As gaming grows as a hobby and an industry, one of the things keeping it alive is the infusion of new blood. New gamers become our best friends and loved ones; some of them are also the future designers, artists, podcasters and publishers we’ll often grow to cherish. So, when a friend or relative new to games says they’d love to learn, these are five starter tips that will hopefully lead to countless nights of gaming.
Consider Their Tastes
If someone’s stone cold new to gaming, keep their tastes in mind. Their preferred books, movies, or other kinds of games can be a great starting point to match them to a game. If you have a friend who is a diehard fan of action flicks and says they want a game just like their favorite movies, you can guide them towards systems that are geared for action. Always check to make sure they want to follow their usual tastes—people will often surprise you by stating they want to pursue something new.
Don’t Trash on Other Games
It’s a damn hard line to walk, but don’t trash games to new players. There’s a world of difference between telling someone “it’s very heavy on mechanics” and “you could pay me to remove my own pancreas before I’d play that game.” You may have had a negative experience with a type of game, but that may be the future go-to favorite for that new gamer. People will often trust the taste and opinions of their friends, but new—ideally all gamers—should explore games and find what works for them. In a perfect world, that exploration never stops. If you shut down a gamer new or old, about a game they think sounds interesting, you’re not necessarily doing them a favor.
31 Flavors and Counting
If someone wants to be a gaming omnivore, devouring RPGs, card games, board games and everything else available, help them find ways to experiment with everything gaming has to offer. Not everyone has an Endgame (hi Oakland!), but there are amazing game stores across the States (as well as other countries) that host events, allow booking space to play games, and can provide an additional hub for gaming experiences. Consider loaning folks games and pointing out reliable retailers to buy their own copies from.
Internet Dreams
If they’re keen on social media, a new gamer’s access to the community can go global in the time it takes to set up a Twitter account. There’s also G+, Facebook and a dizzying array of podcasts, forums and blogs out there in various languages, which can create a “drinking from the fire-hose” sensation. The best thing you can do once you get them plugged in is to point out some social media accounts they may dig, step back, and let them explore the online community on their own.
Pack Those Bags
If they can afford a trip to a local con, or one away from home, encourage them to try one out. There are shows known for their games content (Origins, GenCon, PAX), but numerous regional cons will have their own games track, officially or not. There’s a lot of crossover between the writing populations of fiction and role-playing games, so where there’s a genre fiction conference, there may be an unofficial gaming track going on in the bar. And in 2012, many of the designers you find in the bar play Cards Against Humanity while they’re there.
Want to share a story about the folks who got you into gaming? Had a great time with friends at your first games convention? You can share those in the comments!
About l
Thank you for “Don’t trash on other games.” That’s time a person could be using to build a new gamer’s passion for the hobby in general or to get him or her excited about the specific game being introduced. And these sorts of rants usually end up saying a lot more about the hater than their target. Life is way too short, and the horizons of discovery way too broad, to burn precious time being negative.
Also: A belated but heartfelt “hell yeah!” to our esteemed hostess for the spiffy new blog design and header!
I’m all in favour of getting new blood into a gaming group, as not doing so was almost the death my local games society (for details, click away, and read up on why you should always be on the lookout for new gamers. http://shortymonster.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/looking-for-a-gaming-group/ ). I would add a wee caveat onto this though, and it’s about making sure that [i]everyone[/] has a good time around the table.
Not all gamers are going to gel. Some people have different playing styles, drastically different on some occasion. That doesn’t mean that everyone else at the table has to change their style to accomodate, or that the new player should be made to feel that their way of doing it is wrong. instead try to find a happy balance, or if that fails, suggest other groups you may know.
I know it might seem a little dickish, but if there are people you know who game that might be a better fit, send them to meet up. Don’t think of it as getting rid of a gamer who doesn’t mesh well, but finding a better home for someone who wouldn’t have fun in their current place.