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There is a general weakness in the table-top 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

In this thread I will discuss The protective attitude of Game Masters,
Game Stores, and Game Manufacturers. Part II discussed the concept
that cheaper is better.

There is a general trend in the gaming community by game masters to
protect what they believe to be theirs. What they seek to do is to
keep and maintain areas they perceive to be theirs. What this does is
create a strong kernel of players who feel special about their gaming
group. The GM does this to protect his ability to play every weekend.
He believes that his group is all important. Thus, he strives to
maintain the core group. This has the effect of isolating them from
the larger community. When isolation occurs, the group and the GM
will believe everything is alright, ok.

However, what really occurs is a limiting of the gaming community
because they, in their perceived rigid stability, do not seek to
expand their group. The fact that they believe they have the perfect
group causes them to turn inward instead of outward. This protective
stance causes an overall calcification or static nature to occur in
their group. No new players equals same constant attitudes towards
the game. Here we see the gaming group move from a genuine deep
desire to play the game towards a more general camaraderie that
halfheartedly plays the game. When this occurs, the overall group
will tend to shift from a genuine love of playing the game to a more
genuine enjoyment of hanging out.

This slow death of the game portion of the group results directly from
the sameness that occurs over and over each time the group plays.
What the group did not understand nor the GM was the fact that new
players will result in unique or different tactics at playing. Often,
players will set-up a game and then proceed to play it and replay the
same game in the same manner with the general same results. Thus, the
excitement of playing the game must shift to an excitement of coming
together to enjoy the company of good friends.

We need to leave this type of coming together to the back-yard
barbecue or the weekend social. Gaming needs fresh views and unique
perspectives to keep it alive and interesting. The overall
protectionist attitude employed by many if not most GMs and through
them the gaming group directly results in a slow destruction of the
game itself. We often wonder why some groups seem to continually
remain viable while others seem to drift off and then dissipate. One
of the main answers comes when we analyze how GMs set the tone for
their gaming groups. When gaming groups are welcoming to all players
both old and new, the group remains viable and dynamic.

What this general trend towards stasis means to the gaming community
is two things. The first and most damaging problem is the rejection
of new players. When any new player is rejected from playing a game,
the results are a general reduction in the market sales of the gaming
products to which game stores cling. Without these new infusions of
cash, the game store struggles and eventually closes its doors. We
must remember that gamers do not continually purchase the same rule
books just to ensure that game stores stay open. In fact, as has
recently been pointed out, EVERYONE is cheap, small minded, and
childish since they keep their eye on the pocket book instead of the
larger picture. Heck, they even tell me it is impossible to spend
extra when a cheaper outlet is available. They seem to not care that
child labor is involved or that their favorite location WILL go out of
business as long as they can save a dollar or two. So, how can we
expect them to re-purchase a rule book when they already have one? We
cannot. Thus, in order to sell another rule book, we will have to
have fresh new players.

When the GM sets the tone that he has enough players, or that the
players he has should not expand, we see a general calcification of
the overall gaming community structure. GMs need to understand that
it is their responsibility to expand the player base as they are the
ones who set the tone of their gaming groups.

PART 3b)

Game stores also have a problem with their protectionist attitudes.
They seem to think that it is not their role to help other game stores
survive and prosper. However, what they fail to understand is the
fact that more game stores in their area (not necessarily right across
the street) will equal more sales for game manufacturers. Plus, they
will also see an upswing in their sales. However, it may not be
measurable as to from where these sales result. This means that the
game stores will not desire to help other stores succeed. The
protectionist attitude by game stores results, in part, in a general
lessening of sales across the board. The stores need to be in the
mind set of increasing overall sales in the area not in their stores.
This will result in a total increase of sales for the general gaming
community.

Game stores also have the reductive habit of seeking to promote
certain game types or games over others. They do this because they
too have an eye on their pocket books. When they seek to maintain
certain games by restricting an open door policy to all games, the
result is a sameness to their player base. There will be a general
trend to then label each store as a (insert game name here) game
store. The word will spread to the gaming community that players
wishing to play game X should go to game store X. The game stores
that do this do in fact protect that game type or game as a viable
game line, but at what cost?

Many different kinds of people enter these game store. They all will
have unique desires. Thus, they will want to purchase and play a
multiplicity of games. When the game store has a protectionist
attitude towards a specific game, these new potential players often
times will not see the viability of purchasing these new games. Why?
The answer lies in the way players function in the game store. The
ads promoting a game to be played in a store on day X will not
encourage players to come to the game store and play game Y. Thus,
there will be a restriction or reduction in the potential player base,
since the only visible game being played at the store is the one being
protected by the store owner. He will not see new players nor new
sales. There will only be a cycle of sameness occurring in these
types of stores.

We have all been to these types of stores. The shelves are lined with
the complete array of all of the products available for game X.
However, there is a meager showing for the rest of the many games out
there. This does not mean that the store should not carry game X nor
does it mean that the store should carry ALL of the games out there.
What this does mean is that the store should figure out a method that
brings to light other games and promotes game play in the store that
is different. This could be accomplished through stock rotation.
Distinct game play can be ensured by reservation of specific game
tables for other games or game types. Distinct game play can be
nurtured by obtaining new GMs who want to play these other games.
When there is a new game that is being attempted to be played, the
store will have to make sure that the GM (who will initially have no
players) does not feel isolated. The store owner can do this by being
friendly to these GMs who are trying to grow a player base for this
new game. Often, the efforts of new GMs will fail because they become
disheartened by the lack of activity and people with which to play.
So, to ensure that this does not happen and that the GMs will not give
up, it is the direct responsibility of the owner to make it fun for
the GMs while they are trying to grow their player base.

The protectionist attitude by game stores to protect the strongest
game ultimately results in lower sales. There will be no new players
or if there are, their sales will be limited to obtaining just enough
product to play game X. Moreover, the addition of new players will be
slow. Thus, further limiting sales. We need to see variety and fun
spreading throughout the game stores so that the many different kinds
of players will feel welcome and see these game stores as a home not a
place to slink in a purchase a game and then rapidly retreat because
the game you like is not the one accepted by the store-protected by
the store.

PART 3c Game Manufacturers

Game Manufacturers are culpable of restrictive practices. These
leaders of the community do not desire to have programs that will
increase the player base for ANY game company. All they see is an
increase in sales for themselves. This results in a general
destruction of other game manufacturers. When we have more games out
in the community, the general result is more gaming. By focusing
solely on their products without regard for other manufacturers, we
see again a stultification of the gaming community. Thus, there will
be a general trend of less money than more, of fewer players than
more, of limited amounts stores than more. They will watch, from the
ivory tower of the giant manufacturer, the total collapse of table top
gaming.

When all of these factors come together, the general trend is a slow
spiral to the end of table top gaming. However, it is not too late.
We need to help all three areas understand that open and helpful
policies are the best. This proves true because these are the kinds
of policies that expand not retract the gaming community.

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