"Converting" the Masses [Archive] - Wizards Community

"Converting" the Masses [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ASAP
12-10-05, 05:53 PM No, this is not a thread about Clerics. I'm not going to ask for anyone to name a NPC, provide me with adventure ideas, or give me advice on revenge against that annoying player.

I just have a simple question. Why is it always necessary to "convert" a friend/loved one/sibling to the point that they like D&D?

I'm not saying that people should not introduce others into the game. If we stopped that I would have never found this fine hobby. However, have the people that start the "help me keep this player" threads considered that some people just don't like D&D? I have tried many hobbies that I don't like (never could get the hang of underwater basket weaving). Yes, I would love for all of my friends to have the same interests as me... Well, now that I mention it, no, I don't. Matter of fact, that is why they are my friends. If I want people to go talk D&D with, I go to a gaming group or some D&D forums.

Why is it hard to allow the people that you know to just not participate in your hobby? Is it a maturity thing and most of these threads are coming from a younger set of DM's that just don't have the rescources to get peopl for a group? Or am I just being the angry "realist" and killing everyone's buzz?
High Octane
12-10-05, 06:23 PM Self interest. Converting players means more people to play D&D with.
ASAP
12-10-05, 06:37 PM I understand the need for more players. However, the threads I am commenting on all focus on forcing the new player to like D&D. They already gave it a shot, but decided that it wasn't for them. In many cases by changing the way you run the game can turn off the players that you already have. In those cases you have a net loss of 1 player. I'm just curious as to why these threads keep cropping up when the answers (and outcome) are the same.
Trial by Fire
12-10-05, 07:16 PM We convert people into D&D players because D&D players are a satanic cult of weirdos who perform evil rituals, right?

right?

anyone?
Furious D 18
12-10-05, 07:29 PM We convert people into D&D players because D&D players are a satanic cult of weirdos who perform evil rituals, right?

That was funny.

I think people in general stereotype D&D players as weirdos living in their parents basement, etc. As for me, it sometimes feels like a guilty pleasure. I like it but I'm not really open with people about it for fear that they will stereotype me.

But really, D&D is a hobby, like any other. Some like it, some don't. Some are good at it, some aren't.
ASAP
12-10-05, 07:39 PM Its those "evil rites" that lept into my mind when I read a thread elsewhere on this board. The poor guy is willing to try just about anything to get more people interested in the game.

I wonder how many people acidently continue the "oh, its that weird D&D guy" mentality by trying to push the game on people.

On a side note: I started playing for the chicks... (NOW who's crazy?)
lebagley63
12-10-05, 09:26 PM I can fully understand wanting more players and trying to keep the ones that you have. I finally talked my wife into playing a game, she didn't like or dislike it. My wife just can't seem to wrap her head around the idea of why I get to "say what is going to happen". she didn't like the idea of me DMing the game. She said that I was sadistic( go figure ). but she did enjoy it with another DM. A players wife also did not want to play unless she could play a drow. Try as I might to explain to her the negative aspects of this choice she wouldn't budge. I let her play the drow and when it got locked up and burnt at the stake, she blamed me. hhmmm maybe I am sadistic but I believe in the common sense aspect of the game. my first DM was one Mark Mckenzie whom every DM I've met is still compared to and found wanting. Basically what this all boils down to is maintain your integrity as a DM and the players you do have will enjoy it more.
agent of gurney
12-10-05, 11:53 PM We convert people into D&D players because D&D players are a satanic cult of weirdos who perform evil rituals, right?

right?

anyone?

SHHHHHHH, you'll give away the secret
smoker
12-11-05, 12:21 AM No idea.

But you see the same problems within the hobby. Why do certain players prefer certain systems over others? I have a hard time getting people to try out Angel RPG. Why? I have no idea.

My primary hobby is rock climbing. My secondary is lifting weights. My third is roleplaying games. It's pretty hard for me to convince my fellow roleplayers to go rock climbing. I invite tons of people to try it out, and rarely, if ever, do get any takers. I only ask once.

smoker
KJW
12-11-05, 08:18 AM It is a fun hobby and most of us believe that more people would enjoy it if they actually tried it. I am pretty enthusiastic when I talk about roleplaying, but I rarely ask people to observe or join a session. While I think roleplaying could have a wider audience the truth is that my style of DMing, while very amusing, is for more experienced, cunning, and moral players. Newbies can get a little overwhelmed in my campaigns, which are a little more complex than most other campaigns. While, I am great at teaching new players, the players who like my campaigns are usually people who used to roleplay years ago and became bored with the hobby, they come back into the fold for my campaign because it matches their style of play. This is the problem with the hobby every DM is different and every player likes a different type of DM. While I like to 'convert' people I know my game style can only work with fairly gifted new players, so I don't really push it with my friends.
Rab-Ka-La
12-11-05, 12:33 PM Humans are social creatures. Not only do we need people to play with, we just need that type of interaction with friends. The fact that D&D is somewhat of a fringe hobby, makes many people feel that they are not accepted. If a friend refuses to try the game or wants to quit the game, people feel it as a rejection of them. As long as we are bound by our human nature, players will feel the need to convert others.
shadowrisae
12-11-05, 02:17 PM Reasons some people try to force others to like it:

1) They don't know how to find other players or are too shy to find other players.
2) Perhaps this person is really important to them (best friend, significant other, etc) and they really want to do this hobby with that person.
3) If they live with that person, they can justify the money/time spent on it. For instance, if a wife didn't like D&D and her husband was one of those DMs that has to have every new book, she wouldn't understand why he was spending so much money on the books and inviting all of these people over every weekend or whatever. If she liked and played D&D, then she would not complain (or at least, as much) about the cost and the guests.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ASAP 12-10-05, 05:53 PM	No, this is not a thread about Clerics. I'm not going to ask for anyone to name a NPC, provide me with adventure ideas, or give me advice on revenge against that annoying player. I just have a simple question. Why is it always necessary to "convert" a friend/loved one/sibling to the point that they like D&D? I'm not saying that people should not introduce others into the game. If we stopped that I would have never found this fine hobby. However, have the people that start the "help me keep this player" threads considered that some people just don't like D&D? I have tried many hobbies that I don't like (never could get the hang of underwater basket weaving). Yes, I would love for all of my friends to have the same interests as me... Well, now that I mention it, no, I don't. Matter of fact, that is why they are my friends. If I want people to go talk D&D with, I go to a gaming group or some D&D forums. Why is it hard to allow the people that you know to just not participate in your hobby? Is it a maturity thing and most of these threads are coming from a younger set of DM's that just don't have the rescources to get peopl for a group? Or am I just being the angry "realist" and killing everyone's buzz?
High Octane 12-10-05, 06:23 PM	Self interest. Converting players means more people to play D&D with.
ASAP 12-10-05, 06:37 PM	I understand the need for more players. However, the threads I am commenting on all focus on forcing the new player to like D&D. They already gave it a shot, but decided that it wasn't for them. In many cases by changing the way you run the game can turn off the players that you already have. In those cases you have a net loss of 1 player. I'm just curious as to why these threads keep cropping up when the answers (and outcome) are the same.
Trial by Fire 12-10-05, 07:16 PM	We convert people into D&D players because D&D players are a satanic cult of weirdos who perform evil rituals, right? right? anyone?
Furious D 18 12-10-05, 07:29 PM	We convert people into D&D players because D&D players are a satanic cult of weirdos who perform evil rituals, right? That was funny. I think people in general stereotype D&D players as weirdos living in their parents basement, etc. As for me, it sometimes feels like a guilty pleasure. I like it but I'm not really open with people about it for fear that they will stereotype me. But really, D&D is a hobby, like any other. Some like it, some don't. Some are good at it, some aren't.
ASAP 12-10-05, 07:39 PM	Its those "evil rites" that lept into my mind when I read a thread elsewhere on this board. The poor guy is willing to try just about anything to get more people interested in the game. I wonder how many people acidently continue the "oh, its that weird D&D guy" mentality by trying to push the game on people. On a side note: I started playing for the chicks... (NOW who's crazy?)
lebagley63 12-10-05, 09:26 PM	I can fully understand wanting more players and trying to keep the ones that you have. I finally talked my wife into playing a game, she didn't like or dislike it. My wife just can't seem to wrap her head around the idea of why I get to "say what is going to happen". she didn't like the idea of me DMing the game. She said that I was sadistic( go figure ). but she did enjoy it with another DM. A players wife also did not want to play unless she could play a drow. Try as I might to explain to her the negative aspects of this choice she wouldn't budge. I let her play the drow and when it got locked up and burnt at the stake, she blamed me. hhmmm maybe I am sadistic but I believe in the common sense aspect of the game. my first DM was one Mark Mckenzie whom every DM I've met is still compared to and found wanting. Basically what this all boils down to is maintain your integrity as a DM and the players you do have will enjoy it more.
agent of gurney 12-10-05, 11:53 PM	We convert people into D&D players because D&D players are a satanic cult of weirdos who perform evil rituals, right? right? anyone? SHHHHHHH, you'll give away the secret
smoker 12-11-05, 12:21 AM	No idea. But you see the same problems within the hobby. Why do certain players prefer certain systems over others? I have a hard time getting people to try out Angel RPG. Why? I have no idea. My primary hobby is rock climbing. My secondary is lifting weights. My third is roleplaying games. It's pretty hard for me to convince my fellow roleplayers to go rock climbing. I invite tons of people to try it out, and rarely, if ever, do get any takers. I only ask once. smoker
KJW 12-11-05, 08:18 AM	It is a fun hobby and most of us believe that more people would enjoy it if they actually tried it. I am pretty enthusiastic when I talk about roleplaying, but I rarely ask people to observe or join a session. While I think roleplaying could have a wider audience the truth is that my style of DMing, while very amusing, is for more experienced, cunning, and moral players. Newbies can get a little overwhelmed in my campaigns, which are a little more complex than most other campaigns. While, I am great at teaching new players, the players who like my campaigns are usually people who used to roleplay years ago and became bored with the hobby, they come back into the fold for my campaign because it matches their style of play. This is the problem with the hobby every DM is different and every player likes a different type of DM. While I like to 'convert' people I know my game style can only work with fairly gifted new players, so I don't really push it with my friends.
Rab-Ka-La 12-11-05, 12:33 PM	Humans are social creatures. Not only do we need people to play with, we just need that type of interaction with friends. The fact that D&D is somewhat of a fringe hobby, makes many people feel that they are not accepted. If a friend refuses to try the game or wants to quit the game, people feel it as a rejection of them. As long as we are bound by our human nature, players will feel the need to convert others.
shadowrisae 12-11-05, 02:17 PM	Reasons some people try to force others to like it: 1) They don't know how to find other players or are too shy to find other players. 2) Perhaps this person is really important to them (best friend, significant other, etc) and they really want to do this hobby with that person. 3) If they live with that person, they can justify the money/time spent on it. For instance, if a wife didn't like D&D and her husband was one of those DMs that has to have every new book, she wouldn't understand why he was spending so much money on the books and inviting all of these people over every weekend or whatever. If she liked and played D&D, then she would not complain (or at least, as much) about the cost and the guests.