Scheduling Your Game
I'm seeing some notes on my DM Superpowers poll saying essentially "All of these abilities are available through mundane means, but actually being able to play without scheduling issues requires magic!"
Honestly, I put that option in as a joke because I know how often people complain about it. But it's literally not magic it's just coordination to make it happen.
Anyway, here is my advice for getting to regularly play D&D (or the TTRPG of your choice):
Find people who want to play regularly.
Pick a reoccurring day. For my main group, it's every Friday. For my secondary group, it's every other Wednesday. This will obviously be a group discussion, but the host has the final word.
Being able to regularly attend games on that day is now a requirement of joining the gaming group. If you cannot regularly attend a game on that day, then you either need to find another group, or accept your status as "special guest star" rather than "regular cast member".
Anyone who needs to miss a game day gives enough notice to be planned around. If advanced notice is not given, attendance is assumed.
Like, it's not easy, but it's not impossible either. I think picking a regularly reoccurring day is essential. If you have to literally agree on a specific date for your next session every single time, than the administrative headache is going to kill your game.
All of this 100% - also, if I might add:
As part of planning a game, set the terms of what constitutes cancellation. Are you still playing if one person is gone? Two? How are you handling the character of a player who is missing?
Set a time, too, and (optionally) loose agenda; I tend to tell people "the session is a tight 90 minutes starting at xyz time. That's the goal. You can show up starting at [insert time] (usually I personally make this time 30 min pre game start, depending on my schedule). Everyone needs to be leaving by [insert time]". I am flexible on time when I can be, but as a person with kids, it's important to me that people know when I expect us to be playing by! I have a limited time in my week for this!
ALTERNATIVE OPTION: I have found that in small groups (4 or less including GM) popcorn scheduling can work really well if you aren't comfortable setting a consistent day for playing. This means you schedule the first 2-4 sessions over a period of time agreed upon (2 weeks? a month?) on dates that work for everyone. When you reach the last scheduled date, repeat.
Main thing for me is to keep in mind that we're adults, stuff happens and ultimately this is a game so if someone needs to skip, okay. Repeated skipping is what kills me. Be respectful of your friends' time!!
