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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ace" data-source="post: 2555829" data-attributes="member: 944">I wrote this list for the Guild Companion and ICE boards a few years back. It was directed at Rolemaster Standard System but it applies to other games just as well. I tweaked it a bit -- hope these help   One of the toughest challaenges we faced was getting players new to gaming  settled in and the game moving along.Recruiting and retention basicallyWe had a great excel spreadsheet for chargen   and a talented GM but the lengthy character generation process and the need to explain the combat system frreked a lot of newbies outI came up with a few startegys to help with future recruitment efforts and though I would share them#1 Gives the new guy enough oomph to survive bad rolls and the occasional blunder. In addition the charcter is skilled enough to do stuff#2 Make the character a human rogue or fighter. or other simple easily understood archetype  The other types are fun but either too specialized or too complex.New charcters in our game when given the choice always chose Rogue for some reason and I think it is a good choice. This also gives people something to do in the game#3 Build the character carefully and build for a mixture of surviveablity and versitility. Give him a few skills and a few monor spell casting magic items (if D&D)  so he can try all the different systems out.#4 Feat should be selected as follows 3 skill increase'2 survival increase1 kewl power#5 Have everything ready on the needed charcter sheet including a picture if needed. Yoo would be shocked by how many people who came and went played Non Descript rogues. It is hard to get attached to a cipher#6 use fate points. Even if you don't use them let the new guy have a few to make up for gaffs beyond his fault. For systems that don't fate points, give the new player two anyway. This way if they screw up they get another chance -- Feel free to let them know its a one time thing #7 Have everything (minis etc)  ready at her place. She will appreciate the effort and it speeds up combat a lot#8 Designate a mentor or two to teach the ropes. This means someone who will give up a bit of their time to help out. Not everyone can or will do this so pick carefully  If its a new gamer get someone to show them how to play. If they have experienced gamong before teach them the system #9 Run a scenario where the new guys gets extra stage time. Normally I try to do scenarios where everbody get an equal chance to shine or everyone will get a scenario where they get to be the star. With a newbie give them more stage time. Take the time to let them get into the game#10 Help them out and give them slack. This applies to experienced gamers too#11 Treat the new guy nicely. Gamers are an endagered speices in this computer  world#12 Make a "recruit kit" of the stuff I just talked about it and take it where you meet gamers. We play at our FLGS and if there new people there. Hook em in. Rum demos. Run at cons. Nag your friends till they try it. There is no need to defend your system du jour from the usualy charges simpley tell the detractors this "It is more fun than a lof games out there arnd you should try it"#13 Don't be picky about which game you play. Pick a game that fits the personality fo the players in the group and a system that works with the choices that everyone will want to make, You can start with BUffy if you like or L5R RPG if they are a card flipper or Savage Worlds if they are minis crazy, or just D&D. Just make the the group is into the rules. If the group is having fun positive peer pressure means the new guys will likely have more fun too#14 Show them where to buy stuff at your FLGS.Buy something and if gaming clicks (and you will tell after a session or so) and encourage them to buy the mainbook. Once they start to think of the FLGS as "the place to get cool stuff" they are more likely to be a buyer as well as a player. #15 Stay active in the community. #16 Don't bash other games. It never works. Don't like x system  have a personal grudge against xyz designer so what keep it to your self. A better approach is to emphasize the strong bits of any game you play. If they seem to like gaming but not the system get them to try another game. If they don't play your game but they still game (and they buy)its a net plus for gaming. We are all in this together</blockquote>

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