Introducing someone to your group's RP - when you've got *history.*

[Greycat]

So we've all seen the question, "I want to get into RP, how do I start" by any number of new users - or just people who've played and want to try RP.

 

What about the mirror of that?

 

I have, in the past, co-led a fairly sizable RP SG. We had literal years of history - between SG RP and AEs with ongoing story lines, personal storylines that went back before and twined into the group... if I wrote a book on what we'd done and everything leading up to it, Tolkein would be going "... that's a bit much, isn't it?"

 

And I *know* this was an issue, because we had people join - or decide not to after a "get to know you" period - just telling me "it's just too much to try to wrap my head around."

 

Now, obviously some of this was some of them feeling they had to know *everything,* diving in headfirst to see the connections and such rather than gradually working in and getting a feel - but on the other, there was still a valid point there. We had a *lot* of history. The founding of the group itself tied into some of the leaders' backstories (as far as why some things were the way they were,) and those stretched *way* back. It would take a lot of time to get to know even just all the "relevant now" stuff, and that can be daunting (and that fish-out-of-water feeling isn't pleasant for some.)

 

As I'm looking at some of my - not even SGs, necessarily, but even just character groups - I think I'm getting there again.

 

So what do you do when your RP lore gets to that point?

 

I do have one group that's a generational successor (not "their kids," but just the next batch that inherited the mantle) of an old group. For them, it makes it somewhat easier as we introduce a few new people - it also doesn't hurt we only really meet once a week for SG stuff - to just have "well, this is a new chapter of this group's story" as a thing. We can point stuff out, "we have this because of the original group," and that's good - they don't have to know about this giant threat they dealt with, or those wacky interdimensional hijinks, or any of the years of other stuff the first group did. There's a dedicated cutoff point, and we have exactly one character who can act as a bridge between the two if needed (rarely is, other than a cameo of being checked up on.) But that's not really feasable for other groups.

 

So, if you've had a group like that, where if a new person wants to join and asks what the group's done, they're potentially facing the Library of the Legion's Lore... what have you done to make it less daunting and more welcoming?

[Triumphant]

My recommendation is to choose one (or two) persons who function in the team is primarily to be the HR/Onboarding specialists that mostly just interact and RP with new recruits to help them integrate with the team.  The RP could revolve specifically around this.  "I know you guys are new, and this is all pretty overwhelming, but I'm gonna help bring you up to speed and trust me, you're gonna fit right in.  You have any questions, you feel unsure about anything, my door is always open; just shoot me a DM over HeroBand, etc..."

 

These people got all the dish on the SG, probably because they've been with the group since it's inception.  Maybe like to share gossip, explain history of the team, answer questions regarding past exploits and what not.  Also, in this vein, they should reassure new members IC'ly, that they understand the team has a long and storied history, but you don't need to feel like you have to learn the story of every battle we fought and memorize the names of all the members the first day.  Just be patient and hang in there.  You'll have plenty of time to get to know everyone as we train together.  So on.

 

Of course, some players will just not feel comfortable integrating into a large group with a long history.  These players are better suited by looking for smaller and/or newer groups, with less established lore.

[Paragon Vanguard]

Just make a SHORT list of things a person "should know", and let new members just grow naturally. I knew some things about police work, before becoming a police officer. Then I learned alot more about the job and the people, even some I grew up knowing. Don't bombard, and don't be rigid if you are looking to expand, of course that depends on established community and what you all want out of it.

 

I like Triumphant's idea very much.

[Crystal Dragon]

Fluidity is key, especially when it comes to including fellow players. Having a malleable story line or background to build off of, and weave into can be REALLY difficult to do, but if you have established lore, build a page, or doc that fills in the blanks for those interested but unaware, and see how things take off from there. I don't often share my own player lore because yeah it's fluid and still in heavy development for an entire book series, but getting different points of view and added information from others to weave into it really fleshes things out in a way that most don't expect.