From the eyes of a newbie
by Claude Needham & Kevin Meadows

Recently Kevin Meadows attended a regional gaming convention in Florida. Kevin is not a stranger to the use of games for spiritual purposes. However, he is a newbie to almost every game with the exception of Team Fortress and Diablo Lord of Destruction. Hence Kevin represents all of us who may wish to take on a wider breadth of gaming -- interested, able to learn, but most definitely newbies at practically everything in the gaming world.

Kevin begins his report: "First and foremost let me preface this by saying I am a total newbie to all these Miniature RPG games. I have played not even a second of them and I was warned via email by one of the organizers of the convention that a gaming convention might not be the best place to learn gaming."

"The gaming area environment seemed chaotic to me. The gaming tables were not marked, so it was really hard to tell what games everyone was playing. But, I was fascinated to see so many tables using miniatures with their games. Everyone was rolling dice sometimes rolling up 8 to 10 or more dice at a time. Then they would use tape measures to see how far they could move there figures in their miniature landscapes. Then they would look at their charts to see if they could use any magic skills or whatever in that situation."

"That was the one thing that was disappointing about the ???con, I was hoping that there would be some type of intro for each gaming table. You know a quick summary of how the game was played or someone announcing when each game was about to start or end. At least some type of organization on that level would have been nice, other than just a total free for all. At least something to help the newbies out would have been helpful."

"I did find out about some more gaming cons comings to the North Florida area so I will think about attending them as well."

"Going to the ???con did get me interested in checking out some of the games that might be out there."

"All in all it was a little too much for my newbie self, but as I mentioned in the beginning -- I was warned."

We have left the name of the con a mystery -- we feel that since Kevin's comments could apply to a large number of gaming convention there is no point singling any particular con.

At present most people attending a gaming convention are highly motivated with a broad background in gaming. Why else would they attend?

With the advent of spiritual gaming new players are entering the gaming world with little or no previous background. This is a good thing. GenCon certainly made efforts to attract new players, and to be fair, many gaming conventions throughout the country make exemplary efforts to produce newbie friendly conventions. This is a good thing.

We present Kevin's newbie comments as a spot light bringing focus on "newbie-ization" of conventions, or making a convention newbie friendly.

First of all please note that whatever happened for good or bad, Kevin's primary response was interest in attending future events and checking out more games. This is good.

So let's take a look at a few points that stand out "in the eyes of a newbie."

The gaming area environment seemed chaotic to me.

The gaming tables were not marked, so it was really hard to tell what games everyone was playing.

I was hoping that there would be some type of intro for each gaming table. You know a quick summary of how the game was played.

Someone announcing when each game was about to start or end.

Something other than a total free for all.

Much of the above would have been solved by the presence of a big brother, big sister, school buddy, or friend acting as guide. This is most often the case.

Kevin is a bit of an anomaly. Someone coming to gaming from a different demographic via an unusual vector. This is a good thing. Every marketing guru in the country is pushing to move the demographic bounders of gamer further and further -- ever penetrating new areas of the population. Hence, it can't hurt to make a gaming con newbie friendly.

Truth be told, there are probably many "veterans" that would benefit from newbie-ization of the cons. A "Everything you wanted to know about gaming but was afraid to ask" presentation at the con might be fun -- a kind of orientation.

In terms of the specific stumbling blocks that our newbie Kevin encountered:

Perhaps, a Gamer's Aid booth (similar to Traveler's Aid at the airport) would be handy. A few veterans could take turns manning the booth for a partial discount on their registration fee.

Name cards or tents at each gaming table is so simple. Just provide blank tents (folded card stock paper) and let the GM at each table make an announcement of the campaign, game, expected experience level, etc. Con organizers just need to have a ream of card stock paper on hand. Let the GMs do the rest.

Almost every game seems to have a few lurkers hovering around the edge of the game. Folks that know the game well but for some reason can't be in that particular game -- time limitations, game too full, what have you. People being shy (yes, even people dressed in full Klingon gear can be shy) they may not start asking questions of just anyone that happens to be sitting around. However, if a few folks who where willing and able had a button that said something like "Ask Me"... well, people might. They could become local guides to introduce newbies into the inner mysteries of the games. I know for a fact, that gamers in general are extremely helpful and would jump at the chance to help a fellow gamer. So what we have here is a failure for a wandering newbie to know who they can ask.

Starting and ending times can be solved by the same ream of card stock paper for making announcement tents. I say, keep it simple. GMs (game masters) are very capable of posting notices about starting and expected ending times. Just give them easy access to the tools to accomplish such.

Any vetern of a gaming con knows that it is anything other than a "total free for all." There is a high degree of organization and definite method in the madness. However, to a newbie almost any even looks like a free for all. This is just a symptom of unfamiliarity.
To be honest most of the newbie problems mentioned above will solve themselves if the newbie just hangs in. And that is the rub. Some newbies might not hang in. Are we better off without such newbies? If you, like me, believe that we benefit from a wider audience, then the few extra efforts required to give newbies a better chance at discovering gaming will be viewed as well worth it.

In any case, that is the few from the press side of the badge.

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