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I was discussing the complexity of computer games with some of my students, attempting to fathom why these young jackanapes can fathom arcane rule systems on their consoles but perhaps not with tabletop RPGs and it became clear that the voyage of understanding was smoother and less daunting in the videogames they played because of the tutorials.
Would it make sense for Paizo to develop a tutorial adventure through which players learnt to use their powers?
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I don't know, really. To be honest, I can only see this being used very little, and predominately for groups of people that want to try. To be honest, I think this would work a lot better, is just to stage a mock fight or two. Each character vs all other characters, and the DM can change a few things each time, like how close they all start, (favoring different character types), what terrain, and things like that. They last just a few minutes, and the DM can simply make suggestions here and there, and it also gives the DM some idea what the character will act like when the real game starts.
After that, let them mock fight a monster, so they understand they work together.
Tyhen the real game starts.
I was discussing the complexity of computer games with some of my students, attempting to fathom why these young jackanapes can fathom arcane rule systems on their consoles but perhaps not with tabletop RPGs and it became clear that the voyage of understanding was smoother and less daunting in the videogames they played because of the tutorials.
Would it make sense for Paizo to develop a tutorial adventure through which players learnt to use their powers?
Not really as smooth as it seems. Tutorials aside a lot of them use trial and error or the internet to find out what they need to know. And, of course the control schemes for a lot of games have distinct similarities (rather like many paper and pencil games mechanics). I teach high school, and advise the Computer and Game Club there. I play both paper and pencil and computer games (shooters and RPGs mostly) so I'm fairly familiar with this. Tutorials also work better for computer games because their options are often simpler and more restricted than in a paper and pencil game. There have been any number of simplified introductory versions of D&D (and other) paper and pencil RPGs, but I'm not sure how succesful they have been at cushioning the learning curve for RPGs without being as complex... as well a paper and pencil RPG. What might seem like a lower level of complexity to an experienced gamer is often still complex to an outsider.
A tutorial or introductory version of the PFRPG would be very nice.
And yes, we had similar things for D&D (and I'm talking for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd edition), but IMO we haven't really seen a well-designed introductory set for D&D in a long, long time. No offense to those who worked on the published sets, but by "well designed" you really need "someone who knows how to write introductory material, especially for a younger audience" + "reasonable amount of time to do so" + "not given weird design constraints like promoting other aspects of the company." And good marketing. And playtesting. And... and....
It's not easy, but I'd like to give it a shot someday. I actually took a seminar about writing for children. Oh, and that year I spent studying to be a teacher....
Hint, hint.
Contributor
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A tutorial or introductory version of the PFRPG would be very nice.
And yes, we had similar things for D&D (and I'm talking for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd edition), but IMO we haven't really seen a well-designed introductory set for D&D in a long, long time. No offense to those who worked on the published sets, but by "well designed" you really need "someone who knows how to write introductory material, especially for a younger audience" + "reasonable amount of time to do so" + "not given weird design constraints like promoting other aspects of the company." And good marketing. And playtesting. And... and....
It's not easy, but I'd like to give it a shot someday. I actually took a seminar about writing for children. Oh, and that year I spent studying to be a teacher....
Hint, hint.
Just curious, which sets did you like or not like? I have the 3rd and 3.5 sets, and they seemed pretty reasonable as a beginner's product. The 4e "test drive" avaiable for download seems pretty reasonable, too, but I don't have any new/young players to try it on.
Honestly, I haven't read any of them in years so I don't have any specific memories that I can point at to answer your question. I just remember feeling they could be improved.
I'm very biased, since it was my introduction to the game, but I think the 1991 boxed set with Escape from Zanzer's Dungeon was a terrific introductory set. It had a set of "Dragon Cards" with a rule on one side and a piece of a solo adventure showing that rule in action on the other. The adventure itself lacked some internal consistency, but the overall product was very well done.
Lisa Stevens talks about the possibility of just such a thing for PfRPG during the "Future of Paizo" fireside chat at Paizocon. Unfortunately I don't recall which video it is in (there are 6) but they are all well worth watching.
Basically she says they are seriously looking at the idea but worry about distribution. Putting a product like that on Paizo.com is likely NOT going to get it into the hands of prospective gamers. Current gamers come to Paizo.com. They need to get enough momentum going so that if they release something that Barnes and Noble and some other big - non-gaming oriented places will pick it up for distribution.
She says it much better than I so watch the videos.
I like the concept, but I concur that distribution could be a challenge. I guess like most P&P gamers I met a friend who played (back in the 70's) and I was off to the races. I have had the privilege of teaching quite a few people to play. We current have a game for the grand kids too.
However not everyone is fortunate enough to have cool gamer geek friends, and I like the idea of a low cost (or even free) tutorial package.