Re: Re: Keywords only, or additional list of abilities?

From: Manuel MOLINIER <manuel.molinier_at_...>
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:06:28 +0100

Hi Jeff,
I definitly agree that for people who never played any game with it HQ2 is way easier than HQ1/HW.
I really love the game system and the people I introduced it for the 1st time also apparently. I also really love the multiple possibilities offered to the GM.
Unfortunately due to my agenda and till recently I didn't have much time to run it (at my local club I was booked to be the one who run the D&D 4th Ed game) and I like(d) this discussion as a way to get some advice on how to introduce the game more easily to new players. All I'm looking for is a smooth way to introduce the setting and the possibilities offered by the system.

I really like the advice I received to only specify the keywords and let people start with it. Providing them a blurb and coaching and giving info as it goes so they can grasp the concept.

Manuel

On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 2:08 PM, Jeff <richaje_at_...m> wrote:

>
>
> The question should be whether YOU found it confusing and difficult to
> grasp. In playtesting with newbies, we found that players unfamiliar with
> HW/HQ1 (and many with no experience of Glorantha) grasped the new keywords
> and its possibilities easier and quicker than old HW/HQ1 hands.
>
> Jeff
>
>
> --- In HeroQuest-RPG_at_yahoogroups.com <HeroQuest-RPG%40yahoogroups.com>,
> Manuel MOLINIER <manuel.molinier_at_...> wrote:
> >
> > I fully agree.
> > I think it require a short document explaining a little what the keyword
> is
> > about without any game terminology reference.
> > In this sense the "what my father told me" of the Glorantha voice was a
> very
> > good introduction for new players but It appears like if the link is
> broken
> > (old glorantha website).
> >
> > Manuel
> >
> > On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 1:15 PM, Osentalka <Osentalka_at_...> wrote:
>
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > "Jeff" <richaje_at_... <richaje%40gmail.com>> wrote:
> > >
> > > >> I run HQ2.0 now and find it easier to get people who never played it
> in
> > > and
> > > >> the only difficulty is for people to start with those keywords and
> > > abilities
> > > >> and figure out what they can do.
> > > >
> > > >We have found though copious playtesting with different groups that
> people
> > > very
> > > >quickly get used to the idea that the "hunter" keyword lets them do
> > > whatever a hunter
> > > >is supposed to be able to do. The lists of abilities under keywords
> > > confused as many
> > > >people as they helped (especially since people usually end up treating
> > > exemplary lists
> > > >as the enumerated abilities - call it "Hamilton's Law").
> > >
> > > I can see both sides of the argument.
> > >
> > > If you give a player, for instance, the keyword "Jedi knight" he can
> run
> > > miles with it, when he knows Star Wars.
> > > But what does a guy do that has never seen any Star Wars movie and the
> HQ2
> > > Star Wars is his first encounter with that setting? That guy will be
> very
> > > grateful to be handed out a list of abilities that are tied with his
> > > Keyword.
> > >
> > > Even more so for Glorantha:
> > > Hunter? Warrior? Priest? Not much of a problem.
> > > But Uz? Kolating? Crimson Bat Keeper? That keywords need help... if you
> are
> > > not THAT familiar with Glorantha.
> > >
> > > Cheers
> > >
> > > André
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]