Bringing others into the hobby (based on comments from Shelly Mazzanoble)

[DragonLancer]

In my experience, people know what roleplaying is and they know the D&D name if not more about it. Thats in the UK, and I would assume that it would be more likely in the US. I'd be very surprised if anyone over 18 hadn't heard of the game at least.

IMO the issues involved with drawing new gamers into the hobby are this:

1. Geeky. Gaming as a whole is seen by a great many people as geeky. Gamers are seen as social misfits/outcasts, and to be seen as that is not attractive to the everyday folk. I can't see this changing but its something that we (society) need to just get past.

2. Money. People think nothing of spending £300+ on a new stero or games console. £100 for a fishing rod. But they balk at the notion of spending £60 on a game (looking here at the DM who needs the core rules, dice and mabye a setting) or even just £25 (player with the PHB and dice). Peoples views on value for money in this day and age prohibit I feel.

3. Time. There is a strange notion among people that they don't have enough time to play an RPG. I have yet to find anyone who couldn't set aside an evening once a week to run or play D&D. Everyone needs time away from family, the kids, work, studies and real life, and gaming is the perfect way of doing it. One evening or afternoon a week to clear the cobwebs and relax is something we all need. But trying getting some one to buy that - whether gamer or not.

These are the main issues IMO that need to be resolved.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

In my experience, people know what roleplaying is and they know the D&D name if not more about it. Thats in the UK, and I would assume that it would be more likely in the US. I'd be very surprised if anyone over 18 hadn't heard of the game at least.

I guess because you speak a language quite similar to that they speak in the US. It's similar enough to just use the books written in the US without the need to translate anything. That makes it easier for RPGs.

 

[Chaldfont]

I think the best way to get non-gamers into the hobby is a simple, rules-light introduction. The indie horror game Dread is just the thing.

A while back, our neighbor asked my wife why there were a bunch of cars parked outside every Thursday night. My wife (not a gamer) gave her the classic RPG explanation. A few weeks later, our neighbor saw my new copy of Star Wars Saga Edition on the coffee table. Flipping through it, she said, "Hey! I want to be Amidala!"

So I think people are interested in the concept, but intimidated by the complexity of the rules and the time investment.

 

[delericho]

Not putting up a 960 page* barrier to entry would certainly be a move in the right direction...

I agree. The initial investment in D&D is too expensive for newcomers ($90 to start?), the time investment is too great (960 pages?), and the rules are too complex, with far too many options in the core rules, and too many tightly coupled rules options. It's not even as if the current ruleset can be stripped down and simplified particularly easily - even removing AoOs has all sorts of knock-on effects.

IMO, to serve as a strong 'introductory' game, D&D should be aiming for something no bigger than the old Rules Cyclopedia as its core - one book of 250 pages that includes the whole game. Furthermore, you really need to be able to explain the core concepts to a newbie, and take them through creating their own first character, within 20 minutes.

I seriously doubt that the established player base would accept the sort of changes that are required to get us to that point. I don't think I blame them in that. However, since the market will only really support one Dungeons & Dragons game, I think we have something of a problem.

Well, D&D isn't, and probably will never be, a rules-light game. It wouldn't be D&D if it were.

Curious. OD&D seems to be pretty rules-light. The "Red Box" Basic D&D that I started with was definately rules light, especially in contrast with today's D&D. Yet both of these were clearly D&D.

 

[Obergnom]

I recently bought Savage Worlds Explorer Edition for 8€! (A 160pg full-coler 6x9 inch paperback) and I really think thats a way to get new players into your game.

Sadly, with D&D something like that might not really be possible, still I think the entry level must be lowered (And I do not think reducing the PHB by by 50 pages is nearly enough)

 

[funkysnunkulator]

Isn't that most of our real goals for the game (those of us who aren't content with our insular group that plays at home)? Try to get people to roleplay who might be interested in the hobby by making it more approachable.

our group usually resorts to threats and pelting the potential gamer with assorted cold cuts until they capitulate to our invitation.

then begins an ordeal of "behaviour modification". which is our fancy way of saying "torture" intertwined with political, religious and social engineering. then we give them a complimentary robe and haircut.

it's like a cult, only much more benevolent....

actually, over the years, the number people our group has introduced to gaming is nothing short of astounding. personally, at least two hundred. at least. about 50% male, 50% female, 38% other... oh. was that last part out loud? hahahahaha. it really has been great to see so many gals get into it. they are generally quite talented in this regard.

 

[Moggthegob]

i must agree. It is probably easier since while I was in school we would play at lunch and sooner or later curiosity gets that damn cat. We have not had any problems recruiting people to play. Sure we used to draw odd looks but people realized that we were pretty normal. so in our shcool had a strong gaming group and a D&D club that had like 50 members.

 

[Phlebas]

Last thursday session we had a newbie joining in for his first ever RP session (My neighbours 10 year old kid)

Background - last weekend we had a BBQ with the neighbours and various friends, including some of the thursday night group. As an occasional-wargamer he knew about fantast games and so picked up on some of the conversations ... ended up with asking if he could join in sometime followed by an invitation to turn up on thursday and see what he thought

His parents are now asking how much they'll have to spend and are quite surprised that its only ~£20 for PHB or ~£45 for the complete set. I think they were worried it would be another warhammer army set....

Roleplaying as a concept seems to be quite well known - as is Fantasy. I can't say that D&D has the same profile but at least it doesn't have the satanic scare history it seems to in the US. These days its easier to explain what happens on a thursday night in terms of computerless compute games!

The last few years i've tried to bring in a newbie every campaign as my contribution to the eventual geek dominion of the world, i've actually found it surprisingly easy and the major problem i have is keeping numbers in the game manageable as i have a large pool of RP'ing freinds

 

[funkysnunkulator]

we actually found that once people realized we bathed regularly and didn't believe this stuff to be real, it became palatable. that and having actual jobs seems to go a long way.

hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

 

[Emryys]

Did/would those "Dummies" books help?