[Daanz-dip] Fw: Recruiting at FtF events.

[Dugal Ure]

Goffy's usual MO is in fact to always ally with the newbie, going so
far as to coach him to quite a good position.
And then stabbing him mercilessly like he could never do had he allied
with an experienced player.
I'm not sure either approach can take the high moral ground here.

When it comes down to it, a new player should expect to have the crap
kicked out of him, simply because he isn't as good at the game.  If we
are relying on newbies having an esteem-building gaming experience to
hold them, we are inherently doomed.  We've had this whole
conversation many times before.  Most of the long term players can all
recite how we were eliminated or at least stabbed and squashed to a
couple in 6 of our first 8 games etc.

You need to find people who already think Diplomacy is cool.  They're
the ones who will stay through the beatings.
Them, and people who actually enjoy the beatings.  You know who you are.

Cheers from Carolina,
Dugal

On Mon, Sep 8, 2008 at 5:47 PM, David Norman <david at ellought.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> Goffy,
>
>>Where have we failed?
>>
>>The best of us became too good at the type of Diplomacy we play. We
>>habitually killed the new players because we could. The solid players
>>learnt to never take a chance against the a-graders... meaning games
>>became very far removed from Diplomacy and much more like arm wrestling.
>>
>>This, in turn, causes two things to happen - games which lack originality;
>>and new players who bring enthusiasm getting killed. Overall a terrible
>>experience.
>
> I agree. I've seen the same thing here in the UK. We got a very strong
> hobby through 2000-2004. But the good players all knew each other, all knew
> who to ally with, and so the games became very samey, and not conducive to
> new players enjoying it.
>
> Eventually, the good players got bored of it too, and moved on, and
> suddenly the hobby has started growing again - for the first time in my
> memory. And a few of the good players who've played again for the first
> time this year have said how much more fun it is.
>
>>I would ask every player who has attended tournaments recently - when was
>>the last time you risked a "decent score" in order to try for an 18?
>>Because of the evolution of the game in Australia, no one is prepared to
>>risk stepping up. And, keeping in mind it is late at night and I have had
>>a couple to drink, I say the gutless game-length 3-way draw is more to
>>blame for our hobby being in the crapper than anything anyone else has
>>bought to light so far.
>
> I think the problem is earlier in the game than that. How many times, has
> your triangle contained someone you know you can work with, and someone you
> don't know, and you've tried to ally with the newbie?
>
> David.
>
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