantasy RPG (powered by GURPS) and the scenario is called, “Raid on the Muddy Wretch”. Amazingly, it’s over-subscribed and there’s a waiting list.

Predictably, I have pre-game jitters. Partly, that’s because I am not fully prepped – I’ve still got some pre-gens to sort out, for example. But mostly it’s the anxiety around meeting new players and the pressure I am piling on myself through unhelpful thoughts involving the word “should”.

The key is to show up.

The game will be fine. I know this because all I have to do is set up the situation, explain three basic rules of GURPS, and then run the scenario. Responding to the player’s decisions is something I have been doing at the table for something like 30 years as a GM. I’m good at improvising details. The game will be fine.

But I have the pre-game jitters and the reason (really) is because I care. I want it to be a great experience for the players and I want to enjoy myself. I doubt my social abilities and I am not comfortable with the degree of uncertainty this situation presents. And that’s fine. More than that, it’s pretty natural.

My strategy? First to smile at myself and allow myself to relax, laugh at my own jittery self a little. Secondly, get those character sheets sorted. Next finish drawing up the map and the key. Gather together the resources I need to run the game (you know, dice and pencils et al). Finally, get on the bus tomorrow and show up.

The key is to show up.

Game on!