"ATZ Player Guides for newbies" Topic

I was wondering if anyone has put together a simple one page player guide that can be given to first time players? I am going to be hosting a game at Hobby Chest in Jacksonville NC and I am anticipating that half the players will have never played a wargame before, let alone a game from THW. I am looking for something that outlines movement, allowable actions, etc. Basically anything that will help the player without having to have them leaf through the QRS pages. I will be umpiring so I can do that for them but I want them to comfortable with doing the very basics. Someone who may have hosted a game at a convention may have already done something like this and I was hoping that they could share it so I wasn't reinventing the wheel.

Thanks

Check with Ed on the THW forum

link

RebelMike
Rebelminis.com

I run ATZ all the time for Noobs at conventions. It's actually really easy. 5 minutes of instruction and they're off getting themselves and the other players killed.

Give them the reaction table. Explain that they probably will never have to consult most of it, but it gives them an idea of how the Chain Reaction system works.

Explain movement speeds and weapon ranges.

Explain about Rep number and Pass and Failure of reaction checks.

Explain about Stars and Grunts.

Explain how they can do anything they want. Explain that it's a matter of how difficult is the task they are trying to do and what happens if they fail. This part will lead to some really crazy stuff happening.

Explain how combat vs. Zombies is different if they are being charged or taking their time shooting at easy targets. I don't explain HtH combat except that you don't really want to do that if you can avoid it. When it happens the first time then I detail it out…in a very cinematic way…..

Everything else I explain when it happens or a question gets asked. And if it's a question sometimes the answer is "you'll have to try it to find out…."

that should do it for you…..

Dave

For large games (more then 6 survivors on the table at the same time) I like to stick with "One Page All Things Zombies". You don't even have to explain anything other then Rep and how to pass a D6. Just look at the page, find the right chart, roll 1d6. Mostly you either pass 0d6 and fail or pass 1d6 and succeed.
Can still be found in the yahoo group files I think. There are a couple typos though. (Move fast chart has pass 0d6 and pass 0d6 rather then pass 1d6 and pass 0d6).
Gives a VERY light THW feel without more then 60 seconds of explanation.

One page ATZ was made using the older edition as an intro to gaming for the young sons of a friend of mine. Not a good reflection of the current ATZ but still fun.

PZGenral hit it dead on.

At that Ed: Maybe taking a bit of time to help out the guys like me who run your ATZ games at cons and making a new one or even 2 page ATZ that does reflection of the current ATZ would be in order. It would be very useful. :)

…ditto

Site didn't work for me. Since you are sending me E-mails on the current E-mail address…???

Captain. Huh? What site?

Ron – Done.

PDF link

I have made 1 page QRS for Chain Reaction. Since reaction tables are almost the same, maybe you can use it: link

Ed, you my friend ROCK!!!!!

Man, Ed knows those rules pretty well. You'd think he wrote them or something! ;oP

It was easy to do. It's how I explain the rules at conventions. Actually, that's what I would recommend for GMs, go down the list, rolls some dice, and direct them to the QRS.