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There is a general weakness in the gaming community. This fact needs
to be addressed and corrected. This weakness comes from several
fronts.

1) The wait and see or hope method of attracting new players to table
top gaming
2) The cheaper is better ideology
3) The protective attitude (note: this is a three fold problem)
3a) Game Masters
3b) Game Stores
3c) Game Manufacturers
4) Lack of imagination from GMs
5) Computer Gaming
6) A general non-desire to try new games

Each of these areas causes a fracture in the community. When we, as a
community, do not unite to strengthen the whole gaming community, the
end result is troublesome. We need to formulate an overall plan to
unify the community. This can be done through several fronts.

1) Forums
2) Going to schools and talking to administrators and parents alike
about the benefits of table top gaming and the destructiveness of
computer gaming (on line and at home game consoles)
3) Crafting exciting and unique events
4) Support of the branches of gaming. The branches of gaming are 1)
in game store gaming 2) gaming at game days 3) gaming at conventions
5) Attitude adjustment
6) Clean and well dressed appearance
7) Bad Breath
8) Letter writing
9) Positive attitude about all games

Each of the problems needs to be discussed individually. The first
one that I will address is the wait and see or hope method. This
method of generating new players does work. However, it only brings
in players who were thinking about entering into gaming in the first
place. Moreover, the amount of new players that this method generates
is minuscule compared to the amount that could be generated. GMs tend
to be busy and focus only on their groups. They forget, or do not
understand, that growing the gaming community is essential. The work
and effort needed to actively generate new players can be minimize.

To minimize the effort needed, GMs can network with other GMs to hold
events at game stores. These events can then be promoted through
various channels. If GMs came together to hold an event at a store
that included the outside area as well as the inside area, then
parents and kids alike would see the activity, causing a heightened
interest. These GMs need to then have several volunteers standing by
to discuss the gaming and the games that are occurring. There must be
multiple games going on. These games must include all three game
areas: Board Games, Miniatures, and Role-Play.

If all game types are present, then there will be something for
everyone. To not do so overlooks the possibility that a parent can
get attracted to one game type while the child/children may prefer
another game type. By offering all game types during these events
there is an increased chance that people will become gamers at that
venue. It seems that Role-Players do not desire to help the other two
branches prosper but only seek to stay within their realm. This is
faulty logic. Every game type must be supported by every other game
type. The worst case scenario is that non-role play people start
playing non role play games at that venue. Why should we bother with
all this effort when only board games or miniatures will garnish the
spoils of our toil? If the venue sees an increase in attendees at its
location. This will result in increased revenue for the venue.
Higher levels of profit will keep the doors open for that location.
Too often I hear of venues closing due to lack of sales. It is my
contention that all three branches are directly responsible for
ensuring sales at the venue so that it may keep the doors open.
Moreover, if there is a high level of activity at a venue, then word
of mouth will occur about it and this too will bring in new players.
Thus, initially there may be an increase in say miniatures players,
but this does not equal no role players. They will come eventually.
In conclusion, the role play community must extend its hand to the
other two game types so that all parties can work in unison to
generate new players, for whomever.

GMs who do not see the value in working with the other two branches
are directly failing to see the larger picture. Thus, they cannot,
through self limitation, generate new players. Yes there may be an
apparent initial lack of return on effort, but in the end the overall
result will be an increase in role-players as well as board gamers and
miniatures players.

So, game events and direct action at a venue through special events
need to occur. We can no longer simply wait for the players to come.
In the current climate of video games and internet distraction, we
must be the warriors on the battlefield always fighting for that new
person, old or young, to join us.

There are also other avenues that can garnish new players. I have
heard of a fellow who goes to old folks homes and retirement centers.
Here, he puts on presentations and gives discussions to the elderly
about role-playing, the benefits of role-playing, and the camaraderie
and enjoyment that occurs through role-playing. Once the impediment
of resistance is overcome by him and his group, they set out in
earnest to bring these elderly to the gaming table. It is my direct
opinion that we too often do a disservice to our elderly by not
including them into our community. They too can be role-players and
reap the rewards of doing so. A plan of action needs to be formulated
so that GMs, who are unfamiliar with the elderly and how to approach
them and the institutions where they live, they too can be included in
table top gaming.

Other avenues also come to mind. There are gun shows where men who
love all things military go. These people can become table top
gamers. We need to go to them and discuss the aspects of gaming that
match their likes and desires. Many rpgs, board games, and miniatures
games revolve around all things military. Twilight 2000 and 2033,
SPI, initially come to mind as war rpgs. If we set up a group of
demonstrators and gamers at gun shows who actively recruit these
military like people then our community grows. Thus, we all benefit.
There is no reason to exclude these individuals. They have value and
the community needs to see it.

Only by extending ourselves into these untapped areas will we begin to
be able to not only compete with the forces that lessen our numbers,
but we will in fact be able to overcome them. Growth from all areas
of society needs to be sought out and utilized. We for far too long
have taken the wait and hope methodology to generating new players for
table top gaming. This can only be rectified if we open our minds and
begin seen all people as valuable members of the table top gaming
community. Reductive thinking leads to less numbers and a general
weakness that makes us struggle. Illustration of the benefits to
table top gaming will bring in new players, both old and young. They
are the shining hope. The one to which we have not looked and should
have. GMs need to be informed of ideas that will help them see these
areas, and they need help and guidance in tapping them.

In my next post, I will address the cheaper is better ideology

Written by Bob Scranton

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