Warning: include(include/prependnc.inc) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/megiddo/mordengaard.org/revival.php on line 1
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'include/prependnc.inc' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php:/usr/local/php5/lib/pear') in /home/megiddo/mordengaard.org/revival.php on line 1
The Revival of the Wetlands Campaign
Official Entry #1
April 7, 2003
Unto the Monarchy, Nobility and Populace of the Wetlands,
First, the omnipresent disclaimer, because I want to make myself perfectly
clear and leave as little room for doubt in the minds of those folks who
always seem to take offense at what I say. What I am going to be posting
over the next few days is for the benefit of the entire Kingdom, though it
might seem like I am singling out Granyte Spyre. GS is just the chapter
closest to my home, and, as this project progresses, I will be expanding its
reach to include all the chapters who care to follow it through.
Additionally, it may seem like I am pointing fingers or laying blame for one
situation or another; this simply is not so, and any examples I might pull
from recent history should serve as EXAMPLES only. The time for positive
action is now, and henceforth, so far as I am concerned, all previous
negativity is water under the bridge so to speak. If you get your feelings
hurt, or otherwise take offense at something I say, then maybe you should
just start deleting this thread now because I'm probably going to be
stepping on a few toes - and if yours are delicate, get the hell out of the
way, cuz I'm a big guy and I plan to do some stomping. If, at any time, you
feel the need to reply in anger, just keep it to yourself, because I'm not
going to bother defending my beliefs to anyone. This is "just the way I see
it" and nothing your hurt wittle feewings can say is going to change my
mind. That unpleasantness aside, read on if you dare.
THE STATE OF THE WETLANDS
It's easy to look around at events and weekly meetings and see that the
population of yesteryear is dwindling fast. In two short years we have gone
from a kingdom of 14 groups with five Duchies (and a Grand Duchy) to a
kingdom of 9 groups with one Duchy. The number of Old Timers are dropping
off, as can be expected of any recreational hobby which requires the
continual expenditure of energy as Amtgard. The elder knights are slowly
disappearing and the Founding Fathers of the Wetlands have all but turned
over the "reigns of power" to younger, more enthusiastic leaders.
Ordinarily, this would not be a problem, except that the "talent base" of
new members is not growing at the same rate as the drop-outs.
If the Wetlands is to survive another ten years, we have got to start
recruiting and we've got to start soon. But there is far more to it than
just getting players out to the park. We've got to keep them coming back -
and therein lies the controversial part of this mission. If we are to thrive
in the Age of Everquest, we have to begin to change the way we see
ourselves, and, most importantly, we've got to change a few of the things we
have grown complacent in allowing.
So, in as much detail as I can muster, I have listed a few thoughts on how
to Revive the Wetlands.
FIND NEW PLAYERS
This is the Big Enchilada of the Revival - finding and keeping new
like-minded players. Without new blood, we are doomed to wither and die.
Listed below are expositions on the types of new players and how to go about
recruiting them.
High Schools -
From area high schools come many young players, full of
energy and enthusiasm. Many of our long-term players started out as high
school students. On the plus side, they generally run in packs, so if we
recruit one, we usually get several. On the downside, they rarely have their
own transportation, so they end up starting a new group at whatever school
they represent. If we can prevent this from happening, then I'd be more
prone to condoning recruitment at this level. Also, Amtgard is, despite the
howls of many Amt-parents, NOT KID FRIENDLY, especially to those children
with parents who, you know, CARE what their kids are up to. How to reach
these kids? I heard an idea about placing ads in the school newspapers, but
that could get expensive (especially in a place like Houston with over 100
different high schools). Also, public schools get really picky about what
kinds of businesses/organizations are allowed to recruit and/or post flyers
on campus. I have to say, forget the kids. They'll come on their own.
Community Colleges and Universities -
While not such a pack mentality,
recruiting players at this level is far preferable to high school kids, just
by virtue of the average age. The biggest plus to these institutions is they
have community bulletin boards and student unions. Both of these places can
be used to hang or distribute flyers, and the Powers-That-Be are usually a
LOT more amenable to organizations recruiting on campus, especially we
historical and educational-types. Also, it would behoove us to single out
History, Humanities, Music, Art and Religious Studies Departments and get a
handful of flyers to each.
Traditional Venues -
Book Stores (like Waldenbooks), Comic Book Stores,
Movie Premiers and Game Stores. These are our bread-and-butter! These are
the businesses we should be BOMBING with flyers and personal appearances.
Don't call. Don't schedule a demo. JUST SHOW UP! AND SHOW UP EVERY WEEK! We
are over-looking one of the biggest draws of all, and that is the amount of
attention six guys (and gals) in garb and armor can create on their own. No
self-respecting comic book/ game store would kick us out and, once we're
gone, we leave a pile of flyers in our wake.
Non-traditional Venues -
Irish Bars, Tattoo Parlors, Head Shops (like
Bizarre Bazzar or Erotic Cabaret - MARS NEEDS WOMEN!), Copy Shops (like
Copydotcom), Grocery Stores, Coffee Shops (like Starbucks and Deitrichs) -
all of these places let weirdos like us hang signs in their windows
publicizing Coming Events and Attractions. Well, we're an attraction, aren't
we? We have events, don't we? Even if we can't patronize these places every
weekend, we can at least show up once a month and change the flyers!
SEEK OUT OLD PLAYERS AND CONVERTS
People play games for a variety of reasons, and quit for just as many
reasons. This should be our second "big push". There are literally hundreds
of people out there who USED to play Amtgard and don't any longer. The main
reasons for quitting are usually a) BURN-OUT/BOREDOM, b) PERSONALITY
CONFLICTS or c) LOSS OF APPEAL. While b) may be the hardest to overcome, the
other two are easily solved by simple phone calls.
Retirees -
I bet four of us Old Timers could sit under a tree and come up
with fifty names of people we haven't seen in years. Grab a phone book and
look up those names (REAL NAMES, ninnies!) and explain to those folks that
the Kingdom is changing, there are new rules on the way, a Revival is
happening and the fun is reaching an all-time high. Whatever line of shit it
takes to get them to come back out. Then we gotta PROVE it (see CHANGING THE
PARADIGM, below).
Vampires, Klingons and SCAdians -
Our biggest competitors should get ROBBED
by this Campaign. No kidding, this is WAR, ladies and gentlemen. If we are
to survive, we have got to ruthlessly attract players from other societies.
Vampire-LARPers will love the chance to engage in full-contact gaming and
SCAdians will enjoy the softer side of combat without sprains and bruises.
Klingons, well, they can come fight until their blood-thirsty hearts are
content. All of these groups can be contacted via the Internet for meeting
times and places. Then, a few of us show up, offer to help out their club
(NOT) if we can hand out some flyers. Wholesale robbery ensues.
Rennies -
How many of you work at the Renaissance Festival or attend so
regularly as to be permanent fixtures? Now, how many of you know someone at
the Fair who DOESN'T play Amtgard? See, you've already been slacking! Pick
up the phone and invite your similarly-geeky friends to come out to the
park. Easy cheesy, lemon squeezy. These should be the easiest converts of
all, because we're not competing with the Fair except for a few weeks a year
(when most of us are there, anyway).
CHANGES IN THE PARADIGM
Okay, prepare for the controversy. And, like I said at the beginning, keep
your hurt feelings to yourself or someone who cares, cuz I don't want to
hear it. I was asked to help revive the Kingdom and, therefore, I am giving
my two pesos regarding how to do that. Feel free to disagree, but please
save the crying for another forum (like Livejournal. You can start a page
and cry to the world about Big Mean Luke and his Dastardly Opinions)
Weekly Meetings -
This is almost always the first face seen by new players
and is the number one reason for players not coming back. If weekly meetings
are a joke of sitting under a tree and bullshitting, then no one is going to
be interested. Have something planned for EVERY WEEKEND. Period. I can not
stress this enough. Ditch battles and Ring-the-Bell are NOT enough. Plan a
Quest, a battlegame, a tournament, SOMETHING. If you get more than three
newbies on any day, teach an impromptu class on weapon construction, shield
making or basic garbing. Show them a little love, make it interesting and
they'll come running back.
Events -
Our events pretty much rock. The biggest complaint I hear from
newbies comes from Court and who is getting recognized for what. This can't
be helped, mostly because the folks who are getting recognized are long
overdue and have been doing it for a long time. One thing I would advise,
however, is that the Kingdom Monarch hand out a few low level awards every
now and then. Yeah, yeah, I know you've got policies about letting the local
leaders handle what they can - but you gotta admit, awards from the King or
Regent are a LOT more impressive than from a Baron or Sheriff - especially
if it's for something that happened at the event (like a Dragon or Owl for
exceptional A&S entries, or a Rose for standing extra shifts at gate). Try
it, it won't hurt, and chances are, that newbie will be back!
The Wetlist -
Here is the tough one. The Wetlist sucks ass. No offense to the moderators,
but it's WAY out of control in some areas (namely the continual barrage of
almost-flames between Old Timers). I have heard from no fewer than four
newbies that the Wetlist is making them lose all respect for the game in
general and the Wetlands as a whole. I'll be the first to admit I start more
than my fair share of crap on the list, but it's usually meant in either
good fun or from a sincere attempt to impress an issue on the populace. SOME
folks just want to be rude and point fingers and call names and pat
themselves on the back. While there is a time and place for all those
things, in front of the newbies ain't it. I recommend to the Moderators:
start a new list just for players of less than a year experience and maybe
five to ten Old Timers who are genuinely interested in their welfare - and
unsubscribe them from the main Wetlist until they are ingrained enough in
our culture to understand our rampant abuse of one other in cyberspace.
Recommended Old Timers for this Newbie List: myself, Fionnghal, Chewie,
Trelath, Dughan, Snicker, Feral, Jeardan, O'Banion and Denah. A fine
cross-section of native Wetlanders, outsiders, role-players, stick jocks,
politicians and artisans (all of which are capable of talking good smack,
but FAR more capable to teaching new players about Amtgard on a personal
level)
MARKETING THE GAME
As I said before, this is the Age of Everquest (and other on-line,
vicarious-thrill games) - in order to make our mark in this day and age,
we've got to offer something more than just war games. We've got to offer
games, exercise, adventure, outdoor activities, educational experiences and,
above all, friendship. We've got to go up to the Mundanes who are watching
and be nice to them. Hand them a sword and offer to spar. KEEP THEM AWAY
FROM THE STICK JOCKS for the first time out. No one is going to come back
after Targ'et hands them their ass for the eightieth time in a row.
Advertise -
Advertise. Advertise. Throughout this post I make mention of
advertising as the way to recruit. No kidding, gang. You gotta spend money
to make money. And this holds true for recruitment, as well. You have got to
be SEEN and SEEN OFTEN. We've got to appear professional, "together" and
like we know what we're doing. We've got to have eye-catching, full color
flyers. We've got have on-the-spot business contact cards for each barony.
The Houston Chronicle -
The Houston Press. The Daily Cougar (U of H
newspaper), The Village News. The Greensheet. These are the places where are
advertisement dollars will pay off the most and best. Forget the high school
papers, we have bigger fish to fry!
To make matters even better, we NEVER have to pay a graphic designer for
anything. :)
FUNDING
In closing this post, let's talk about money. This campaign is going to take
some bucks. I hereby pledge $100 of my personal money for advertising costs.
I also pledge all the design time and paper stock necessary to make it
happen. The Kingdom Monarch (Thanks, Spyn!) has also generously offered to
help kick down to off-set the cost of printing. What would YOU like to
donate? Hmmm?
I'd also like to nominate Sir Feral, Prime Minister of Granyte Spyre, to act
as Treasurer for the Revival. While I haven't known him for long, I
genuinely feel he is trustworthy, universally reachable and concerned about
the State of the Amtgard today. Sir Feral, if you would, please consider
this your Unofficial Appointment to the Revival Committee. I'll be getting
my extra cash to you ASAP.
AT LAST…THE END
Thank you all for getting this far and bearing with this rather long-winded
post. I hope I didn't step on too many toes, and, if I did step on yours,
please don’t take it too poorly. I'm only trying to help.
More to come, probably as the list explodes with controversy,
Luke
© 2003 Lukas Wyndgarde.
Document edited for style by Meggido.
Warning: include(include/append.inc) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/megiddo/mordengaard.org/revival.php on line 263
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'include/append.inc' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/local/lib/php:/usr/local/php5/lib/pear') in /home/megiddo/mordengaard.org/revival.php on line 263