TOPIC: Feedback Needed on New Coaching Room Ideas

Some thoughts, some original and some I'm sure I read somewhere...

#1 A poster like from the online tool or the player guide - showing an adventurer and the token slots - it's for newbies so forget about the weird exceptions. No Charm Necklace or Hand of Glory.

#2 And maybe a poster of this year's tokens, but broken up by slot instead of by rarity, with a little subtitle of "choose up to X" (where X=5 for ioun stones, 3 for charms, etc), or "unlimited" for gear, pots and scrolls, and hang it near the adventurer poster in #1. But it should explain the rarity color code so some newbie is less likely to trade an AoW for a couple of Duck Decoys, cute as they may be.

#2a or maybe combine the two, so have a box showing every hat/helmet token and the words "Head slot - pick 1" and a line connecting it to the adventurer's noggin, etc. It might get too busy and confusing if not done with some thought. You could leave off the URs if it helps under the theory that newbies will rarely find one anyway...

#3 Then copies of level 4 character cards on the wall, whether poster-sized or normal. Since it's for newbies, Level 5 cards would be optional.

#4 Finally, a simple poster by the combat board in the training room explaining how hits and damage are worked out.

I don't think you need all that in every room, maybe just near the entrance or the lobby, or where the standbys hang out so they can read them while waiting around.

Regarding newbies, I think there are some great suggestions here.

Regarding newbies running with a group of veterans, there is always the potential for the newbies to be disappointed (or veterans to get exasperated with newbies).

The big thing for us to remember as veterans is what our experiences were like the first time we came to TD, using the golden rule, and keep that in mind when talking with the newbies, ie - keep it fun for someone who doesn't know much about TD or have any tokens.

Widseth was a prime example of this last year. He ran with a newbie who wanted to play Bard. Widseth was not only magnanimous enough to let that player be the bard but helped make sure the newbie felt welcome, and was having fun.

Also, my special thanks to EN 429, Amorgen Burke, and Tobin Blake for making my college friend newbies feel welcome, at ease, and enjoying themselves for a successful nightmare run against Smoak.
(those former newbies plan on coming back next year)

I think being able to show up at your table slightly before an hour before the start time will help for newbies. If the ticket has a place, or when signing up, if there is mention that you should arrive up to an hour early to check things out if you are new, that would be a big help. It would be helpful if the host(ess) could mention "there are character cards at your table, choose what character each of you want to play. There is a player guide at the table to read as well".

The thing to keep in mind with how most people deal with Gen Con events is: sign up, and show up. Don't expect newbies to do "homework" beforehand.

I think the design this year of having the consistent coach this year will help, since the coach has time to work on what needs more work, rather than have 3 split times with different coaches/assistant.

I always focused on making sure the newbies' questions were answered and they were jazzed about their adventure once the party card was finished (which, if it was a whole group of newbies, the party card didn't take long).

Always offering the option goblin/non-lethal for groups of newbies was also helpful. Certainly last year, normal vs. Smoak had a potential for a high level of lethality for newbies.

quip wrote: The thing to keep in mind with how most people deal with Gen Con events is: sign up, and show up. Don't expect newbies to do "homework" beforehand.

COMPLETLY agree with this. The experience can't be based on an assumption that any player has read the emails, or looked at the TD forums/website.

Not sure how feasible this would be, but I have to throw it out there. How hard would it be to have NPCs outside the actual TD hall? They could stay in the immediate area, or wander a bit. Maybe give them small sign offering to answer TD questions? Last year, there would be a small group of people standing in front of the door, peering inside, or asking questions.

I know from experience that some of the volunteers are very social people and would love the chance to interact and share their love of TD with people that have only heard of it in passing.

SageSTL wrote:

quip wrote: The thing to keep in mind with how most people deal with Gen Con events is: sign up, and show up. Don't expect newbies to do "homework" beforehand.

COMPLETLY agree with this. The experience can't be based on an assumption that any player has read the emails, or looked at the TD forums/website.

Also completely agree, and not just for newbies. I'd say we have to assume for the Vast majority of all players, they will have done little to no prep work on True Dungeon prior to arriving. I know for all of the people I play with, I am the only one that does any work on True Dungeon outside of GENCON.

Mike: Maybe not all of us..... I learned to spell True Dungeon before our run last year!! ;-}=

Very good point. I am the only one in my group that does anything outside of the event itself, as well.

I guess my group is a bit of a rarity. We all put together a party sheet. What would be very useful would be the ability through the web to build a player stat card that could just be handed over to the judge to help them create the party card. This would be useful for the informed people, and thus giving time for the judge to help out the new people that know nothing about it.

Alvin Oliver wrote: I guess my group is a bit of a rarity. We all put together a party sheet. What would be very useful would be the ability through the web to build a player stat card that could just be handed over to the judge to help them create the party card. This would be useful for the informed people, and thus giving time for the judge to help out the new people that know nothing about it.

The Site does in fact offer that functionality. Click my account then view my characters and parties to access the online character equipped and print party cards.

Picc wrote:

Alvin Oliver wrote: I guess my group is a bit of a rarity. We all put together a party sheet. What would be very useful would be the ability through the web to build a player stat card that could just be handed over to the judge to help them create the party card. This would be useful for the informed people, and thus giving time for the judge to help out the new people that know nothing about it.

The Site does in fact offer that functionality. Click my account then view my characters and parties to access the online character equipped and print party cards.

Last year I was unable to get it to work. The bonuses didn't print in line with the card so it was illegible and confusing to the point of being unusable. I don't know if it was the site, my computer or my printer, but I hope it works better for me this time around. I know a lot of people had no problems with it.

Well failing the online version there's still the excel based version to fall back on.

Brad Mortensen wrote:

Picc wrote:

Alvin Oliver wrote: I guess my group is a bit of a rarity. We all put together a party sheet. What would be very useful would be the ability through the web to build a player stat card that could just be handed over to the judge to help them create the party card. This would be useful for the informed people, and thus giving time for the judge to help out the new people that know nothing about it.

The Site does in fact offer that functionality. Click my account then view my characters and parties to access the online character equipped and print party cards.

Last year I was unable to get it to work. The bonuses didn't print in line with the card so it was illegible and confusing to the point of being unusable. I don't know if it was the site, my computer or my printer, but I hope it works better for me this time around. I know a lot of people had no problems with it.

The big thing to remember here, is to give feedback. I had that problem, reported it, and it was fixed before GenCon.

You can find the thread under graphical token generator.