D&Detox

[Umbran]

I'm not sure that boardgame experience would help. . .

It does, but not directly.

The point is that folks who have played only D&D, but have done so for years, get an idea that, "This is how RPGs are done," which becomes a barrier to RPGs that do things differently.

What you need first and foremost is for players to recognize that changing RPGs is not fundamentally different than switching from Catan to Cribbage.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Personally, I've found that watching a few videos of others playing a game using that ruleset helps me grasp game flow and player responsibilities. It's never taken a whole lot of time to get the "aha!" moment, usually just two or three sessions. (It's also nice just to grasp basic rules, especially when the GM makes questionable calls and forces me to go look it up.)

 

[atanakar]

My current group is very open minded. We played D&D5e, Coriolis, Modern AGE and CoC 7e so far. There is talk of playing Barbarians of Lumeria and Romance of the Perilous Lands. No problems of adaptation when we change rpgs.

I did have a group during 3e that flat refused to play anything not d20. I bought Vampire the Mascarade. I was disappointed when they couldn't change their D&D vampire mind frame to fit the WW vision during my explanation of what the setting was about. Star Wars d6 lasted two games. We switched to SW d20. They just didn't want to invest time in learning another system.

 

[Morrus]

They just didn't want to invest time in learning another system.

I still don’t understand people who look at learning how to play a game like it’s work.

 

[atanakar]

I still don’t understand people who look at learning how to play a game like it’s work.

I don't game with them anymore...

 

[hawkeyefan]

I get how this could seem confusing....but I don't think there's ever been a game that was so synonymous with "boardgame" as Dungeons & Dragons tends to be with "roleplaying game". For many people....even many people actively involved in the hobby....there is no difference. This is why it can be so challenging for some people to learn a new RPG.....they think that it must work like the one they've always played, and any difference is hard to adjust for.

 

[Fenris-77]

Is Dungeon World the game you're running? I can see people having some issues adapting to a PtbA style game. It's very different, and there is a lot more responsibility in the player, at least compared to a more passive D&D style player. They just arent used to playing to find out what happens. It'll come though, and it'll be worth it.

 

[Stormonu]

The problem I often found myself in trouble with other games (Pendragon, Doctor Who) was combat. D&D expects a very heroic level of action where you're supposed to jump in with both feet at every opportunity and come out alive and only slightly scuffed.

Games where combat is more gritty or isn't the focus - lingering wounds, opponents that can't be overcome by clubbing them with weapons or spells, intrigue-based games - require some initial telegraphing how the players should respond to threats.

If its expected that the system is going to have a different feel, I agree with the posters above in performing an introductory episode where they players can learn both how things work and participate in the activity.

If combat in the game is deadly and the players should avoid it or is going to be significantly different? Run a combat of player-run NPC "mooks"/town guard against a bog-standard opponent and let the players learn how combat works while getting hammered. The player's regular characters can stumble onto the aftermath once the enemy has moved on. (examples: players play a criminal group divvying up the loot when the town guard or a rival gang busts in; marauders ambush the locals and the local militia needs to drive them off; A monster makes mince-meat of those who got in its way/summoned it).

You can do similar things with other aspects of the game. If it is going to introduce mechanics or a style of play different than what the players are used to, set that up as a session 0 encounter and walk the players through it. It helps set expectations, sets the mood and lets players see the new mechanics in action. It's usually far better than leaving players to do a dry read-through to puzzle out information they'll need to know.

 

[Shiroiken]

I think the big issue is using a VTT is really different than IRL. With IRL, you can work with the players over the character sheet so they understand everything. With a VTT, you have to do it all via description, which is much harder.

 

[Umbran]

I still don’t understand people who look at learning how to play a game like it’s work.

I can't speak to all of them, but to some... and Morrus, you're awesome, but you seem to like crunchy games, and that may be getting in the way of understanding.

There are players out there for whom playing with the rules is not itself fun. The rules are a not-particularly-fun means to an end that is fun. For them, "work" is precisely what picking up a new set of rules is - an effort that isn't pleasant, that will hopefully eventually get them a payoff.

Asking them to pick up a new ruleset can be... like asking them to come to your house, where you will serve them a wonderful home-cooked meal. But first, they have to help you clean up the living room and dining room.

And, for a lot of games, what they are asked to learn... is a lot. Hours of reading. Trying to stuff a bunch of new stuff into their head that they don't really have context for, but they typically need to grasp without using it before they can even figure out what kind of character they want to play. Yeah, that's not a small effort for everyone. And it isn't fun for everyone.

Not small effort + not fun = work. Does that make it understandable?