FANTASY NEEDS YOU!
(sadly we don't have a pointing at you goblin)
We've lots of threads asking what the problems are and talking about how not many play fantasy locally and also about all the endless number of things
GW could possibly do to make fantasy better or more attractive or just plain different.
So this thread is not about all that; instead its about what you can do to help promote fantasy both in your local area and online. It's about sharing ideas and encouraging people to promote fantasy as a game locally and get more people interested; because at the end of the day more interested people means we get to play more games of the game we like playing.
To to start things off here's a list of ideas and methods that can be used to promote the game:
A) At the local level;
1) Competitions/campaigns. Partly for those who already have some forces and about getting them dusted off and in use again; this is all about tapping into what is already present at the local scene.
Competitions can be anything from things like painting and converting through to achievement charts (eg give achievement points for performing certain game actions). Terrain and models can be included encouraging people to enjoy and enhance the whole experience.
Campaigns can be small scale or even large scale with sweeping stories and multiple path options. Again this is about getting those who already have armies playing again.
As possible prizes could be a big insentive - campaigns could have a nominal fee to play which goes to the winner or you might even be able to tie something in with your local shop.
2) Growth campaigns. This is aimed at new people and new armies for existing players and focuses around the idea of starting small and building up into bigger armies. Part of the problem with fantasy is that it doesn't work its best till it gets to high point levels; and getting there takes a lot of models. Plus if you're the only one building an army the 2K point players don't really want to cut down suddenly to 500 points all the time. By getting a group started at low points and expanding their armies at a decent pace you can provide those small point games plus get a new group of people started at the same time. It helps provide entertainment and also motivation from the group to get armies together.
3) Tutorials and lessons. These can be anything from assembling and painting for the novice all the way through to how to play and advanced tactics/gameplay tricks. This is all about using those who are skilled locally to spread out that understanding with the group. People enjoy more when they've more skill and scope within the hobby - if they can paint better they'll be far more likely to paint up their armies and paint them to a higher standard. Similarly the more people learn how to play the more fun they'll get as they can use different ideas on the table top and have more chance at securing a win.
This is often a good cover all for getting people interested in any wargame so isn't just going to benefit promoting fantasy at your local level; but also the rest of the wargaming scene as well.
B) Online: The online scene is smaller and typically far more spread out; but its there and promoting and encouraging people remotely also helps at the local level.
1) Take part in forum life - simple and easy (and if you're reading this you're already doing it). Comment and advise on peoples paint jobs - help them build army lists - help them start up armies and get into the game.
I'd also say try to avoid too many negative threads; this isn't about avoiding problems, but more about ensuring that you don't end up endlessly focusing on those entertaining drama threads that point out the negative sides of the game. Too much focus there can not only give a bad image of the game itself but also demotivate yourself .
2) Regular gaming updates - blogs, painting journals, conversion threads etc.. This is about giving yourself some focus and projects to work with and promote both locally and online. A log of how you paint and what you've painted can be both a great personal motivator and also a way to show the game in a positive light at its best.
3) Battle reports - not just a good thing for yourself but also a great way to share how the game is played and improve yours and others skills in gameplay. It might make your local game a touch slower once in a while as you jot down notes but it can make a big impression when you can sit back and view how you are playing and see where you're making mistakes - all the while you're also talking about and promoting the game itself.
If you really want to go wild go video (watch a few good ones like Wargamergirl on youtube) and give some entertaining visual aid to things (if you've camera you can also use video for thing like the painting and conversions).
Much of what I've said above is already done; but its not done by all and the more who pick up and start doing things like the above the more interest one can help generate in a title. The more focus there is on the hobby and good sides; the more talk and fun we get out and also show to others the more we entice people to take the plunge and jump in --- and then of course we're ready with tutorials and the like to further help ease them into the game.
So there are are my thoughts - so what are you dong? What are you doing to help promote the game? Have you your own ideas to add to the above that you've found work at getting more people into the hobby ?
