Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="Olgar Shiverstone" data-source="post: 394241" data-attributes="member: 5868">Thanks for the response!&nbsp; Here's some crazy ideas off the top of my head:Personally, I think D&amp;D needs more of a sales presence -- you have to reach the Target/Walmart/Kaybee crowd in some form.&nbsp; Hence the boardgame idea -- but if the reserach says it won't work, probably not worth the initial investment.I think it needs to be clearer to the novice what is needed to get into the game.&nbsp; There were D&amp;D advertisements at my local Borders this summer -- which was great -- but nothing about the ads (in-store ads) said anything about WHAT to buy to get into D&amp;D.&nbsp; The two-page D&amp;D ad in Dragon was more informative than the ads posted next to the RPG books -- and I assume MOST purchasers of Dragon already play D&amp;D.&nbsp; A one page flier that explained what you need to play the game, set on the display in the RPG section of the bookstore, might go a long way to do that.D&amp;D needs more visibility in game stores.&nbsp; Only one of six game stores I've visited in my local area has regular in-store D&amp;D games/demos -- and that's the WOTC store.&nbsp; Most of them have Magic &amp; Warhammer, though.&nbsp; Now, not all stores have gaming, and it is pretty much the captured market that shops there, anyway, so there isn't a LOT to be gained here.&nbsp; Breaking into Kaybee toys and Hobbytown USA would reach a slightly different demographic.As game groups, we can advertise for new players.&nbsp; One member of my group has a standing invitation on the WOTC message boards (that's how I found them in the first place).&nbsp; Tie advertising to media events.&nbsp; If there's an advertising blitz for D&amp;D pre-Christmas, leading up to the fantasy movie releases, it might generate more business.Game days at local schools/colleges/libraries?&nbsp; A friend told me about D&amp;D, but I was propensed from reading fantasy literature.&nbsp; An association with library material might help -- reading=D&amp;D.Maybe a mini-rules package/excerpt (PHB-lite?) that could be produced in bulk and handed out at conventions, sold for &lt;$5 at game/hobby/bookstores, or given away at &quot;game days&quot;.&nbsp; The package (Like a 16 or 32 pager) might have enough information about the game for a novice to use it to sit in on a couple of D&amp;D sessions with an experienced group to get the feel for it, and whet their appetite for the PHB.Bring back the reduced ($20) price on the PHB only?DM training?Local RPGA chapters?&nbsp; I'm an RPGA member, but I can't even tell you what that means.&nbsp; I also fly model airplanes, and I'm a member of the local club -- the local club promotes itself, teaches people to fly, does a mall show and airshow once a year, has handouts in local hobby shops, etc.&nbsp; I can't think of a game store I've been in that had visible RPGA info.&nbsp; If there's enough members to run tournaments -- get them involved in promoting the hobby, not just participating.OK, I'm rambling now.&nbsp; Shutting up.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Olgar Shiverstone, post: 394241, member: 5868"] Thanks for the response! Here's some crazy ideas off the top of my head: Personally, I think D&D needs more of a sales presence -- you have to reach the Target/Walmart/Kaybee crowd in some form. Hence the boardgame idea -- but if the reserach says it won't work, probably not worth the initial investment. I think it needs to be clearer to the novice what is needed to get into the game. There were D&D advertisements at my local Borders this summer -- which was great -- but nothing about the ads (in-store ads) said anything about WHAT to buy to get into D&D. The two-page D&D ad in Dragon was more informative than the ads posted next to the RPG books -- and I assume MOST purchasers of Dragon already play D&D. A one page flier that explained what you need to play the game, set on the display in the RPG section of the bookstore, might go a long way to do that. D&D needs more visibility in game stores. Only one of six game stores I've visited in my local area has regular in-store D&D games/demos -- and that's the WOTC store. Most of them have Magic & Warhammer, though. Now, not all stores have gaming, and it is pretty much the captured market that shops there, anyway, so there isn't a LOT to be gained here. Breaking into Kaybee toys and Hobbytown USA would reach a slightly different demographic. As game groups, we can advertise for new players. One member of my group has a standing invitation on the WOTC message boards (that's how I found them in the first place). Tie advertising to media events. If there's an advertising blitz for D&D pre-Christmas, leading up to the fantasy movie releases, it might generate more business. Game days at local schools/colleges/libraries? A friend told me about D&D, but I was propensed from reading fantasy literature. An association with library material might help -- reading=D&D. Maybe a mini-rules package/excerpt (PHB-lite?) that could be produced in bulk and handed out at conventions, sold for <$5 at game/hobby/bookstores, or given away at "game days". The package (Like a 16 or 32 pager) might have enough information about the game for a novice to use it to sit in on a couple of D&D sessions with an experienced group to get the feel for it, and whet their appetite for the PHB. Bring back the reduced ($20) price on the PHB only? DM training? Local RPGA chapters? I'm an RPGA member, but I can't even tell you what that means. I also fly model airplanes, and I'm a member of the local club -- the local club promotes itself, teaches people to fly, does a mall show and airshow once a year, has handouts in local hobby shops, etc. I can't think of a game store I've been in that had visible RPGA info. If there's enough members to run tournaments -- get them involved in promoting the hobby, not just participating. OK, I'm rambling now. Shutting up. [/QUOTE]

Verification