Roundtable Discussion: New Player Acquisition Strategy

[Meeki]

A number of good ideas here.

As far as "DM training" goes, would people be interested in something like a DM's Workshop? Not a typical Con where people go, game, listen to a speaker talk, visit the dealer's room, etc. I mean something like where everyone spends time learning and using tips and tricks of being a good DM. Not a series of lectures, but something where where everyone was divided into game-group size groups and worked with them all half-week/weekend and learned different advertising ideas, how to resolve player-vs-player/player-vs-dm conflicts by roleplaying those types of conflicts, handling players that know the rules/setting better then the dm and so on.

I would be interested, especially with the inception of 4E on the horizon. We need a catchy name though. DM's Consortium, something like that.

 

[Rechan]

I just used Meetup.com to land 3 people.

I then went to Craigslist, made a post about looking for a 4th, and got several replies. I am in the process of weeding out the several people.

The biggest stumbling block to gaming, IMHO, is scheduling issues. People have just... LIVES. Jobs and other obligations that get in the way of getting 5+ people together at one time for several hours.

 

[Dragon Snack]

It's not that I'm was suggesting forcing a style of DM'ing on someone and claiming it "good". There are, however, core abilities that all DM's must possess to be a successful DM. Few of these are knowledge of the rules, ability to communicate the DM's ideas, story clearly and communicate with the players successfully, and fairness as far as treatment of the PC's go (not in the sense that the adventure be fair to the PC's but that all the PC's be treated with some sense of equality).

There is no need to go into rollplay vs roleplay or high fantasy vs low or anything of that nature. There are fundamentals that could be developed that all DM's should possess and in this idea lies the training of DM's.

My comments about "DM training" had nothing to do with the 'roleplay vs. rollplay' debate (note I said "ignoring it"). Knowledge of the rules may be a basic assumption to be a DM, but I've seen groups that just didn't care if they were following the rules as long as they were having fun (more power to them). Trying to teach communication and interpersonal skills, not to mention conflict resolution, is it's own industry.

Lets not focus on the past (and not just because its easy to blame a faceless corporation). Lets instead focus on the now and the future. A new edition of D&D is coming out soon. Now is the perfect time to launch of a new player strategy, whether you are for the new edition or not. A rising tide raises all ships. Increased interest in D&D would serve to benefit every other game out there, even if it mostly helps D&D.

As such, I am openly asking for anyone from Wizards of the Coast (esp those familiar with their marketting strategy) or any other RPG company to join this conversation. We, the gamers, are a resource that can be utilized, and we can work together for the gaming good.

Well, you were the one that quoted it (and bolded it), I was commenting on the quote.

What you seem to be asking for here is already being done. WotC does "utilize" gamers, they call it the Delegate program. The Delegates demo WotC products and a bunch of other companies have their own groups that demo their games and products. I've done demo work for other companies. I'm not sure how well it works as a long term strategy (although it can), but I've witnessed first hand that it is successful short term.

WotC's Delegates (around here) seem to push DDM and SWM, not so much D&D. The "Dragon Fights" that WotC had at Gen Con 2 years ago were downright awful (and the "DMs" played fast and loose with the rules). The fact is, they DO need to do a better job.

 

[dmccoy1693]

I was thinking about this last night and I had a few ideas, what does everyone think?

Convention talks/Dragon articles/etc entitled:
-How to Talk to Your Non-Gaming Friends About Gaming (And Not Sound Like a Dork)
-Making Your Gaming-Curious Friends Welcome at the Table
*I had others, I'm blanking at the moment*

Low Cost Accessories (cheaper then T-shirts) like:
-Bracelets that say WWTD (What Would Thor Do)
-Necklace accessories (similar to a religious symbol on a necklace) except a dragon or sword or something similar.

 

[dmccoy1693]

Well, you were the one that quoted it (and bolded it), I was commenting on the quote.

Yes, I did. But I make sure it was clear the focus of my post and this discussion should be, "What do we go from here?" not "Who is to blame for sins past?"

What you seem to be asking for here is already being done. WotC does "utilize" gamers, they call it the Delegate program. The Delegates demo WotC products and a bunch of other companies have their own groups that demo their games and products. I've done demo work for other companies. I'm not sure how well it works as a long term strategy (although it can), but I've witnessed first hand that it is successful short term.

The problem with relying on "Delegates" or DMs or other is this: It passes the buck onto someone else. Every single gamer is capable of talking about gaming. By saying, "Oh the DM can handle it. Its the DMs job," we ignore the fact that everyone else at the table has a mouth and is capable of getting their friends intereseted. DMs tend to be busy people. Every player could talk to their friends.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

In the course of about 15-18 months I've given inaugural sessions of D&D to over a dozen junior high school kids at a local library. At least a half-dozen have become regular gamers. Two became DMs (in order to replace me when I left, because I was switched to the night shift).

The local library stocks gaming books, thanks goodness, and I used my own money to jump-start my proto-DMs by letting them by books off of me or through me (they're too young to buy cheaper books off the internet, so I did it and had them pay me back).

Having the library open a large room with many tables and chairs for gamers' use was pure genius. The local gaming store has much of the same options, but people don't go to a gaming store unless they're looking for a game. Having posters up at the library for a regular weekly gaming session was intrumental in getting some of those kids to give D&D a try. Also a library has a slightly more wholesome reputation and atmosphere than some gaming stores, and you don't tend to find as many... complete gaming freaks that might scare off the parents. You know what I mean; all hobbies have them.

I know not as many people go to the library nowadays (the internet, so wonderful in many ways, has had a crimping effect on many things), but that is one big ol' avenue that works wonders.

 

[Whisper72]

Well... one thing that prolly didn't help grow the hobby when looking at it from a 'training new DM's' perspective is that there were tons and tons of books with additional player options, kits, splatbooks etc. under ADND 2E and DnD 3.X, but very few really helpful books purely from a DM perspective. Sure, I understand the economic thought that there are more players then DM's, but from many discussions here on the boards it is clear that the DM's are the ones (in general) who are buying stuff.

So, what to do?

More emphasis on starter kits / basic game boxes etc., with a lot of DM aids, pre-prepped handouts, DM advice etc. etc.

In general, more emphasis on how to manage the game, and keep it manageable at all levels of play.

Make the game, also in future expansions, EASIER to DM rather than explode the options and rules such that it becomes all the more HARDER to DM...

Just some random thoughts...

 

[Meeki]

My comments about "DM training" had nothing to do with the 'roleplay vs. rollplay' debate (note I said "ignoring it"). Knowledge of the rules may be a basic assumption to be a DM, but I've seen groups that just didn't care if they were following the rules as long as they were having fun (more power to them). Trying to teach communication and interpersonal skills, not to mention conflict resolution, is it's own industry.

And I never said your comments had to do anything with roleplay vs rollplay. I was merely stating that the style of gaming does not necessarily have to be included in any sort of core skills a DM must possess, it wasn't directed at your comment. Communication and interpersonal skills are its own industry that costs money, the point is to have a place for DM's and potential DM's to go to learn how each other do it and gain the core skills needed to DM. If a group doesn't mind if the rules slack then that's fine, however the DM still needs to know how the rules work so he can turn actions into rolls if necessary and keep rules continuity in his "fiat'ing".

If you don't feel having a place for DM's to go is feasible, that is your own opinion; however based upon your posts I feel that you are trying to hamper this effort for no reason what so ever.

 

[Rechan]

Thor Do)[/url]
-Necklace accessories (similar to a religious symbol on a necklace) except a dragon or sword or something similar.

Dice.

 

[Meeki]

Well... one thing that prolly didn't help grow the hobby when looking at it from a 'training new DM's' perspective is that there were tons and tons of books with additional player options, kits, splatbooks etc. ...

In general, more emphasis on how to manage the game, and keep it manageable at all levels of play.

Make the game, also in future expansions, EASIER to DM rather than explode the options and rules such that it becomes all the more HARDER to DM...

I agree, DM'ing should be easier. Making DM'ing easier could be a goal for this "pseudo-organization" that is being pondered. I also think that helping DM's learn the mechanics behind the game so they can develop their own extra material as oppossed to buying a new book would be beneficial. I know this requires a certain level of creativity and can be a time sink to learn the mechanics but all in all D20 is fairly simple and the DM's players can help toss in ideas and what not.

DMmcoy those would be useful topics to discuss. Maybe we can have a thread about that topic first and then something more formally written can be developed; so everyone can toss in their ideas and what not?