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How to get friends into LOTR/SBG
http://gbain.powweb.com/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=21297		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Elrondio [ Wed Jul 27, 2011 6:38 pm ]
Post subject:  How to get friends into LOTR/SBG
So lately my brother has been not as interested in LOTR as the years of yore. I've been trying to convert my friends into fans but it's not working at all :sad:. My first attempt ( Luka ) got bored with it and constantly moaned as I tried to put together my force. My second attempt ended up being interested in it a lot , but constantly complained and whined. Now I'm going to precede with caution on my third attempt any tips to get a good gamer that's interested :no: yet doesn't complain ( or whine ) about losing and bad rolls or any of that nonsense
Author:  SuicidalMarsbar [ Wed Jul 27, 2011 8:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to get friends into LOTR/SBG
Encourage him to play an all hero force, its cheaper for him and he won't get "bored" as easily due to lack of models and high kill rates (until he runs out of might) Once you beat him many times playing with a proper army he will be encouraged to forge his own "proper" force and will be willing to make an effort to defeat you.

Try and stick with the stuff from the films too.
Author:  Hilbert [ Wed Jul 27, 2011 8:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to get friends into LOTR/SBG
Try to use a 'normal force' against a small force like Mars said and he will little by little want to play normal.
Author:  Slythar [ Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to get friends into LOTR/SBG
I got interested in it after playing Lord of the Rings Risk, my friend used his GW models to represent captains and they were nicely painted. I borrowed his rulebook for a couple of weeks and bought my own miniatures and played a small game with them (250 points, no captains, 2c Khazad, 2c Dwarf Archers, 2c Dwarf Rangers). Lots of fun. Having a copy of the rules certain helped me want to play the game.
Author:  typhoon2 [ Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to get friends into LOTR/SBG
Interesting and attractive terrain often helps newcomers to the hobby, as does a well-crafted scenario.

Tailor the introductory game to their specific interests - if they love the charge of the Rohirrim from the films then provide some Riders of Rohan to field; if they hate Merry and Pippin, then give them some Uruk-Hai Scouts to hunt them down with!
Author:  GuardianoftheCitadel [ Fri Jul 29, 2011 6:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to get friends into LOTR/SBG
I'd say judging your friend character is very important. Alot of people grew up around the likes of Robin Hood, so they like justice and nobility so give them some good characters like Rangers etc. or maybe their favourite colours are black and red then give 'em some Uruk-Hai.

Just make sure you give them units which matches their character.
Author:  Dream27 [ Sat Jul 30, 2011 10:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to get friends into LOTR/SBG
Let them win,
If you let them win a couple of times and go easy on them (but without them knowing it) they will probably feel really good as they've beaten someone who has been playing for a while and will want to play again. If you completely crush them a few times they probably won't want to play again.
Author:  General Elessar [ Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to get friends into LOTR/SBG
Dream27 wrote:
Let them win,
If you let them win a couple of times and go easy on them (but without them knowing it) they will probably feel really good as they've beaten someone who has been playing for a while and will want to play again. If you completely crush them a few times they probably won't want to play again.


This tactic is a bit sneaky and not very honest, but it does work... :wink:
Author:  SuicidalMarsbar [ Mon Aug 01, 2011 11:06 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to get friends into LOTR/SBG
Most importanatly, don't make use of a rule if you haven't explained it to them, I.E don't use trapped bonuses against them if you haven't explained how it worked before they got trapped.
Author:  BlackReaper [ Mon Aug 01, 2011 3:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to get friends into LOTR/SBG
Another thing is that you said the first one got bored while you made your army is to plan out your armies Before hand.That is what has helped me with other games,LoL. --Nate--
Author:  Beowulf03809 [ Thu Aug 04, 2011 6:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to get friends into LOTR/SBG
Yeah...character is critical. Complainers, whiners, power gammers, rule mongers, exploit seekers are all attitudes I'd rather not play with and are not too hard to pick up on early. Especially if they are real friends. You may like to hang out with someone, catch some films, do sports, etc but that doesn't mean they have the personality you want to play competitively against.

As for getting someone interested, if they are a fan of the books or films you probably just need to play through some of the scenarios from the Fellowship or Two Towers Journey Book to have them in. The Fellowship and a couple boxes of Moria Goblins, a Cave Troll and the Balrog are enough to reproduce some of that story's iconic scenes though the Journey Book has many more from the books developed as well. You can also get a couple sets of Uruk Hai Scouts and have some fun with the climax of TTT. Putting in some effort to make a reasonable Balin's Tomb terrain piece and/or Amon Hen and playing either of those scenarios are really great ways to introduce the game in a simple, well recognized and fun manner.

If they have some basic wargame experience then the rules for SBG are not too complex if you take it slow. If you have access to the Mines of Moria box set it came with a really nice little introduction booklet that taught the rules in a nice layered approach with basic scenarios and easy rules. For example the first one just had you doing Priority, Movement and hand to hand combat, the next one added on bow fire, then Might/Will/Fate, monsters ( Cave Troll ) magic (Gandalf), etc. I am sure I have the order wrong as I haven't looked back at it for a few years but having purchased and played MANY miniature and counter based wargames over the decades I think I only saw one or two other games take such a nice approach to introducing the system to new players.
Author:  BizzareWarstar [ Thu Aug 04, 2011 8:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to get friends into LOTR/SBG
hi Elrondio, I have the same problem and rules seems to be the major factor with us, their not not too complex but were not that familiar with them either.
In my last two games I tried working out all the combat, shooting etc before the game and write it out for my opponent to glance at while playing, like what dice score is required for a Dwarf warrior to wound a goblin, to shoot one, climb a wall, jump a gap...etc, whatever is relevant to your forces.
Its just some simple stuff but it did help a little in that we spent less time looking up rules and charts and it helped with what SuicidalMarsbar mentioned. In the end they where thinking more about the goblins and dwarves than the rules.
It is more prep before the game, but like BlackReaper said, if you can get all this stuff in before you sit down to play a game it helps.
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