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Message: <blockquote data-quote="WillieW" data-source="post: 178038" data-attributes="member: 4299">~Clears throat~On the subject of teaching new players the rules, although it might seem a bit daunting to some to introduce a female gamer to the playing group, the process is actually quite straightforward.  Many of the contributors to this thread have already mentioned some excellent suggestions as to how to proceed.  Firstly, the rulebooks are best left as mysterious things the other players and the DM refer to quite often.  The new player will have enough to deal with in trying to make a tax return on that thing we call a character sheet.  Have one of the other players cooperate in *assisting* (not taking over) the new character.  This way the DM will only have half the responsibility and distraction of introducing the new player.  Roleplaying can be very difficult for a novice, so try to present the "facts" of the game in terms of "what you see".  Ask for a couple of possible options, then ask the player to choose which one (s)he'll actually try.  Normally, experienced players will trundle through the possibilities in a second or two, but actually asking the newbie what (s)he thinks might be one of several solutions that will get the brain muscle working.  If this poses a problem, other players can be encouraged to suggest a few actions.  DON'T let the whole group make a grab for the character sheet -- it's intimidating and it can make the new player feel like (s)he is being humiliated for lack of knowledge.  Eventually the player WILL want to borrow a copy of the Player's Handbook, and you should have a spare to hand for when this happens.  If you're initially uncomfortable in the presense of a player of the opposite sex, this will disappear in time.  As another contributor said (to paraphrase) she'll soon be "one of the lads".By the way, it would be good to read exactly how the unwitting target of our collective leers gets on in the actual game.[Hong!  You scoundrel!  Leave that alone!]</blockquote>

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