[TOOLS] How to introduce new folks to Roleplaying Games
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- čas přidán 24. 03. 2024
- What is the best way to introduce folks to TTRPGs? How do you do it? This is what I have found to be my own experience, and the experience of others. How do you do it?
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I’m actually inventing/writing a system that is JUST for people’s first time playing a RPG, with mission statements that by 3 sessions/levels they would know for sure if they do or don’t like RPGs and if they do, what type they should play based on what they liked from my system.
that is interesting! did you already playtest the system?
@@steffanosdot6687 still finishing actually… looking forward to playtesting it… both with ttrpg veterans (who the game is not intended for at all) for their input on encounter building/balancing.. and of course with newbs … but really want to dial it it before steering anyone the wrong way, or worse.
ive actually been working on a starter ttrpg myself. looks like your approach is quite different (probably better) but im intrigued now. is there somewhere we can follow for more information when the time comes?
Great video. I enjoy Most of the White Wolf: World of Darkness stuff for urban fantasy. Specifically VtM and WtA 2e.
If Urban Fantasy is not for the players, an even more "realistic" scenario is Doomsday, leading into a Post Apocalyptic setting. Have the players enjoy the tail end of a regular day as regular people in the city they know - and suddenly it becomes the longest night in the character's lives.
I did that recently using Cypher System & the Rust n Redemption extension. This extension contains a scenario where people start in a regular evening, and suddenly everything turns sideways. I transplanted the scenario to our city, and the players loved it. (And, yes, a heads up explanation of the overall theme is useful.)
A variant of this is a Zombie apocalypse. Also kind of a doomsday, yet with a different pitch (Also found in Cypher System, this time in the horror expansion "Stay Alive".)
Funny you should be discussing this today. This works the other way too. we just started playing a superhero setting and we all had to change gears. Most of us have been primarily playing medieval fantasy. One of the players had their character looting dead foes... We all had to remind them that this is a modern game.
I took this approach with co-workers while playing Shadowrun (a rules light version). Still one of the best games I've run. Non-jaded players are great... :)
Monster of the Week is a great urban fantasy choice because it's built around emulating TV shows new players are likely familiar with and the PbtA rules are fairly light and narrative-focused.
Great video! I have actually never thought about the barriers to entry to roleplaying in a fantasy space like that. I've learned something!
Just want to say this is easily one of my favorite DND channels! Keep these vids coming !
I am slighly disappointed that White Wolf's IPs got missed in the urban fantasy setting examples 😢
Yeah they got dissed so hard considering they are the quintessential urban fantasy setting lol
Always helpful!
Dresden File rpg is a decent urban fantasy setting.
I love Urban fantasy settings and i agree theyre generally much more approachable to newbies. Even when they have complex lore, its all dressing for the real world
Heres a few notables that were left out:
WoD IPs:
Mage: the ascension
Hunter: the Reckoning(I highly recommend the current edition, hunter 5(though its technically hunter 2e))
Vampire: the Masquerade
Werewolf: the apocalypse(New edition is more approachable from a lore perspective bc theres less accudental racism and unnecessarily messed up stuff that plagued many 90s games)
Changeling: the dreaming(can sell them on it with Wolf among us, which would be so easy to convert into a chronicle. Despite being batshit insane, its probably one of the better games to grab newbies with
Chronicles of darkness too, they succeeded wod after old wod died around 2004 before the revival by paradox.
Vampire: the requiem, mage the awakening, promethean: the created, Deviant: the renegades(a good dark superhero setting)
(Just dont use Beast, that was a pretty egregious mistep for the IP)
Theres also:
Cyberpunk Red(operates on a lot of the same assumptions and mechanics as cyberpunk 2077, while being Urban science fantasy.)
Also Cyberpunk 2020 or Cybergenerations if your gaming friends are older and could use some 80s or 90s nostalgia respectfully.
Also shadowrun, Which seems to have been a primary inspiration for Contract, following the same premise but with a cyberpunk aesthetic.
Theres also City of Mist, which i cannot recommend more highly. It has a really cool dual identity system where half of your character is a normal person, the logos, and the other half is literally any fictional character from cthulhu, to achilles, Odin, Bast, to Geralt of Rivia, to Daffy the Duck called the Mythos. And youre often pulled back and forth between the two often conflicting identities.
And thats just a few. Theres Kult, monsterheart(for those who grew up on Jennifers body and teen wolf), Scion(love it, very similar conceptually to city of mist but with more direction), Fight!2e(converts fighting games into a tabletop rpg experience), Coyote and crow(a game where colonization of the Americas never happened and also theres spirits and magic), Cy_Borg(if cyberpunk wasnt edgy, stylistic, and kickass enough for you), and many more.
Looking forward to getting your book Guy! Thank you for your hard work.
Totally off topic, but your hair looks great today!
I love ALL How to be a Great GM videos!!!! ❤
It's a very interesting proposition, and it's a good approach to use urban fantasy as a point of contrast. I tend to use that method, even more so now that I'm designing my own hybrid sci-fi/fantasy themed game/system. It allows me to give them something that they have some familiarity with, and after that I show them the most alien and magical things in the world. Although I think it would be good to mention that taking one or two sessions to explain and show some of the mechanics and how they can help them interact with the world, with a couple of examples and puzzles no so hard also helps.
When taking on new players I tell them that it is like a play, but you get to pick your character and their lines. I ask them often what would your character do? I don't prod shy player's but I do try to present them with opportunities to try to rp. I like giving the shy players information that may prompt them to speak up in character and moves the storyline along as well.
The book looks beautiful. Any chance of a video on how your achieve such a professional appearance? Are there some templates that you use?
awesome idea! I did do this with Harry Potter some friends ✌️😸
What are good rules light games that would be very easy to run an Urban Fantasy campaign in? I'm interested in using something like this for my EFL students.
For a simple one shot system check out Shoes in the Dark
Great point.... while playing with my 9yo nephew explaining/presenting a (friendly) Dwarf was very difficult 😅... wish I had this video before.. 😂
I played my first game with a new dm. he read verbatim from the dm manual. my advice: if a new gamer clams up…do NOT EVARRRRR put them on the spot in front of everyone and demand a character backstory. Also don’t read straight from the manual. all the question suggestions for a clammed up new player aren’t meant to be read in succession too folks. one will suffice. BABY STEPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don’t push them off the ledge, take baby steps up to the precipice of role playing with strangers ✌️
Huh, never thought about Urban Fantasy under that aspect... World of Darkness/Chronicles of Darkness is a game line which I think you didn't mention as a possible setting for Urban Fantasy, especially if you approach it more light-heartedly. Personally, I would rather go with Chronicles, since it appears "canonically more flexible" and less overweight with background. Also, you can way easier play as normal humans in that game line. But I think Mage: The Awakening and Deviant: The Renegades would be good splats for beginners, possibly Hunter: The Vigil, too, but I haven't really read myself into that one, yet.
I am a big fan of urban fantasy as a setting and have been making this argument for a while I'm glad to hear I'm not alone in it.
For have systems I'm always a fan I'd Chronicles of darkness and Scion. Though for something very newbie friendly I am a fan of kids on bikes.
My group wants to run a one shot of heroes in an arena n fight each other!! I am so down for it!
I'd suggest these modern setting rpgs Tales in the Loop RPG, Into the Odd, Liminal, The Electric State, Delta Green, Rivers of London
BTW you cannot see the GG Bridge from a SF hill 😉
Chronicles of Darkness, especially Vampire the Requiem 2e.
Hey. Can you advise on how to check a type of player before inviting them to the table, please?
Try out Kult. It's fantastic and very fluid.
Spy may be a better starting point
I agree. Plain and simple is the best for the non-magic folk 😂
Marvel own ttrpg
1980 TSR Top Secret modern ttrpg playing as spies
World of darkness: hunter the reckoning
The walking dead from free League
Abberant
Twilight 2000
I think one is going too complex here. It starts with what do players have interest in. Urban fantasy makes assumptions that players want to play Harry Potter. It also can be more difficult. Magic common? Well London will look more like Daigon Alley.
New players are some of the easiest because there is no meta knowledge. You can set the stage. None of that 'But the book says orcs are supposed to be'
New players can offer some of the most freedom there is. Things are simple and direct... Unless you get one who before it starts reads all the books, hits all the websites and believes you need fifty pages of backstory...
Urban fantasy
Modern AGE
Dreaming Cities
Lankhmar
Urban Shadows
Ptolus
Vampire The Masquerade
Changeling The Dreaming
Cthulhu Dark
Nights Blacj Agents
Kult
Cultos Innombrables
Unknown Armies
As if we need more people in the hobby? Sigh, i remember times when it was exclusive, not inclusive, like proper art.