12-30-2018, 04:19 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
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tips for demo'ing DFRPG?
Hey all. Well, I've signed on to demo the DFRPG at a local game store in a week and am worried that I've potentially bitten off more than I can adequately chew. While I have a fairly decent idea of how I'm going to proceed, I definitely need some advice/suggestions. Basically:
1) How have any of you been able to present DF to folks in a way that does justice to the game (e.g. it's "tactical richness," as someone once said) without scaring anyone off? 2) How have you been able to differentiate it from DnD, without alienating DnD fans? 3) In your experience, what rules needed the most explanation during play? What rules and concepts did first-time players have a hard time with? I have no idea how many people are going to arrive or if anyone will at all. But I want anyone who does, to have a good time (obviously) and for maybe someone to buy the copy of DFRPG that's been sitting on the store's shelf for quite some time. I'm going to start another thread related to choosing an adventure (one of the ones from Pyramid) and then back to reacquainting myself with the rules. Thanks, in advance, for any assistance and/or suggestions! |
12-30-2018, 11:46 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Central Texas, north of Austin
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Re: tips for demo'ing DFRPG?
Congratulations on taking that step.
It probably will be a bit intimidating. I ran DFRPG at OwlCon in Houston this past February (2018), and I hope to get back here soon to share some more about that experience. Each person who hosts such a demo will have different experiences based on his or her own strengths and weaknesses, so I can't assume mine will match yours. The hardest part will be to remember and convey a lot of the detail, so just focus on providing some experiences without trying to get it all in. For example, when players move on the hex grid, a lot of facing, posture, and movement points will naturally be hard to implement at first, especially if they are coming from D&D. It can be fun to demonstrate the emphasis on active defenses that avoids as much typical HP attrition. The wounding modifiers of weapons that get through armor are a cool feature to show off as well. |
12-31-2018, 12:03 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Central Texas, north of Austin
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Re: tips for demo'ing DFRPG?
If you aren't already aware, a user named Dalin experimented with introducing DFRPG to middle-school students.
Here are some of his threads: I had no idea how he would attempt to introduce the sophistication of the game under all the constraints related to his circumstances and audience. Interestingly, he seemed to be pretty adept at letting go of all the control that would be required and allowing his students to customize their experience on their own without a lot of intervention and structure. Not that you would have the same circumstances, but it was interesting to see how Dalin handled the challenges. |
12-31-2018, 09:58 AM | #4 |
Join Date: Sep 2018
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Re: tips for demo'ing DFRPG?
I would make a mini DM screen for the players to understand key concepts of the game, like a little laminated sheet that shows maneuvers or the effects of different hit locations or if you know your demo will involve a particular contest some discussion about skill modifiers for it. Maybe on the back you could have a diagram of your character sheet to show were to look for Attributes, advantages/disadvantages, skills.
Maybe consider scaling characters down from Adventurer to 125 CP hirelings just to put less pieces in the player's hands for the first game. Simple simple simple plot. Summon the players before the facilitator. Dramatic call to action with dire consequences. Small feet-wetting combat. Harrowing narrative journey. Night of rest and safety. Through the portal into the dungeon. Big fight. Epilogue. |
12-31-2018, 03:52 PM | #5 | |
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
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Re: tips for demo'ing DFRPG?
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12-31-2018, 04:01 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
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Re: tips for demo'ing DFRPG?
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01-01-2019, 10:18 AM | #7 |
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Saint Paul, MN
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Re: tips for demo'ing DFRPG?
I appreciate the references to my threads about DFRPG at school. As Tom H. pointed out, however, the context at school is quite different from the one you'll face. For one thing, there were twenty+ students and I was mostly a facilitator rather than a GM.
When I've introduced adults to DFRPG, they've taken to it quite quickly. Some things I recall, in no particular order:
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01-02-2019, 08:59 PM | #8 | |
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
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Re: tips for demo'ing DFRPG?
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Regrading tracking fatigue, I've been considering throwing together a rough chart with which a player could keep track of current fatigue by just moving a token/coin along, instead of constantly penciling and erasing an ever changing resource. |
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01-03-2019, 08:08 AM | #9 | ||
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Saint Paul, MN
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Re: tips for demo'ing DFRPG?
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01-03-2019, 12:34 PM | #10 | |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: 100 hurricane swamp
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Re: tips for demo'ing DFRPG?
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It really hammers home to the Players how precious FP is when there is a visceral color association to go with "and now you're spending too much". * Or white. But I use white for Impulse Points... so... whatever colors work for you. |
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