Help Convincing People to Play - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Help Convincing People to Play

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
thewraith31
Nov 25, 2008 1:09:35 How can i get my friends to play D&D with me?
#2
fenrir7139
Nov 25, 2008 16:41:46 Depends; are they into fantasy things at all? Do they play, say, Final Fantasy, or Diablo, or something like that? If so, find something that would appeal to them.

For example: with FF fans, tell them about the similarities betewwn the classes (White Mage = Cleric, Thief = Rogue, ect.)

With Diablo fans... Show them the bad-ass loot they could get (from the PHB, or the Adventurer's Vault).

If they aren't really into gaming or fantasy, then I really don't know how much luck you'll have. Sorry.
#3
ciaran
Nov 25, 2008 22:55:28 Agreed. It they're not into it then its a tough sell. We're just born into it I guess.
#4
Alter_Boy
Nov 25, 2008 23:15:22 Tell us more about your friends. Do they like gaming, on-line or otherwises? What movies and shows do they like? Are they geeky?

Whatever the case, tell them they can be whatever they want and do whatever they want.
#5
battlestarwarlock
Nov 26, 2008 0:55:17 I NEVER thought I would play this game but my DM just talked to me and asked me what I would want to play then put together a little booklet for me with some information about how to build a character...he made it easy for me.

THEN we started playing and he's like ohhh and you'll have to read this giant book...but by that time I had already committed and I liked my character so I was smitten. I mean look at me it's almost 2 am and I'm here!

Conclusion: the easier you make it for them to play, the easier it will be to convince them to try it out.
#6
etarnon
Nov 26, 2008 0:56:25 No.

Just design a campaign and advertise and run it. Let your friends know you are running it and the basic storyline.

If after a month, your friends don't join, you'll start getting new players to become your new friends.

Welcome to the life of a DM.
#7
roxlimn
Nov 26, 2008 3:29:55 Step 1: Ask them to hang out with you. No commitment. Just hang out.
Step 2: Collectively fantasize about LotR and similar fantasy epics. Fable 2 character got a small niggly problem? Sympathize with the *****ing. Start RP games around "If you were Aragorn, would you have followed Frodo?" and similar questions
Step 3: Tell them that you CAN play the part of Aragorn - you don't even have to name him "Aragorn," at all. Start with concept. Give 'em all the toppings. Aragorn with Excalibur? If that's "awesome," then run with it during concept-stage
Step 4: Reel 'em in with a preliminary level X game.
#8
dremik-the-taupe
Nov 26, 2008 6:49:15 As someone who has recruited many people to the idea of D&D, sorority girls. marines, and doctors alike, it's all in the pitch. Find what, if anything, in the game they'd find the most fun in, and play it up. If you are dming, its all about emphasizing what the group likes most. Fantasy, combat, story, adventure, treasure, et cetera, are all aspects of the game which can be played up or down as suits the group you are with. Find out what they'd like about it and go from there.
#9
pigknight
Nov 26, 2008 7:11:32 2 words: hot girls.
#10
The_Harlequin
Nov 26, 2008 9:33:06
How can i get my friends to play D&D with me?

Duct tape and lots of it.

If that fails (hah, as if!), then peer pressure: pure, unadulterated, bus-ride-to-a-makeshift-compound-in-a-Central-American-nation-Kool-Aide-drinking peer pressure...
#11
temukaalietchfield
Nov 27, 2008 10:01:20 Beer copious amounts of beer.

But a gun is also very effective. No one will refuse to play with a gun pointed at them.
#12
baneofelves
Nov 27, 2008 11:23:13 let's not forget the rusty knives!
#13
The_Harlequin
Nov 27, 2008 13:05:51 'k, now you guys are just getting silly.
#14
pigknight
Nov 27, 2008 13:14:19 No silly would be using the rusty chainsaw katana lightsabers.
#15
thewraith31
Dec 04, 2008 20:47:16 Thanx for the advice guys ill try it out
#16
baneofelves
Dec 05, 2008 13:53:04 You're gonna try the knives? Make sure that they're dull and rusty!
#17
roxlimn
Dec 05, 2008 20:45:45 He meant the hot girls. Those really work.
#18
evilbob76
Dec 05, 2008 22:45:11 A lot more people would actually like the game if they would just give it a chance. A lot of people are just to embarassed or scared to play due to things they've heard about it.

It's already been said but you just need to find common ground. Ask them if they liked those "choose your own adventure" books... if they say yes, tell them that it's like that, except don't have 2 paths to pick from; you can make your own path.

It's simple to get someone to come to a "probation session" where they come to see if they like it or not. This is where most people mess up. Make sure that if you have some really strange guys in your group, you have them take their medication that day. Also, send the group an email making a shower MANDATORY for all members. It's salesmanship. If you want to sucker some sap into buying a lemon, you at least need to wash and wax it. Give them a story about how somebody awesome used to own it. Make them love it! Then a week later, they get the real deal. A tire falls off, the window rolls down and doesn't come back up, but it's too late! Next session, Steve can show up with his matted greasy hair and eat a big bag of Funyuns as usual.
#19
baneofelves
Dec 06, 2008 12:10:32
He meant the hot girls. Those really work.

yeah, that's true. One group I'm trying to get into has a hot girl in it too.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 thewraith31 Nov 25, 2008 1:09:35	How can i get my friends to play D&D with me?
#2 fenrir7139 Nov 25, 2008 16:41:46	Depends; are they into fantasy things at all? Do they play, say, Final Fantasy, or Diablo, or something like that? If so, find something that would appeal to them. For example: with FF fans, tell them about the similarities betewwn the classes (White Mage = Cleric, Thief = Rogue, ect.) With Diablo fans... Show them the bad-ass loot they could get (from the PHB, or the Adventurer's Vault). If they aren't really into gaming or fantasy, then I really don't know how much luck you'll have. Sorry.
#3 ciaran Nov 25, 2008 22:55:28	Agreed. It they're not into it then its a tough sell. We're just born into it I guess.
#4 Alter_Boy Nov 25, 2008 23:15:22	Tell us more about your friends. Do they like gaming, on-line or otherwises? What movies and shows do they like? Are they geeky? Whatever the case, tell them they can be whatever they want and do whatever they want.
#5 battlestarwarlock Nov 26, 2008 0:55:17	I NEVER thought I would play this game but my DM just talked to me and asked me what I would want to play then put together a little booklet for me with some information about how to build a character...he made it easy for me. THEN we started playing and he's like ohhh and you'll have to read this giant book...but by that time I had already committed and I liked my character so I was smitten. I mean look at me it's almost 2 am and I'm here! Conclusion: the easier you make it for them to play, the easier it will be to convince them to try it out.
#6 etarnon Nov 26, 2008 0:56:25	No. Just design a campaign and advertise and run it. Let your friends know you are running it and the basic storyline. If after a month, your friends don't join, you'll start getting new players to become your new friends. Welcome to the life of a DM.
#7 roxlimn Nov 26, 2008 3:29:55	Step 1: Ask them to hang out with you. No commitment. Just hang out. Step 2: Collectively fantasize about LotR and similar fantasy epics. Fable 2 character got a small niggly problem? Sympathize with the *****ing. Start RP games around "If you were Aragorn, would you have followed Frodo?" and similar questions Step 3: Tell them that you CAN play the part of Aragorn - you don't even have to name him "Aragorn," at all. Start with concept. Give 'em all the toppings. Aragorn with Excalibur? If that's "awesome," then run with it during concept-stage Step 4: Reel 'em in with a preliminary level X game.
#8 dremik-the-taupe Nov 26, 2008 6:49:15	As someone who has recruited many people to the idea of D&D, sorority girls. marines, and doctors alike, it's all in the pitch. Find what, if anything, in the game they'd find the most fun in, and play it up. If you are dming, its all about emphasizing what the group likes most. Fantasy, combat, story, adventure, treasure, et cetera, are all aspects of the game which can be played up or down as suits the group you are with. Find out what they'd like about it and go from there.
#9 pigknight Nov 26, 2008 7:11:32	2 words: hot girls.
#10 The_Harlequin Nov 26, 2008 9:33:06	How can i get my friends to play D&D with me? Duct tape and lots of it. If that fails (hah, as if!), then peer pressure: pure, unadulterated, bus-ride-to-a-makeshift-compound-in-a-Central-American-nation-Kool-Aide-drinking peer pressure...
#11 temukaalietchfield Nov 27, 2008 10:01:20	Beer copious amounts of beer. But a gun is also very effective. No one will refuse to play with a gun pointed at them.
#12 baneofelves Nov 27, 2008 11:23:13	let's not forget the rusty knives!
#13 The_Harlequin Nov 27, 2008 13:05:51	'k, now you guys are just getting silly.
#14 pigknight Nov 27, 2008 13:14:19	No silly would be using the rusty chainsaw katana lightsabers.
#15 thewraith31 Dec 04, 2008 20:47:16	Thanx for the advice guys ill try it out
#16 baneofelves Dec 05, 2008 13:53:04	You're gonna try the knives? Make sure that they're dull and rusty!
#17 roxlimn Dec 05, 2008 20:45:45	He meant the hot girls. Those really work.
#18 evilbob76 Dec 05, 2008 22:45:11	A lot more people would actually like the game if they would just give it a chance. A lot of people are just to embarassed or scared to play due to things they've heard about it. It's already been said but you just need to find common ground. Ask them if they liked those "choose your own adventure" books... if they say yes, tell them that it's like that, except don't have 2 paths to pick from; you can make your own path. It's simple to get someone to come to a "probation session" where they come to see if they like it or not. This is where most people mess up. Make sure that if you have some really strange guys in your group, you have them take their medication that day. Also, send the group an email making a shower MANDATORY for all members. It's salesmanship. If you want to sucker some sap into buying a lemon, you at least need to wash and wax it. Give them a story about how somebody awesome used to own it. Make them love it! Then a week later, they get the real deal. A tire falls off, the window rolls down and doesn't come back up, but it's too late! Next session, Steve can show up with his matted greasy hair and eat a big bag of Funyuns as usual.
#19 baneofelves Dec 06, 2008 12:10:32	He meant the hot girls. Those really work. yeah, that's true. One group I'm trying to get into has a hot girl in it too.