PROBLEM: I am shy
You may have personality quirks that make it hard for you to have fun in a
freeform. If it's hard for you to walk up to a complete stranger and start
talking to them, or if you are generally rather passive in your gaming, waiting
for the GM to give you missions to do, then at first glance playing in the
Age of Aquarius can be tough.
SOLUTION: extend yourself.
Walk up to the first affable stranger you meet and start talking. Either she
will be (a) useful to you, (b) dangerous to you, or (c) completely unconnected
with you and your goals. In case of (c), move on, unless you can persuade
them into your agenda. In case of (b), respond appropriately (bluster, threaten,
be obsequious, etc.) and in case of (a), link forces. In any case, she won't
be a stranger any more. If you don't care for taking charge of your own destiny
in the game (maybe just because you had an all-nighter the
evening before and are very tired), find out who your allies are supposed to be and offer your services. They'll give you stuff to do. If they don't, go to their enemies, and offer to help them. Either way, you'll soon have lots to do.
PROBLEM: Other Players
If other players are doing bad things to hurt your character, or not cooperating,
or whatever, it can be hard to have fun. Maybe the other players you are dealing
with do not seem motivated to get involved in your actions.
SOLUTION: don't stand for it.
If they're well-meaning (''Don't come with us, it will be dangerous.'') stand
on your rights -- ''I'm not staying here sitting on my thumbs. Take me NOW!''.
If they're unreliable (''Where's Fred? It's time for the human sacrifice!''
''He's at dinner. Said he'd be back in about three hours.'') do without them
-- replace them with someone else ASAP. ''Sorry Fred, I got Mr. Hyde to do
the job instead, so now he's an avatar of a lost god. You're still on the
team, though.''
Also, you can help ensure lack of bad players by asking the gamemasters to
pit you against, or to make you an ally of, people you know. IMPORTANT --
it's as fun to be a sworn enemy of your best pal as it is to be working together
with him.
Preventative medicine is good, too -- early on try to recruit as many allies
and potential friends as you possibly can. Then when someone goes off on a
tangent and loses interest in your plots, you can readily replace.
ALSO -- keep your eye open for players who are shy. These folks are easily
recruited into most any plot and can prove valuable aides! In addition, if
you need help, go to the gamemasters and ask them who in the game could use
an extra plot. The AoA gm’s are usually aware of who's having a slow
time, and they can point you towards potential helpers.