#New players and complex scripts

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

warped cloud
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Hey,

So I'm struggling with working out how to write this one, because on one the hand I want to encourage everyone, but on the other hand it can be very demoralising/not-fun in these scenarious.

I've noticed recently a lot of new people just jumping straight into complex scripts (even when the ST checks), for example in the last few days I've seen:

  1. First ever game of BOTC
  2. One game of TB, now going BMR
  3. One game, now going custom
  4. Couple of TBs, it'll be fun to do a new script

In one BMR game there were 2 newbies and someone that had played a couple of TBs before.

It's resulting in some very 'scuffed games' and whilst everyone wants to learn/experience/develop it feels awkward when people are having to be explained very simple roles in complex scripts, leading to a lot of people having to try and teach people on the fly whilst playing their own game.

Should we do anything? maybe we shouldn't? I just wanted to open it up to see what people think.

hardy musk
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tagging <@&997139099129479188> as they may have some thoughts

cold violet
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Show consideration. Suggest the easiest customs if they vote customs, explain what’s hard but also let them play customs if they want, it’s part of learning

prisma remnant
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This is Icarus stuff. Fly close to the sun, etc. There is pressure from established players to not play a billion TBs in a row, and that is also fair. The balance is probably fine, and its on the individual players to step up to the plate for new players.

warped cloud
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I do want to show consideration Charlzy, it's just that we keep running into this and I wonder if there's something we can do to guide.

Hence the last line about not knowing if we should do anything etc.

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🙂

upbeat fern
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Okay going to add a little bit of thought on here. You cannot force a new player to join or leave a game because it's complex, but it's also the Storyteller's responsibility to know who's new and make sure they are aware of the complexity of the script.

patent elm
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As a ST in person, I will often categorically disqualify any non-TB script if it's even a single player's first game, or if I know they haven't grasped things quite yet. Even if they think they're ready after one, new players often underestimate how different a new script can be, and I find the more experienced players are generally still amenable to a simple announcement, "Since we have a new player, I'll just be running TB." Granted, this is in in-person games, with people who know each other outside of just that game, and with less experienced players on average when compared to this server. Nobody in my club is rolling their eyes at "the noob script" (yet).
I guess the main thing I wanted to mention is that this isn't just a problem with this server, or even with online games; it's a natural part of board gamer instinct to play expansions too quickly

small blade
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So obviously to demand that every player be familiar with a script and all roles within before they play it leads to a ridiculous paradox, and I'm sure noone is suggesting anything along those lines. This server is a lot of people's first experience of online play, and as such will forever be in part an informal school.
On the other hand, the onus in these situations must lie on the STs. In my experience the worst 'scuffed' games come not from a few inexperienced players, but from an imbalanced mix of players and an ST unwilling or incapable of trying to rectify that balance. The Angel and Buddhist fableds exist for a reason and STs should be unafraid to utilise them more, they tend to lead to more fun games for everyone involved.

patent elm
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I'd add on Revolutionary as well. One of the other STs at my club introduced somebody to the game with BMR with a rev pair, and it seemed to go... well enough. Not that I would do it that way, but, yknow

small blade
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Oh btw, a wise ST told me that in their irl group 'The day one of my players asked to look at the full BMR night sheet out of the grim was the day I told him he was ready to play customs'.