# Interview with Jim Markus, Founder, Autumnal Games - Published: 2026-11-04 - Author: [Jim Markus](https://hobbynews.io/author/jim-markus.md) - Topics: [Insights](https://hobbynews.io/insight.md) - Source: https://hobbynews.io/insight/interview-with-jim-markus-founder-autumnal-games/ - Publication: Hobby News - Publisher: Connectively (Terkel, Inc.) - Editorial policy: https://hobbynews.io/editorial-policy/ ## When you are planning an event for people who do not usually play games, how do you choose an activity that feels inviting rather than intimidating? I start with the people, then pick the activity. A group of bookish introverts might prefer a script or a book for guidance. A group of improvisers may prefer a setting and permission to run wild with it. Choose for the guests you plan to invite, and everyone will have more fun. For people who don’t usually play games, I skip anything with a rulebook. Charades works at a holiday party because everyone already knows how to play. ## How do you structure the first few minutes of an interactive event so newcomers feel comfortable joining in? There's so much to be said for setting the right mood. When I run writing duels, a big part of the atmosphere comes from costuming and the way everyone is greeted at the door. When I run parlor live-action role-playing games (LARPs), I introduce the game concepts as soon as everyone arrives. It gives players an idea of what to expect, including safety mechanics, and helps them understand that they're empowered to make character decisions throughout the game. ## How do you adapt a party game when you notice that guests have different confidence levels, personalities, or familiarity with one another? One of the best parts of playing party games is that different people play them in different ways. A good host realizes that a quiet player can be having just as much fun as the center-of-attention player. I’ve seen this myself at parlor LARPs I’ve run recently. After the game had ended, I asked a quiet player whether they’d had fun. It turned out they had been closely following all the drama of the more outwardly expressive players. They just played a quieter game. If someone isn’t engaging at all, that’s a different story. Some players are waiting for an invitation to participate. In those cases, you’ve got to reach out and give them time to respond. And if players aren’t familiar with one another, I make introductions. When I’m building games, I also seed the characters with secrets that encourage players to interact with each other organically. ## What is one low-cost, practical way an event host can use communication or promotional skills to build excitement before a game-based gathering begins? I'm a big fan of physical invitations. Giving players something ahead of time invites them to participate in the fiction even before the game begins. And who isn't a fan of opening a letter that isn't junk mail? ## Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Is there anything else you'd like to add? There are two things we haven’t talked about yet: attendance and wrap-ups. In terms of game choice, it’s important to choose something that works even if one person doesn’t show up. There are several mystery dinner games that work with an exact number of people, and those aren’t the best options if you’re planning something for a group of adults. Life gets messy. People get sick. People cancel at the last minute for myriad reasons. So choose a game that gives you some flexibility there. And finally, allow for a wrap-up. I’ve seen so many hosts plan a game and forget that people want to talk about what happened. It’s fun to get out of character and talk about the experience itself. The post-game conversation is often just as interesting for the guests as the game itself. This article was first published on [Featured News](https://news.featured.com/start-with-the-people-then-pick-the-activity-says-autumnal). ## Related - [Latest Hobby Trends and Statistics](https://hobbynews.io/insight/latest-hobby-trends-and-statistics.md) - [Benefits of Having a Hobby for Mental Health](https://hobbynews.io/insight/benefits-of-having-a-hobby-for-mental-health.md) - [How to Start a New Hobby](https://hobbynews.io/insight/how-to-start-a-new-hobby.md) - [Tips for Turning a Hobby into a Business](https://hobbynews.io/insight/tips-for-turning-a-hobby-into-a-business.md)