Demos, new players and erratta

I recently moved to New Orleans and have found that while there are alot of people who play cards games here, very few of those players play V:tes. Because of this, I would like to hold a few demos here and there to hopefully get more people interested in the game. Unfortunately, I only know what the concept of a demo is (and a very vague idea of how to run one). Is there anywhere on the net the describes, or could any of you detail what goes on during a demo? Also (LSJ, Ryan), I think it would be a really good idea if the (most recent) Rulings, Clarifications and Erratta could be printed in an issue of The Duelist. The reason being is that there was a situation recently where I was in a game with some players (who do not have access to the net) when one of them played a card illegally. I whipped out my print out of the recent RC&E only to have them scoff at it because they thought it was fake. In another game, I was lost to a deck that abused Freak Drive and Majesty. They had never even heard of NRA. If there are players who don't have net access, they don't have any clue that there has been erratta and clarifications to many of the cards. And if there is some officiality to the list, then those players would have no choice but to abide by them. As it was, I lost several games because of their unwillingness to recognize that those RC&E were official. I do not imagine that my experience was an isolated incident. I understand that there might? would? be some difficulty in getting it printed in The Duelist due to their attitude towards the game, but I think it is something that we should try to get done lest these RC&E only be known (and recognized) by those of us who have net access. Sorrow --- I don't want to be alone | I hurt, therefore I am anymore |-------------------------------- I don't want to be anyone | "What are you looking at...? anymore | you never seen anyone try to I don't need a reason to kill myself | commit suicide before?" - Anon ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==----- http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading

And I second this proposal Raille. > Also (LSJ, Ryan), I think it would be a really good idea if the (most > recent) Rulings, Clarifications and Erratta could be printed in an > issue of The Duelist. The reason being is that there was a situation > recently where I was in a game with some players (who do not have > access to the net) when one of them played a card illegally. I whipped > out my print out of the recent RC&E only to have them scoff at it > because they thought it was fake. In another game, I was lost to a > deck that abused Freak Drive and Majesty. They had never even heard > of NRA. If there are players who don't have net access, they don't have > any clue that there has been erratta and clarifications to many of the > cards. And if there is some officiality to the list, then those players > would have no choice but to abide by them. As it was, I lost several > games because of their unwillingness to recognize that those RC&E were > official. I do not imagine that my experience was an isolated incident. > I understand that there might? would? be some difficulty in getting it > printed in The Duelist due to their attitude towards the game, but I > think it is something that we should try to get done lest these RC&E > only be known (and recognized) by those of us who have net access. > > Sorrow -----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==----- [ quoted text not captured ]

cbo...@apdi.net wrote: > Unfortunately, I only know what the concept of a demo is (and a very > vague idea of how to run one). Is there anywhere on the net the > describes, or could any of you detail what goes on during a demo? I ran one here in Columbia, SC a few weeks before the tournament. I built 14 decks. Each had 40 cards and a single-clan (camarilla) crypt. And they were unfocused. Sure, the Brujah were focused on combat and the Malks focused on bleeds - but not to the extent that the deck would have a prayer in a tourney. I built all 14 out of the 560 cards that Jennifer (WotC) scraped up from the storage units at WotC - so the options were limited. Anyway - the decks worked very well - lots of exposure to *all* the rules (equipping, voting, retainers, combat, running out of cards, stealth, intercept, etc.) in short order. People showed up, and when four were available, I got them started and waited for the next group of four. > Also (LSJ, Ryan), I think it would be a really good idea if the (most > recent) Rulings, Clarifications and Erratta could be printed in an > issue of The Duelist. The reason being is that there was a situation You're right - from our perspective. I've suggested it before. But the Duelist doesn't recognize the need. Write to them (paper, envelope, and stamp kinda ting) and tell them that you want to see VTES coverage. If enough people do (and the Duelist's staff decides what's "enough"), then maybe we'll get it printed. > recently where I was in a game with some players (who do not have > access to the net) when one of them played a card illegally. I whipped > out my print out of the recent RC&E only to have them scoff at it > because they thought it was fake. In another game, I was lost to a > deck that abused Freak Drive and Majesty. They had never even heard > of NRA. If there are players who don't have net access, they don't have > any clue that there has been erratta and clarifications to many of the > cards. And if there is some officiality to the list, then those players Those lists have all the officiallity of a list in the Duelist. > would have no choice but to abide by them. As it was, I lost several > games because of their unwillingness to recognize that those RC&E were > official. I do not imagine that my experience was an isolated incident. > I understand that there might? would? be some difficulty in getting it > printed in The Duelist due to their attitude towards the game, but I > think it is something that we should try to get done lest these RC&E > only be known (and recognized) by those of us who have net access. Those without net access can write (paper, envelope, and stamp) for a set of rulings and errata to the address printed in the rulebook. Include a long SASE, with enough postage to cover mailing ten pages or so back. Or, just request written confirmation that the rulings on the net are official, and you ony need a regular SASE. That should be official enough. -- L. Scott Johnson (vte...@wizards.com) Official VtES Net.Rep for Wizards of the Coast. (*) - Subject to review by Rules Team

cbo...@apdi.net wrote: > Because of this, I would like to hold a few demos here > and there to hopefully get more people interested in the game. Good idea! > Unfortunately, I only know what the concept of a demo is (and a very > vague idea of how to run one). Is there anywhere on the net the > describes, or could any of you detail what goes on during a demo? > First - find a good spot to play. If there are any local conventions, this is good - you might get maximum exposure. Easier to find are your local game store. Just tell them you need some space, and if they have some Jyhad or Vampire, then they will have a good chance of selling more. Let them know you will do the rest. Make up some flyers with clear time and dates. Post them in the store and anywhere else you think likely folk would congregate (outside Anne Rice's house mayhaps?) I have made up 61 card decks that are fairly themed and clan-based. Each also has one each of the 15 of each vampire for each clan. I can e-mail you the lists if you would like. The only thing that doesn't come up, and I may need to change is that there is rarely any contestion, unless you make up two of each deck and two folks grab the same clan deck. If you don't have a lot of Jyhad commons, I could make and sell you as many as 4 of each clan for $1.50 a piece plus shipping - the Wakes, Blood Dolls and Hunting grounds cost about that much from Mark Korshavn. The easiest way to teach the game to absolute newbies is to describe the basis of the game - "You are an ancient vampire manipulating the strings from afar. Your goal is to oust your prey." etc. Describe the very basic terms, the very basic themes, the very basic rules. Then give a brief outline of each clan, and how it tends to achieve its ends - Malkavians are crazy, sneaky, and tend to bleed like mothers, etc. Then let them pick the clan that appeals to them the most. Finally, once they have picked the clans, play a game and teach as you go. As an aside, I did not include Nosferatu in the mix because I felt that they have the least clear course towards victory - they don't bleed, combat, or vote as well as any of the other 6 basic clans, although they can be really good combo decks. In short, I felt that Nosferatu-clan based decks are too advanced for intro play - I could of course be totally wrong... : ) A few pointers - 1) bring lots of counters (35 per person you expect - pebbles, pennies, toothpicks [the square kind, the round kind will roll away], etc.). 2) if you are playing, _don't win_ if you can help it. It looks bad when the expert goes and trounces the newbies, you know? 3) take any opportunity to teach every and all things that happen in the game, even if it might be stupid for you to do. Just the other day I ran a demo, and one of the experienced players let his vamp go to torpor to show how that happens. I know he wouldn't have done that in a tournament situation. 4) if there are experienced players, do not let them turn the game into the normal cutthroat Jyhad game - remember the demo is to teach new players. Also - don't argue about rules, try to just let it flow... 5) if you can, give the decks away at the end of the demo. 6) be enthusiastic, patient, and have fun yourself - it is infectious. Good Luck! Chris -- Chris Shorb & Tammy Martin ino...@ix.netcom.com "In fuzzy logic, there's no rule to design or make a model, and that's probably why people don't like fuzzy logic. That's the most important point." -Yuzo Kato

In article <351BA6...@wizards.com>, LSJ <vte...@wizards.com> wrote: > > > > Also (LSJ, Ryan), I think it would be a really good idea if the (most > > recent) Rulings, Clarifications and Erratta could be printed in an > > issue of The Duelist. The reason being is that there was a situation > > You're right - from our perspective. I've suggested it before. > But the Duelist doesn't recognize the need. Write to them (paper, > envelope, and stamp kinda ting) and tell them that you want to see > VTES coverage. If enough people do (and the Duelist's staff > decides what's "enough"), then maybe we'll get it printed. So what is the address of the Duelist?? Raille > > -- > L. Scott Johnson (vte...@wizards.com) > Official VtES Net.Rep for Wizards of the Coast. > (*) - Subject to review by Rules Team > [ quoted text not captured ]

rai...@mich.com wrote: > > In article <351BA6...@wizards.com>, > LSJ <vte...@wizards.com> wrote: > > > > You're right - from our perspective. I've suggested it before. > > But the Duelist doesn't recognize the need. Write to them (paper, > > envelope, and stamp kinda ting) and tell them that you want to see > > VTES coverage. If enough people do (and the Duelist's staff > > decides what's "enough"), then maybe we'll get it printed. > > So what is the address of the Duelist?? THE DUELIST Wizards of the Coast, Inc. P.O. Box 469086 Escondido, CA 92046-9723 [ quoted text not captured ]