Know how to support your favorite game creator? Great! But be careful not to overdo it.
Superfans are everywhere these days, fueling the rise of fan-created spaces both online and in-person. But for every awesome fan-based community, there's tales of toxic fandom ruining it for everybody. Many of these fans are well-intentioned, passionate defenders of the objects of their adoration, but things go off the rails when non-fans or even community members who simply have different points of view enter the fan space. Here's some guidelines on how to engage.
But failing that, video streams and let's play videos are an easy way for future fans to learn about the game. Start there first, and then fans will follow to online gaming and, if circumstances permit, in-person gaming. Not every gaming format is for everyone though; some may like to watch how a game is played, others may want to read a quickstart, and still others may simply want to play in-person. The more you can flex to this range of interest, the more successful you'll be in welcoming new fans.
Although it may not seem like it on the Internet, people are complex and can like multiple games, appreciate different play styles, or otherwise aren't all they appear from a single opinion online. Remembering that goes a long way to creating a welcoming community.
Your Turn: How do you share your support of a game designer's work in a positive way?
Superfans are everywhere these days, fueling the rise of fan-created spaces both online and in-person. But for every awesome fan-based community, there's tales of toxic fandom ruining it for everybody. Many of these fans are well-intentioned, passionate defenders of the objects of their adoration, but things go off the rails when non-fans or even community members who simply have different points of view enter the fan space. Here's some guidelines on how to engage.
Write Reviews ... But Keep it Positive
It's one thing to write a review in support of your favorite creator, it's another to put down anyone who doesn't like the product. This happens a lot with editions of games, with fans denigrating other fans of previous (or more recent) editions. Try to explain why a product is good instead of bolstering it by putting down another product.Share Your Love ... But Not Too Much
It's one thing to show your support on social media. It's another to spam someone else's social media about the product. Be respectful of the community's rules when you're sharing your love of a product and remember not to post too often. If a bunch of community members suddenly make an account to boost a product, that's going to raise some eyebrows.Welcome New Fans ... But Don't Bully Them
Fans come from all walks of life to a game. Not all of them are fully versed in how the game works. This is how you get new gamers and (hopefully) lifelong fans. Those fans may ask questions that seem foolish to you, but are perfectly sensible to them. When a new player asks a question about converting their favorite genre to a game, responding with "you should play the game I like" or "don't do this with this game" is not going to convince them. Better to lead by example ("here's how the game I like handles it") and point to a freely available quickstart or actual play.Show If You Can, Tell If You Can't
Because game communities are communities of potential fellow players, it's even more important to remember that if you want someone to play with, the best way to create a lifelong fan is to play the game with them. This is far more feasible online than it once was, thanks to Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds.But failing that, video streams and let's play videos are an easy way for future fans to learn about the game. Start there first, and then fans will follow to online gaming and, if circumstances permit, in-person gaming. Not every gaming format is for everyone though; some may like to watch how a game is played, others may want to read a quickstart, and still others may simply want to play in-person. The more you can flex to this range of interest, the more successful you'll be in welcoming new fans.
Although it may not seem like it on the Internet, people are complex and can like multiple games, appreciate different play styles, or otherwise aren't all they appear from a single opinion online. Remembering that goes a long way to creating a welcoming community.
Your Turn: How do you share your support of a game designer's work in a positive way?
