#RPGaDAY2018 - DAY 8: How can we get more people playing?

Day eight of #RPGaDAY2018 asks "How can we get more people playing?"

That reminds me of a conversation I had over emails many, many, many years ago with Chris Birch, head of game publishing juggernaut Modiphius. This was way back when Conspiracy X 2.0 had just come out, and he hadn't started in game publishing. He dropped me an email about the game and we started chatting, and one of the questions he asked was "how do you think we could reach more people with the hobby?" How could we get more people, especially kids, playing roleplaying games?

Of course, this was before Dungeons & Dragons had its second (third?) renaissance and kids just weren't exposed to tabletop gaming like they are now.

The cover of the original printed pitch to the BBC.
Less than twenty were produced...

After a few emails, we decided that the best way to get kids playing was to produce a game that tied into something cool that the kids were enjoying at the moment - of course, I mentioned Doctor Who and Chris responded with "well, I know who to talk to at the BBC"... A few months later and we, along with Angus and Dom and their newly formed Cubicle 7 Entertainment were sitting nervously in the BBC's offices discussing our ideas and a new game was born.

Cut to today and kids are watching Critical Role, Shield of Tomorrow, and so many streams of cool games - and Dungeons & Dragons doesn't have the stigma it used to. The games industry seems to be growing again.

I honestly don't think there's much we need to do except to ensure that new players are welcome. Just like most fandoms, there is a negative element that we should be fighting. Anyone should be welcome to play.

Other than that, you know my views on Harry Potter and the need for a tabletop RPG already...

Until tomorrow, stay multi-classy!