What is Roleplay #17: Teaching Games with Aviv Or & Eran Aviram

What Is Roleplay?

00:00 / 1:04:01

Welcome to Episode 17 of ‘What Is Roleplay?!
This episode we are joined by Aviv Or and Eran Aviram to discuss teaching games

Aviv & Eran’s work ‘The Crystal Heart’ and how it uniquely teaches readers to roleplay, specifically to play the Savage Worlds RPG
Their use of narrative to explain how to play, based on the assumption that the reader has no prior knowledge
The time and effort they have put in to developing the ability to teach games through the graphic medium, such as the use of humour, and colour (to indicate who’s turn it is)
The importance of aesthetics and atmosphere when teaching someone a game – open the rulebook on a fun page with graphics, use colour dice, create a comfortable environment. Know your audience – what will this person enjoy, what will draw them into the game?
Pick the right game – something that is colourful and well set out will help you learn the game and teach it to others
Set up a specific scenario for your new players, so they have a basic understanding & something to work with: ‘Let’s play a fantasy adventure where we will be rescuing a princess from a fearsome dragon’. Then as you explain the rules they will be able to refer back to the scenario
Being a good player means taking part in the shared social contract – agreeing as a group what your desired outcome is and then not doing things that negatively impact on that agreed outcome.
FUN! There are so many different forms of fun, make sure the game is fun for the new player. Do no harm
Rolling Dice – Make sure the first roll is nice and basic. Let the player understand what happens after the roll. Let them succeed. Explain how the dice effect the game and the outcome. Check Episode 1 for more info on dice
Staggered rule introduction – clearly and concisely communicating the rules of play, but in a slow and methodical approach. Instead of spending 30mins to an hour explaining all the rules, just introduce them as needed. For example the concept of advantage or disadvantage doesn’t need to be unpacked until it’s relevant to encounter at hand
View the rulebooks as encyclopaedia rather than manuals that must be memorised
Do not take away agency from the player – do not make the games rule system something that they have to fight against. Don’t disempower them by withholding the rules or rolling the dice for them.
In our actual play Eran walks Chris and Aviv through a game of City of Mist, teaching them about the system, dice rolling, tags and status mechanics. Will they overcome the powers of darkness and the mysterious chanting monks?