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<blockquote data-quote="doctorhook" data-source="post: 5209378" data-attributes="member: 58401">While I can appreciate the accuracy that statement might convey for some groups, from my own experience bringing people to D&amp;D, I can categorically say that this description of D&amp;D will turn away more potential &quot;new blood&quot; than it will attract. (I'll admit that this description was more effective on potential female players than on males, for whatever reason; we need more women in this hobby, anyway.)IME, most new players are enticed by the chance to wield fictional power; there's a thrill to be had in decapitating a dragon with a sword, or melting an army of goblins with a spell. More specifically, it's exciting to visibly reap the rewards of your decisions, including decisions about what spells to cast and what tactics to use. Thus, the simplest comparison for D&amp;D to make is to CRPGs, such as Final Fantasy or WoW, because these games use similar mechanics to D&amp;D (derivative of D&amp;D, though these CRPGs may be). Selling D&amp;D to new teen gamers works best on this basis, because CRPGs are something these young gamers are mostly already familiar with and interested in.That's the most effective strategy I've found for recruiting new players, and I'm certain WotC has figured this out too. After all, how many people here started with CRPGs? I bet a lot did. Myself, I met D&amp;D through Baldur's Gate in 1999.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="doctorhook, post: 5209378, member: 58401"] While I can appreciate the accuracy that statement might convey for some groups, from my own experience bringing people to D&D, I can categorically say that this description of D&D will turn away more potential "new blood" than it will attract. (I'll admit that this description was more effective on potential female players than on males, for whatever reason; we need more women in this hobby, anyway.) IME, most new players are enticed by the chance to wield fictional power; there's a thrill to be had in decapitating a dragon with a sword, or melting an army of goblins with a spell. More specifically, it's exciting to visibly reap the rewards of your decisions, including decisions about what spells to cast and what tactics to use. Thus, the simplest comparison for D&D to make is to CRPGs, such as Final Fantasy or WoW, because these games use similar mechanics to D&D (derivative of D&D, though these CRPGs may be). Selling D&D to new teen gamers works best on this basis, because CRPGs are something these young gamers are mostly already familiar with and interested in. That's the most effective strategy I've found for recruiting new players, and I'm certain WotC has figured this out too. After all, how many people here started with CRPGs? I bet a lot did. Myself, I met D&D through Baldur's Gate in 1999. [/QUOTE]

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