Getting new people into the role playing hobby

[alsih2o]

have you ever noticed how many roleplayers seem embarassed to admit it, heck we get threads here all the time aboout people who hide their books and deny their hobby.

the "just say no" people would love to stigmatize drug use amongst users as much as rpers feel stigmatized, game proud, or game for a short while longer

 

[caudor]

I think there are plenty of new, young players; however, I don't think they are as clearly 'defined' and as easily 'identified' as the older generation.

I had the opportunity to chat with a group of gamers from my son's High School. While they refer to themselves as 'gamers', the actual meaning of the term seems to be broader in scope than what many old-timers would consider it to be.

For example, games like Neverwinter Nights (and other computer/video games), CCGs, etc. consume a portion of the player's time. They DO often play D&D, but the game timeshares with other activities as well. Therefore, while these people do call themselves gamers, they do not identified themselves exclusively with table-top RPGs.

The term gamer itself seems to be changing/evolving.

 

[Henry]

The only problem with what you're seeing, Earthshadow, is that Ryan's comments and predictions are almost ALWAYS based on sales figures. Even if not in WotC, he still has inside contacts who tell him the current state of sales - according to his resources, the core books sold in excess of 100,000 units last year. So there are gamers picking up the hobby, and I can't believe that all those sales are replacements of lost books.

In the past, Ryan has been dead on with his predictions and assumptions, and we saw the results of some of his plans and policies from 1999 released clearly into 2002 - many different licensed properties, new products, etc. - and the D&D side of sales throughout that period according to Keith Strohm, and all the way to Anthony Valterra have been quite strong. Most cuts we due to the faltering of Card Game sales. The only reason I don't doubt Ryan Dancey's word here is that, being in OrganizedPlay, he has little to do with new book sales anymore, and he is geared more toward the business of events where existing players play.

While I don't doubt the hobby ALWAYS needs new blood, assuming that the hobby is dying when sales figures indicate new sales growing is not looking at the full picture in my opinion. If there's one thing I've learned from watching these boards for years, it is not to assume that the default conditions of my area hold true for the rest of the gaming community.

 

[TalonComics]

In my little corner of the RPG world I can tell you flat out we're getting new people into gaming.

Are they kids? Some, but most are in their late teens to early twenties. Kids, I've found, are too preoccupied with video games to pick up a game that involves reading and imagination. Video games give you everything straight up and are constantly striving to bring better quality graphics to compensate having to imagine.

You want to know how I bring in new gamers? Demos and gaming at the store. RPGA alone is bringing in new players almost like clockwork. WotC needs to push RPGA like they've never pushed it before and probably haven't since the late 80's and early 90's. RPGA is free to play and join.

I have tons of ideas on how to bring in new players to gaming. The problem being is they involve money. They're not insane ideas and they're not outragiously expensive ideas but money is still involved. The biggest one off the top of my head is this:

* Different ads for different audiences - Want to see more women trying out gaming? Place ads in magazines geared towards teen girls and women. Offer demos run by women DMs for women players.
Along the same idea, place ads in video game magazines. Most of those have a much higher circulation than comics nowadays.

I love gaming and I want to see it thrive. While I think bring in kids to RPGs is a great idea I don't understand why trying to introduce it to adults isn't just as important. It's not like adults suddenly don't need recreation either. Granted most of us are pretty busy but there's still time to game and many will make time if they know they're getting into a good game.

~Derek

 

[s/LaSH]

I said it over at RPGnet, but I'll say it here too. Get a cartoon! It worked for Pokemon, it worked for Yugioh, they're both CCGs - but Pokemon isn't so hot any more, and Magic's been going twice as long, I'd anticipate due in part to follow-through from entry-level products. Blurgle. Did my point get through?

An entry level product is important. But a cartoon makes people want to go out and get that product. Call me cheap, but RPGs lend themselves to better stories than the aforementioned toons, right? We should have nothing to fear from cartoons.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I just told people about it, and invited them to play. It worked wonders...a group of 75-90% new people.

Ads in videogame magazines will probably work wonders (D&D + Video Games already works pretty well). I'm not so sure about stereotypical 'women's' mags...I can't really see Krusk standing admist the pages of Cosmo or Seventeen, really (though it would be hilarious).

A cartoon would be sweet as cool. Get some of the Neo-Anime style animators (the new He Man or Transformers or Justice Leagure or whatever....)......it would definately work, I think.

Heck, a good chunk of Anime is D&D with wierd hair anyway. ^_^; Go for it!

 

[maddman75]

I'd love to see the RPGA, or someone, do something for gamers in small towns. I think there's a vast untapped market for gamers in smaller rural communities.

Mainly because there's little to do here. There's movie theatres and bars, but that isn't everyone's cup of tea. And most parents are just glad that their kids aren't getting drunk and/or pregnant. Kids in small towns need something to do.

Me and my friends stayed out of a LOT of trouble because we gamed. Gaming is also cheap, comparatively. Once you have the books, all you pay for is paper, pencils, and pizza.

But there's no way to find other gamers really - no FLGS around here, no stores running games. Most people don't even know about it. I'd love to see the RPGA have a way to get ahold of other members since they have the largest database - private messages of course to ensure privacy.

 

[Seonaid]

Date/marry/sleep with a non-gamer.

Seriously, setting up some sort of free gaming thing would be good. It's daunting not only to *read* the rulebooks but also to pay for them. And by "free gaming thing" I don't mean a one-time, "roll this one now" deal. In order for there to be a true hook, it's gotta be at least one rules session and one "let's try this thing out" session. Of course, they could be rolled into one, but some people might not have the time or patience for it.

Free material, perhaps, but not so much. Having someone really knowledgeable, really approachable, and really nice teach would be much more useful.

 

[ArielManx]

I'd love to see the RPGA, or someone, do something for gamers in small towns. I think there's a vast untapped market for gamers in smaller rural communities.

Mainly because there's little to do here. There's movie theatres and bars, but that isn't everyone's cup of tea. And most parents are just glad that their kids aren't getting drunk and/or pregnant. Kids in small towns need something to do.

Me and my friends stayed out of a LOT of trouble because we gamed. Gaming is also cheap, comparatively. Once you have the books, all you pay for is paper, pencils, and pizza.

But there's no way to find other gamers really - no FLGS around here, no stores running games. Most people don't even know about it. I'd love to see the RPGA have a way to get ahold of other members since they have the largest database - private messages of course to ensure privacy.

Very well said! We live in a small town as well (though it's a city compared to my hometown, but that's a different story) and it would be nice if RPGA or somebody would lend a helping hand. As far as I know we are the only gaming group in town, unless there are some at the 2-year college, and since we play mature campaigns (I suppose our primary campaign would be R-rated) we aren't going to play with kids. When we put signs up around town looking for players three years ago we did have interest from a 16-year-old, but we had already decided adults only and it said as much on our signs. I hope the poor kid found someone to game with...

Small towns are really a great untapped resource for gamers. Speaking from experience, I'd heard of D&D but simply had no opportunity to learn to play until I met my husband. The two other players in our gaming group had similar situations. Now you can't get any of us away from the gaming table.

Ariel

 

[TalonComics]

Date/marry/sleep with a non-gamer.

Seriously, setting up some sort of free gaming thing would be good. It's daunting not only to *read* the rulebooks but also to pay for them. And by "free gaming thing" I don't mean a one-time, "roll this one now" deal. In order for there to be a true hook, it's gotta be at least one rules session and one "let's try this thing out" session. Of course, they could be rolled into one, but some people might not have the time or patience for it.

Free material, perhaps, but not so much. Having someone really knowledgeable, really approachable, and really nice teach would be much more useful.

That's one of the ideas I wanted to do at the store was an "Intro to D&D" day where new players could put together a character and then learn the basics with like a 1 hour module. Then, once they've gone through that they could move onto RPGA events and then their own games.
~D