Startroleplaying.com?

[Rob Lang]

is the sort of person who I would love to share a beer with. His is about how difficult it is to start roleplaying because the existing community only serves itself. There is no place for new people to go to succinctly learn how to play.

His article scrolled across my eyes like a call to action. I was inspired like Jake in the . We need a place to teach people how to get started. We can't rely on the big companies to do it. We need a place to help people get started. It should be a tutorial site, with videos, a facebook page and child-friendly explanations. It should have games to play and the videos should show you how. Perhaps with cartoons. Perhaps it might be called startroleplaying.com?

What do you think? New crusade for the roleplaying philanthropists?

[koipond]

That's an idea. I know there are places that do summer camps that are basically devoted to teaching and/or roleplaying with kids. The fact that they use D&D is besides the point, I'm just interested in the fact that they're roleplaying.

The problem with the idea might be the scope. It's hard to be all encompassing because there are so many ways to play. You might want to start with, "What do you like to do?" and kinda split it up like that ... hrm ...

[Rob Lang]

The problem with offering choice is that the prospective player doesn't know the ramifications of each choice. If you know nothing, you can't make a choice! The site should be friendly and offer one start on roleplaying. Probably fantasy, probably involving maps and dungeons. Nice and simple. It should be very simple indeed, to get them started.

[Stargazer]

That's actually an excellent idea. In your tweet you mentioned a site specifically for teachning kids how to play RPGs, but I think the scope of such a site should be larger. If you need some help or support for such a project please let me know.

[koipond]

[Stargazer]

Instead of targeting only kids we should think about ways to introduce all age groups to roleplaying. Just my two cents.

Alas I have no concrete ideas on HOW to pull this off.

[koipond]

It's hard. Because you want to be informative and educational without going, "THIS IS HOW YOU ROLEPLAY!"

Knowing the community as well, as soon as you did anything, someone would be all up in arms going, "THAT IS NOT ROLEPLAYING! GLAKJSDLKFJALGDSJR!!"

[Rob Lang]

@Michael - Willkommen! Great to have you onboard.
I agree that targeting all prospective players would be good. I can't say how either! Perhaps the cartoon could be written in a non-patronising way. The Simpsons, for example, is a cartoon that most of the family can get behind. Not easy to do. We'll definitely keep that in mind.

@Koi - I'd start it with action! Something to grab the viewer. Show the characters killing orks or something and then bring what is going on at the table into it bit by bit. I would keep it nice and obvious - which is why I like Michael's Warrior, Rogue & Mage for this. You can make any character you like but you can also make a character that is very distinct. I think distinct characters are easier to play for new players.

And regarding the community, I'm always happy to read the comments, both good and bad. If it doesn't teach roleplaying in a way they like, they would be welcome to make their own cartoon! Oh, and it's not for the community. The RPG community is already playing.

[koipond]

There is that. I'm not opposed to criticism. I'm opposed to whining. There would be a lot of whining.

You know, Warrior, Rogue, & Mage would be a great place to start. It gives the idea on what you can do without being so bogged down with special combat rules and the like.

*ponders some more*

[Rob Lang]