Sunday 15 January 2012

Sunday Sermon: This hobby needs evangelists!

 

'The Four Evangelists' - Peter Paul Rubens, 1614.

Right, I'm rolling my sleeves up as I type this out. Yes, it is that serious!!! It may have come to your attention recently that I have been dangling some lovely gaming goodness in front of you all these past few weeks. I've also spoken at length about the fact that we're living in Golden Age of Gaming and how we should make sure that we don't let it pass us by. However, primarily in my series of articles entitled 'Games That Intrigue Me' I've started to highlight as much of the gaming goodness as I can to you guys. Damn good reads they are too, if I say so myself. Any way I've had a fair few comments sent my way about people saying they can't find opponents to play these damn fine games. This is something I have a modicum of sympathy with and to be brutally honest plenty of experience with. I too used to live in a sea of Games Workshop clones... but then I grew a pair, manned up and decided I'd have to force people to try these new games out. I mean, I started trying to convince people to play other games during the hey day of Warhammer Fantasy Battle, which was 6th edition, in my opinion arguably the best edition there has been of that particular venerable beast.

Did I give up? No... well maybe slightly... but if I did it was only for about 7 months. Despite what Games Workshops half year financial result say, I'd humbly suggest that there are more disgruntled Games Workshop gamers out there right now than there has ever been. Trust me they are more than willing test subjects, they're positively desperate to play something good. There are a vast sea of people ready to convert to a New Religion. In fact I've been so overwhelmed with the responses I've had convincing others to play Dystopin Wars, Infinity, Mlifaux, Warmachine, Anima Tactics and many, many, many more games besides, I've been totally rushed off of my feet doing intro games. However, I now get to bask in the glory of my hard labours. All those years out in the wilderness when my fellow gamers mocked my Warmachine miniatures, made fun of my Infinity and positively derided my Rackham collection... OK so on the last one they were right! Look I never said I was perfect!!! Now they're promoting these games themselves, and the community is growing.

You see round by me now I think I'd find it easier where I currently go to game to get games in of none Games Workshop product than I would Games Workshop product. Yes I really mean that. I know, and yes I am just as shocked as you are, but there it is. All the area needed was a few pioneers, brave souls willing to evangelise about these games. If you build it they will come! If you don't have anyone to play at these games and you would like to play them, then guess what? Get off of your arse and do something about it. You have it in your hands to improve your situation. Seriously are you geeks or are trendy hipster wannabe geeks? On second thoughts don't answer that question. I'm not going to pretend it's not hard work. I'm not going to lie to you, you'll be up against a multimillion pound behemoth (Games Workshop) that has quite frankly made every gamer I know lazier than Jabba the Hut on the Sabbath!

It is going to take some work, and by some I mean lots:

  1. You're going to have to research your game of choice all by yourself. However, the Internet is there to help. Blogs, forums etc. have made this easier than ever before! Use them, ask questions and get advise.
  2. You are going to have to buy starter sets for two factions. Yep, I know major imposition isn't it? NOT!!! Especially when most companies are producing sexy miniatures nowadays. Look at it as getting dibs on the best two factions if you like! Because the rest of the gamers in your area are schmucks!!!
  3. You're going to have to be friendly and nice about it. You can't be a grade A jackass and hope to win people round to playing your game of choice. Think about it, who wants to play a game with a douche bag? Yep you're going to have to be nice, smile a lot, and just be an all round affable fellow.
  4. You are going to have to persuade people to give it a bash. Yep you're going to have to nag people, cajole people and possibly even use threats of physical violence... or you could just show them the sexy miniatures and rulebooks. Us geeks like a good rulebook and sexy lumps of metal.
  5. Pick your victi... erm... exclusive inner circle wisely. Go for the guy who is always complaining about Grey Knights. Or the poor chap who is sick to death of having his Wood Elves constantly ignored by Games Workshop. Simply pick on those individuals whose will is weak, you'll be able to corrupt them easier. Or you could target those gamers who already play different gaming systems.
  6. You'd better know your stuff though. There is nothing worse than running an intro game and not knowing the rules, it can make games look more complex than they really are. This is worse than not getting people to play the game, a botched intro will reinforce Games Workshops drones intransigence.
  7. Linked to the above, you'll need to be able to answer peoples questions on the back story and various factions, as well as the miniatures and rules. People will want to know stuff. Your knowledge won't have to be encyclopedic and in many cases you can get away with just being able to signpost people. Just be prepared for their questions.
  8. Rinse and repeat. Eventually, I promise you that you will gradually start making headway, slowly at first. Maybe one or two anarchist types, or rage quitters will join your cause... and then... before you know you'll have reached a critical mass and things will take care of themselves. Unfortunately everyone will be kicking your ass at your game of choice and you will wish they'd all just feck off back to 40k!!!

It will happen I promise you. If you are willing to put the effort in, remain positive and up beat it'll become infectious. Your positive attitude will rub off, or everyone will think you're mad. So people will either play the game because they think it must be good if you're still pushing it... or they'll play it for fear that you'll slit their throats with a spoon as they sleep if they don't. The end result is the same though. There's a reason Privateer Press have their Press Gangers, Wyrd have their Henchmen and Cool Mini or Not are launching their 'Legion' program to get people like you and me signed up to promoting the hobby. It works! Even Games Workshop had their Outriders program, and that too was actually highly successful, possibly too successful because it killed itself off. Have I ever felt like becoming a Press Gangers or Henchmen  myself? Nope, I've not once been tempted because I don't really like the idea of being told how I should run my intro games, and where and when I should do them. I'm freelance baby and I'll pimp out any game I want to! I do though have huge amounts of respect for those gamers who do devote themselves to these programs, they're unsung heroes the lot of them in my eyes.

The Mission - A great film if you haven't already seen it.

What I'm describing isn't easy for sure, but it is immensely rewarding when it starts paying off. It's a different mindset to be sure. It's not quite like rocking up to your local Games Workshop on a Thursday night. Playing the same game of 40k, on the same cramped and bland 4' by 4' realm of battle board. With the same plastic scenery you've used for 3 years and the same opponent. Wishing your life to end... it's actually invigorating and exciting. You'll be learning new games, testing your mind and the playing field will be even as you'll all be starting from scratch. Creating a thriving 'alternative' gaming community isn't the easiest thing in the world to do and you will receive knock backs and disappointments. But, pick yourself up and dust yourself off, and just carry on going. Because when you walk into a gaming club and see two people playing a game you introduced them to, and having fun you'll get a warm glow inside. Honestly it feels good to give fellow gamers their mojo back, and it's what some Games Workshop gamers need to do. Some of them need to just move on and let those still enjoying 40k and Fantasy get on with their hobby without dragging the rest of them down. Peace out!

22 comments:

  1. Hey, the Rackham figs are dead sexy, even if the game died horribly. There's just nothing prettier than full on Wulfen.

    I'm sure it's the point, given that it's a "sermon", but there are a lot of ways to say what you're saying that don't sound quite so preachy. Folks like new stuff and want to get the word out- invite them to, instead of commanding it... that's my take.

    I've gotten more than a few people into new games, and I'll keep doing so- it's almost like matchmaking... finding a good fit for a friend based on their tastes is a wonderful feeling.

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    1. Heya Lo, obviously if you read my blog you'll know I'm not quite so 'militant' about it. But this is a sermon, and that's how these articles are written. Trust me this is toned down from the first draft.

      I do think though that some gamers need to realise they have to do these things for themselves. There comes a point whereby if you want something bad enough, you have to understand it's up to you to go make it happen. There are a lot of gamers I've come across who think that talking about starting something new will eventually get somebody else to do this hard work for them. That's not the case I'm afraid. There is only so much LGS's can do. Sorry but I think it's true, at the end of the day this is all our hobby and if we want something different we need to change and work at it ourselves first.

      As to the Rackham figs... yep I totally agree. Still doesn't stop the fact that their eventual catastrophic implosion from dumb ass business decisions meant I took a bit of a ribbing off of others over it. That's always a risk though with any niche hobby. It's one I've been willing to take. Right now there seem to be a lot of companies making a lot of head way though. How sustainable all this is though remains to be seen. Still it's a fun ride while it lasts and that's ultimately the message anyone needs to take away from all this. It's fun!

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    2. Well, my Intelligent Design series is intended at least in part to help push those that are on the fence, who moan, complain or otherwise bellyache to DO something to make better games... that's the idea, anyway.

      Maybe it will just get people talking, which is fine, too. As long as games are on people's minds and being discussed, I'm cool.

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    3. On that Lo I'm sure we're both in 100% agreement. Sometimes I see my role as being an agent provocateur... and no I don't mean frilly under garments!!! To be an enabler I guess to get people thinking about things. To get them wandering about their hobby and to start talking about it. Next Sunday's Sermon is a bit of a behemoth and I'm hoping it'll spark some interesting discussion amongst my readers and maybe a few more people besides... having said all that I bet you now it'll not garner a single chuffing response :P

      Still it's been sitting in blogger for a couple of months festering and waiting to be unleashed. I think next weekend seems the right time to drop it I think. I'm not sure why I feel it's right now, but it just is I guess. It didn't even start life as a Sunday Sermon, it's slowly evolved into that sort of topic and hopefully you at least will find it interesting. :)

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  2. I here you i've introduced malifaux , and Dystopian wars to our local club now there all the rage. And i get my bottom spanked by the gits i introduced the games to now...
    Sure GW games are still played but, our club plays most games out there. If the games good it will catch on. Last week we had 40k dystopian wars , Alkemy , SDE , startrek and warmachine. Its true gamers need to branch out, and free them selfs from GW.. Sure play GW games but try others you will be suprised.

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    1. Very glad I am to hear it too Pancake! Not the you getting spanked at games by other people you understand... nope the introducing other games to people. We all have a personal responsibility to our fellow hobbyists to help them find the games that they'll enjoy. To help create thriving gaming communities out there for all games, and yep I include GW games in that list as well, because not all GW stores are happy hobbying places or conducive to actually playing their games. Some are downright hostile to it in fact.

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  3. Yeah i've never felt comfortable in a GW store.

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    1. Particular stores? GW Cardiff here is actually a pretty good store, staff are enthusiastic and once the "LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I HAVE TO" phase is passed they're a chilled out bunch. Not that I go in there anymore these days though, alas.

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    2. Never visited the Cardiff store, but I've certainly visited stores in the past where I felt that maybe I wasn't really welcome as a 'gamer'. Being told you have an hour on a games night to play a game of 40k once was the most hostile attitude I've ever witnessed. That was in the Coventry store many, many years back. Of course not all stores are bad. But then again it's not always down to the staff in those stores either, sometimes the customer aren't the best. lol.

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    3. That's pretty disgraceful, GW tend to pride themselves on customer service (especially once the till rings ha!) and I've never had a bad experience with them. "What brings in you today Flip?" "Ah not much mate, having a nose, you know me." "Ah sweet, how goes ___" and off we go!

      Bad examples always tend to stick around longer than good ones though which is unfortunate. I have to agree with the last point though, as much as I enjoy wargaming, the people it can attract are always an assortment of oddity.

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    4. Flipswith of course the bad service lasts longer than the good. We're hard wired to expect things to go well. It's one of the reasons we hardly ever give compliments for good service... we expect it. So when we don't get it, good service that is, it grates and jars with our world view and we remember it. I have on this blog listed local store managers who have at various times given me great service, but I'm not going to lie, I have had some truly awful service too. As for customers, well us geeks are a veritable bunch of odd balls, an yes I include myself in that list!!!

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  4. Preach, Brother Frontline, preach!

    Oh my god yer so sexy I just wanna grab you in my tentacles and....
    Well, nevermind...

    Can I get an Amen?

    AMEN!

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    1. You can indeed get an Amen...

      AMEN!!!

      I shall be here next Sunday, and every Sunday after that until you all get bored stiff of me or I die. Either way, hopefully I have a few more sermons in me. Just remember this is me at my preaching best, and often I'll use them as an excuse to rock the boat, get all preachy and maybe even play devils advocate. I'm taking my Sunday Sermon articles to be on opportunity to perhaps push things a little bit further than sensible me would otherwise take them. So again I don't mean to cause offence, just having a bit of fun! :)

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  5. I'm about to launch a new games club in Long Eaton, Nottingham in March where we will play Mantic Games (Kings Of War, Warpath, Dwarf Kings Hold); On The Lamb Games (Brushfire) and Tor Gaming (Relics). There will be one table set aside should anyone want to play 'another system' but the focus is 100% on the more independent system, the new kids in town.

    As you say, this is a golden age for tabletop gaming, with so many great games and miniatures and many companies embracing their customer base and bringing them into the fold during testing. Add to that a better use of internet and technology to bring the rulebooks out, keep them updated without fleecing the fanbase, while maintaining consistency and gaming has never been better.

    Recent practices or basic mismanagement of PR from certain market leaders is slowly opening a few people's eyes to the myriad of other games out there and while there are those who will forever stay blinkered to these little gems (as is their right), I can see a lot of possibilities for the future.

    If you don't object, I'd like to put a link here which will take you to our website for details about the club and how to buy a ticket for the event.

    Cheers
    JP

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    1. Jp link away please do. It's partly what I and my blog is all about. I'm actually currently in the process of trying to produce a standardised page on my blog where I can list game clubs globally that play various games so people can find out if there are clubs near them. I just need to do so in a way that is time consuming or too demanding on me and my time!!! I'll post a story up when I've figured it out, so keep an eye out for it. In the meantime please feel free to share any links and info you think people might find useful. :)

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  6. Cheers for that.

    The website is http://crystalgamesstore.wordpress.com and the webstore is http://crystalgamesstore.bigcartel.com

    Details are on the site and tickets available from the store for anyone wanting to come along. We have a couple of special guests - Andy Hoare and Ronnie Renton - confirmed and a few others still to hear from.

    Cheers for the promo.

    All the best
    JP

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  7. This post brings back a few memories. Trying to get the Warmachine ball rolling here in NZ back in '03, then Confrontation (not long before it went plastic and imploded) and Infinity. Sadly, I never have as much free time as I would like, so I end up relying on others to keep the ball rolling.

    It also doesn't help that our local scene is rather small (compared to what I've heard of the UK, US, and Oz). People are also less willing to jump ship unless they have a good deal of disposable income - even when a new game has a relatively low start up cost.

    Finally, I have one suggested addition for your list (either 3.5 or 4.5): Let the wookie win. Let a new player win their first game (but not too easily) and they're more likely to keep playing. Beat them into the ground with their own pewter figures and they won't be back. (This is the reason why I only ever played one game of Vs.)

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    1. Yeah letting the wookie win is one way of doing it. But of late I've been letting two wookies play each other in most intro games and I've being acting as the referee! This works too because I get to teach two people at once and it increases the probability that I'll convince a new gamer to start every game. Plus they know I'm not then losing on purpose! NZ sounds like a hard crowd to convert my good man. Keep picking away at it though, eventually I still maintain some people will shift.

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  8. I'm sorry to be bringing this back so much later. However, I am going to be doing a post on my own blog http://cobblestonechaos.blogspot.com/ due to this one. An opportunity has come up where I will be able to introduce some people to my personal favorite game, and I would like to link back to you.

    I am requesting this for two reasons- 1. Common Courtesy, not many people do that sort of thing. 2. This is an older post, and I am not sure how you might feel about it being linked back.

    I would have emailed you, but there is no contact information here. I'm going out on a limb and assuming that you probably have some sort of notification of posts.

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    1. Hiya, by all means link back to whatever articles of mine you want to. I don't view any of my articles and topic's as 'dead'. I'm always more than willing to revisit any of them. I personally find it interesting to come back to topics and see how I feel about them now, and how others feel about them now. So by all means comment on and link to anything on my Blog you like. Let me know when the article is done and I'll come give it a read. Also my email is: TheFrontlineGamerBlog@gmail.com if you ever want to get in touch again.

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    2. Thanks! I'll be posting something tomorrow. A bit off of what you were talking about, but along the same vein.

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