Splitting up a HUGE group

[Mickeroo]

Ok, I think I'm come to the realization that I can not keep my orignal group, because it's too freaking huge...it's like everyone invited a friend, who then invited someone else...I think there's 12 people, I don't even know anymore...so I am going to split them up, but how should I do it? Do I split it up based on old friendship lines, on when they're available for play, or on what they want to do? I mean, it would be great if those all lined up, but I don't think they will. Any advice?

[jc_madden]

First and foremost it's you who's taking the time to organize and run the game. Who do you want in your game? I recommend making a list and priortizing it like so:

1. Complete strangers and friends of a friend, cut them out right now.
2. People who are known to be disruptive or commonly late/abset, give them the boot too.
3. People who've you've gamed with before but who weren't on the orignal group that you had in mind, put them on the B list.
4. The original group YOU invited to play, they're in.

Now politely tell group 4 that they invited too many people, if they have a problem with Bob not playing they can go to and someone on list 3 moves in. If you're feeling really kind you can A) offer to run a second game with the other 6 or so or B) ask for someone to volunteer to GM the other group. Personally I don't get involved with those who aren't worth my time. If you're lucky to have 12 or so GREAT gamers that you'd love to GM them all but simply can't do it, ask for volunteers to start another game, I'm sure half of them will step up before you can finish saying "Look we have too many people for one GM."