I'm in the process of coming up with add to get more gamers into the historical wargaming. So far its just Ray and I playing WW2 stuff and would like to get more and there are wargamers here, but for GW and Warmachine. What I would like is for it to be inviting and sound like it's fun but am having a hard time trying to word it.
So, if there are others out there that have done the same thing, you got any pointers?
Any help would be appreciated
Doug
A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.
Bruce Lee
Give them your enthusiasm!
Naa seriously, that's the best thing you can give them.
Personally I never had too much trouble getting people into a game (but whether they like it, is of course up to them). I would say: lay out a nice board for a somewhat standard game. Get them right into the action and don't bother too much with detailed rules.
If you already got a friend as an oponent: setup a multiplayer game (2 teams). You two expienced guys are giving hints and tips and tell your 'student' what can and cannot be done (rules) while they play the game. So they play the game (not you two) and have an advisor next to them to help 'm with both the rules and tactics.
Gompel's approach works really well. Another is if you know of 2 newbies wanting to try a game, let them play each other and you be the umpire. Just ask them what they want to do, and you tell them how to do it (for that turn) and manage the rules for them. Basically let them make the decisions without bothering them with the mechanics.
As to how to attract them, maybe set up a scenario and advertise for the commanders; describe them by personality as well as by task (aggressive task force commander to lead an assault on hill X, or cunning and stubborn commander who will defend his ground at all costs...) you get the idea.
At my former gaming club I run a couple of easy scenarios, tank battles with some funny and fast recon vehicle to run around, while the tanks waited to manouver and come in to contact.
I got also involved a friend who never gamed before. In this case I gave him a slighty powerful force, so he could easily win, while Me with a weaker force had a funny game trying to survive the horde that attacked me.
In these cases I kept simple the board. A couple of hills, a couple of woods, roads criss crsossing to every direction. No rivers. And more importantly clear objctives: destroy the supply camp or the trucks convoy, capture the city, etc. The elimination of the vehicles per se shouldn't be of any concern, so the newcomer doesn't bother of loosing pieces and focuses on the game and on the fun.
bye!
Ars & Mars
Military vehicles are beautiful because they are built from functional designs which make them real, solid, without artifice. The short timers
Erst wägen, dann wagen (first consider, then risk) von Moltke the Elder
If this is at a hobby shop or a convention where people can walk by then just set the game up and go. Play the game you and your friend want to play.
A buddy of mine and I ran a micro armor game at a recent convention. No players had signed up. It was my buddy’s rule set and not too many people knew of micro armor. The minute we laid out the terrain we had caught people's attention. Then the GHQ building came out and more attention. By the time the armor was laid out and we set up a Soviet and American flags on the table (ok a little theatrics) we had 6 players 3 or 4 full time spectators and I don’t know how many people “passing by†on a regular basis.
Last year my roommate and I went to a hobby shop with 6mm Napoleonic’s and grabbed a table. The game that day was FOW and war hammer and in 30 min we had 2 older player decide to forego the FOW game a get back in touch with their first love Napoleonic’s. In addition we had 12 to 14 by standers and the FOW crowd was definitely distracted.
Keep the scenario simple like the other posters have suggested. Be ready to step back and be umpires. Above all be approachable and friendly. The rest will take care of its self. I bet you pick up a couple of people with each outing.
I’ve done this with Micro Armor, Seekrieg , Napoleonic’s, and medieval games. If everyone is having fun and relaxed your table will become a people magnet.
Good Hunting
I pray for Peace on Earth Good will toward men. Till then one round HE fire for Effect!
I'm in agreement with the others. Setup the games, make them pretty easy starting out, and the people will come.
If you know there are going to be a lot of players for non-historical games somewhere that's a good place to play. My group runs demos at toy soldier shows where you get collectors but not gamers. You would be suprised at how much interest we get.
And for non-gamers, describe it as a giant board game....
Awesome stuff so far guys.
Now I just need to figure out where to start at as well as make the battlefield. One thing I remember talking to the store manager about was he sounded like he was excited on seeing some historical stuff in the display case other than the fantasy future mini's. I will have to talk to him again on it just to make sure, but I think that would be a start.
Doug
A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.
Bruce Lee
Another thing that my group does is invite others to try or put on their games that they like or wish to play. Our group here in Northern Indiana in South Bend has roughly 40 members now not all show up each weekend, but we usually average 10 to 15. The main reason i would say is we game in Napolenics, WW 1, WW 2, naval, ground, air and even some sci fi battletech silent death etc.. But we always tell new members that if they wish to see something played or wish to host an event please do so, this gets them interested in our group and others into their interests.
Like most have said here when hosting an event i always try and make a simple easy to learn scenario or event. that keeps them interested and hopefully gets them to want to come back to another event down the road.
So far I have decided that I'm going to do WW2, quite possibly micro armour to start. One time frame that I'm not sure to do is North Africa or NWE. I can see NA being a bit boring as it is open terrain with a few small rises, some wadis where as NWE could be more interesting as there are rivers, trees, hedges, building, fields and so on. But, North Africa would be a good place to start as it doesn't have to be very difficult either being that its more open to push lots of tanks around and its got some good LOS. Either way I have enough to do both theaters. I plan on using tanks to start as it easier to deal with and they do move faster, eventually I will introduce infantry and artillery as well as airstrikes.
Now its just a bit of time to figure what theater and make the terrain for it
Doug
A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.
Bruce Lee
I would not over estimate North Africa, lots of big battles, and the terrian depending where you plan to fight can be mountains, some jungle, etc... One of the coolest battles especially for WW II took place in NA. And a song was written about it ROck the Kasbah (spelling). It actually had Americans vs French. Any way my two cents worth. Good luck.
fullmetaljacket wrote:I would not over estimate North Africa, lots of big battles, and the terrian depending where you plan to fight can be mountains, some jungle, etc... One of the coolest battles especially for WW II took place in NA. And a song was written about it ROck the Kasbah (spelling). It actually had Americans vs French. Any way my two cents worth. Good luck.
fullmetaljacket
Oh I'm not over estimating North Africa. In fact its one my more favorite areas to game it along with Italy then NWE and the Russian Front. I was merely trying to think of how to make the board more pleasing to the eye is all and as another player had mentioned to me through pm was to kids that know Star Wars...North Africa would be more like Tatooine
On which point I have decided to do North Africa and make a generic desert board with a few small rises, some wadis, small villa and such.
On the same note, I think I will make the terrain using GHQ's terrain maker...it will help promote the line but not step over any boundries that the store owner may have. ...now just to figure out what I need...hmmm
Doug
A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.
Bruce Lee
While the idea of using micro armour for our demo, we are also thinking of using 15mm as Ray has a bunch for North Africa and Eastern Front. For those that use GHQ WW2 rules, what modifier would you suggest using if we used GHQ WW2 rules in 15mm?
Doug
A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.
Bruce Lee
