It doesn't matter. Seriously.

All that matters is that a newbie learns that an RPG is a game where you take the role of a fictional character in a shared, imaginary world.

The mechanics don't matter until they're ready to sit down and read a rulebook. Just run whatever you like and teach the players enough rules for them to deal with the situations you are going to throw them into.

I just sat my newbie friend down and we played Lacuna. She grokked it and dug it. I think it's excellent intro game because it's pretty traditional -- you roll dice, there's a bastard GM and you have to act in your character -- but also because it's incredibly imaginative and wide open for what happens in play.

-L

I suppose if you want to game with giths and get them into it, you could use WoD games or maybe Wraethu.

Quote from: Dominus NoxI suppose if you want to game with giths and get them into it, you could use WoD games or maybe Wraethu.

I think that WoD-style games would be a poor choice if you're gaming with giths.  They seem to rooted in human concerns, and I'm no sure if themes of alienation or adolescence metaphors would be interesting to an alien mindset.  If you're playing with githyanki, instead I'd recommend RIFTS or maybe Amber.  I'm not sure what kind of game githzerai would like though.

I don't think I've ever intentionally introduced anyone to "the hobby" (whatever the heck that is), but I've helped to introduce probably over a hundred people now to D&D. Some of them go on from there and try new things. Most of them were pretty much mainly interested in D&D style fantasy to begin with, though.

If you have answered anything other than "D20" (though not necessarily D&D); you are doing a tremendous disservice to the person in question.

You also might very well be a Swine, depending on which game you mentioned.

I mean honestly, why would you want to introduce someone to "Roleplaying" with the hopes that they will become a regular and well-rounded participant in the hobby by presenting them with anything other than the single most popular, most played RPG system in the known universe?

Otherwise its like taking someone who's never heard Rock music before, and presenting, say, the Blue Aeroplanes or Broken Social Scene and telling them "this is what Rock music is like", instead of showing them The Beatles or Led Zeppelin, or U2.  I mean, you'll not just warp their whole idea of what "rock music" is but you are showing them stuff that only a very marginal group of people have even heard of, much less would consider (good) Rock.

RPGPundit

I've always used either HERO System or Age of Heroes depending upon their genre interest (fantasy is the latter, all else gets the former).

Quote from: RPGPunditI mean honestly, why would you want to introduce someone to "Roleplaying" with the hopes that they will become a regular and well-rounded participant in the hobby by presenting them with anything other than the single most popular, most played RPG system in the known universe?

Because I think D20 is crap.

I do let them know however that my games are different than the norm. Oddly that seems to help ease them into them...

Quote from: RPGPunditIf you have answered anything other than "D20" (though not necessarily D&D); you are doing a tremendous disservice to the person in question.

You also might very well be a Swine, depending on which game you mentioned.

I mean honestly, why would you want to introduce someone to "Roleplaying" with the hopes that they will become a regular and well-rounded participant in the hobby by presenting them with anything other than the single most popular, most played RPG system in the known universe?

Otherwise its like taking someone who's never heard Rock music before, and presenting, say, the Blue Aeroplanes or Broken Social Scene and telling them "this is what Rock music is like", instead of showing them The Beatles or Led Zeppelin, or U2.  I mean, you'll not just warp their whole idea of what "rock music" is but you are showing them stuff that only a very marginal group of people have even heard of, much less would consider (good) Rock.

RPGPundit

Really, who gives a fuck whether the game is mainstream or not? The important thing to get across to a new player is the fun that can be had playing said games. If the person introducing the game enjoys 'Ferret Farming RPG', then his enjoyment will come across and may just hook another player. Whether the game is mainstream or not is absolutely irrelevant in gaining a players interest. It takes all types of folks to play all types of games. What is important is that the game is fun and that is subjective.

Honestly, I'd use Savage Worlds.  It's quick and easy to gen a character.  It's got a fast combat system.  It focuses on getting players into the action and keeping them there.  It's very good at creating a first time experience.

Unfortunately, it's not very good at holding one's attention.  You can't have long campaigns before you've totally exhausted available advancements and the skill system is crude (and I'm being kind).

Still, it's a great system for introducing new people to the hobby.

The absolute last thing I'd ever show someone new to the hobby is anything related to D20 or D&D.  D20 is massively complex, kills any desire to roleplay and is downright tedious in the extreme.  And, of course, there's the negative feelings the world has in general about D&D.  Anytime D&D comes up in conversation, all I can say is, "D&D is the Model T of the gaming world.  This is a Ferrari.  Let me take you for a spin..."

Quote from: RPGPunditIf you have answered anything other than "D20" (though not necessarily D&D); you are doing a tremendous disservice to the person in question.

I totally disagree on this

Quote from: RPGPunditYou also might very well be a Swine, depending on which game you mentioned.

I am not sure why you feel that you need to insult or label people who disagree with your feelings.   This kind of thinking is what gives gamers a bad name.

Quote from: RPGPunditI mean honestly, why would you want to introduce someone to "Roleplaying" with the hopes that they will become a regular and well-rounded participant in the hobby by presenting them with anything other than the single most popular, most played RPG system in the known universe?

RPGPundit

Because like gleichman I think D20 is crap.   I also don't think it matters if a game is mainstream or not, it matters that if they play the game they are having fun.

It's better for gamers to learn more then one game system and know what options they have.   Plus, it's better for the industry as a whole.

If I were to introduce someone to RPGs, I'd probably use Heroquest.

Yes, I'd use the old Milton Bradley boardgame.

Alternatively, if I had to use something current, I'd use Heroscape and insist they have to use the same troop mix every time they play.

Quote from: Gabriel...Heroquest ... the old Milton Bradley boardgame [or]Heroscape

This is exactly how I introduced my daughter to roleplaying.  Her first RPG after this was Savage Worlds and she quickly graduated to playtesting the game my buddies are putting out.

I allowed her access to read through all the RPGs in my library and my chest swelled with pride with she read the D&D PHB (3.0) and said, "People actually try to roleplay with this?"  She put it down in disgust, picked up WEGs Star Wars and begged me to use it for the next game...  

CoC/BRP is pretty good because most of what they need is on one page.  I've handed someone a character sheet, explained things for five minutes and started playing.  Then the mechanics get out the way until they want to do something requiring a roll.  Then I can tell them "find X on your sheet, if you roll under that, you succeed."

After they've completed their first adventure or died, then I offer to help them roll their own character.

A low level D20 adventure would work decently as well.

I'd have to ask why in the world the person wants to get into the hobby, and if they do, why they're asking me.

If it's a random person who's just looking for entertainment, my current thought would be to either try running My Life with Master or to play a game of Werewolf (aka Mafia; not the WW game by the same name). That's only because I know those games; from what I've heard here and elsewhere, I'd certainly consider PTA as an option, basically a possible answer to the question "How might I get my wife or close non-gamer friends to give an RPG-like game a try?"

If it's someone who's already into boardgaming or wargaming, though, yet who somehow hasn't ever been exposed to an RPG, I'd consider The Fantasy Trip or maybe even an obscure game I own called "Men Against Fire", designed by Paddy Griffith and published in The Book of Sandhurst Wargames.

Basically I'd look at the types of activities which they enjoy mechanically as much as the imaginative content that intrigues them, and pick an appropriate game based on that.