"Should Conventions Offer Rules Classes?" Topic

If you could go to a convention and take a class in a particular set of rules, would you be interested?

I'm not sure I'd be interested in "classes" per se, for most rules sets, but certainly appreciate it when GM's offer to help teach those wanting to try out a new set of rules for a game.

One of the hidden treasures of a convention is the game designer/publisher who is running a walk-up demo of his game. We ran into the fellow who wrote Speed Rally at one of the last Gettysburg HMGS cons, and we had a blast getting a chance to play his game with the added benefit of having the designer right there running it! The demo method also has the benefit for the designer to market their game right there at the con. And usually the designer throws in some nice freebies for those who are willing to give his/her game a try.
While having "classes" might be of benefit to some gamers, I prefer getting my feet wet for learning the rules or getting to practice the rules I may have already purchased and studied.
Now, a Q&A session might be beneficial if the designer has the time to clarify some potentially hazy concepts or game mechanics.

What sort of classes would we be looking at?
How to play the rules?
Clarifications and FAQs?
Improving your playing skills (I've been told that, generally speaking, players "back East" where things and people are closer together, have more opportunities to play, and develop greater skill than those of us out West. Don't know if it's true, but I've heard that.)
How to build "killer armies?"
How to "rules lawyer" the game to your advantage?

Like capncarp, I lean towards getting a chance to play the games, rather than take a class, but I might could be convinced to take a class to hone my (out West) skills.

Grelber

At British shows you often get the opportunity to play rules you haven't played before.

There are not 'classes' as such, but a publisher/distributor may put on a game to get new players interested and hopefully buy the rules. This happens a lot when rules are new. It is expected that players will be unfamiliar with the rules and will need a bit of guidance and explanation of how things work.

Saga, Bolt Action, and various Lardies games are a few examples that spring to mind!

Sure, why not? Maybe not "hard nosed" classes per se, but a fun, tutorial type of experience on each rule system offered might be cool.

Half the games I go to at cons are "classes", run by the designer.

Pay? Free?

I think try out games are a great idea. As commented above, many participation games at UK shows are try out games (many of mine, certainly) …

One UK event similar to a US convention would be WD's Conference of Wargamers and some sessions do run precisely like this and most are led by the designer. Of course, being CoW, many are in the development stage rather than commercially published (but that's a separate topic) ..

So 'yes' to the question

Phil

Probably not interested. For me, conventions are about inspiration, and that means seeing great terrain and tables mostly. Rules are an annoying necessity. I can get the rules thing from video online.

How is this different than demos?

Classes no, demonstration/learning games yes.

Demo games….

Every game I run at a convention is designed to handle walk ups…

Very few games at HMGS East cons require prior knowledge of the rules. They are all rules classes already.

My experience as a convention organizer was that gamers typically don't do the class thing. We had some good ones at Enfilade that went largely ignored.

Game designers hosting games as an opportunity to play new rules were typically well-attended. It seems convention attendees are there to play games, not take classes.

Playing in demos or scheduled games IS my "class" on how to play new rules, and I imagine it's the same for most gamers who go to conventions (at least in the U.S.). An actual class would cut into serious dice rolling time!

Pretty much all the games I run are classes. Five minutes lecture for the rules. Five minutes lecture/recitation for the scenario. One hour fifty player led seminar during play (with lecture/recitation during for random walk ups). Repeat for a four hour slot.

No. Demo games are classes unto themselves.

The conventions we run here in NW Ohio are pretty much a test bed for new rules. About half of the games are "Home Rules" which if they are well-received could go on to be published. The game scenario itself is the class. Since we all have different ideas of how a game should play (note the abundance of rule sets available!) any new system is best put before the people that may purchase them later.
The input from fellow-gamers is invaluable when designing a set of rules. Running demos or using home-grown options is what makes going to miniatures conventions really fun. Our collective brain is a powerful tool!

Virtually every game I'll play at a Con is to experience a new set I'm curious about or to improve/expand my understanding of an existing set.

I give rules classes at every con I go to!

There are always a few players who haven't played before, so the first half hour any game is explaining the rules, and the first couple turns I hustle around and help people execute.

I like teaching games, I've gotten pretty good at it. Even non-gamers, beginners, and teens I can get into the setting and working the rules.

I can't imagine a sit-in-rows class about rules, unless the rules were *really* involved. Even then I think standing around the table, seeing the figures, handling the charts and templates is the way to learn a game. And playing the game after the rules explantation is invaluable.

One would think that if your going to have tournaments it would be in those folks best interest to have demos.

A seminar on Scenario Design or Organizing and running a game might be useful.

I agree with Demo events/games to try out new (or existing) rules

No, game designers should learn to write rules that are comprehensible.
Demos though are great.

Comprehensible to whom? We all know gamers who would find checkers and tiddlywinks intellectually daunting.

They kinda sorta do with demos and convention games, don't they?

Sounds like a demo game to me. I'm all for it.

Interesting idea but probably wouldn't sign up for it.

The only problem I have with demo. games is that sometimes they are almost the only type of game at a convention. I have seen HCON programs that are almost all demo. games.

I prefer to sign up for rules my club uses just to have some different opponents with fresh ideas and to see if we are interpreting the rules correctly. Sometimes I want a game I never played before, but not often.

I think it's a great idea, it would help someone like myself who's interested in gaming but has no idea where to begin.

A simplistic explanation of rules would be extremely helpful.

Every game I run, I have to teach the rules. Many games I play in at conventions are chosen so I can try/learn the rules.

Then there are actual demos.

I think demo games using some of the more popular game rules would be helpful to understand the basic mechanics and underlying premise of the rules. Beyond that I think playing the games is a better option, especially on "House rules" or "Home rules" type games.

I definitely try to play games I'd like to learn at cons, but I'd rather play a game than go to a class to have it taught.

I would say yes.

I can see where for some really complex rules sets, it might be useful.

Can't recall the name of the modern air rules out now, but suspect they'd be a good subject for a class.

I wouldn't mind an ASL class :-)

Cool concept

Peter Pig allows runs taster games for all the rules in their authorship.
A simple short game to allow interested player to get a fell for the rules and more experienced help with rule queries.
Always good value and FREE.

Based on the hundreds of shows I have attended in America, no but there are always exceptions.
I have been to shows with rule classes but not often. Most guys like to learn as they participate. This is ok if there are experienced players in the group. This is often the case with Richard's Command and Colors as mix which makes learning during participation easy.
A big change from doing shows in the 1980s and now is the noise level at shows. This hinders both such classes and participation learning. So an important factor in conducting such classes would be a separate room. This is not possible at most small local or even larger regional shows.

What is the difference between demonstration games and "classes"