A barrier of the unknown must be broken to enter the world of board/table gaming. The unknown too often associated with fear.
the oldest & strongest emotion of mankind is fear, & the oldest & strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.
~ H.P. Lovecraft
People tend to fear what they don’t understand. At the least, they are uncomfortable with what is not understood enough to avoid it.
Solution: Increase understanding to decrease fear & discomfort.
Introduction & exposure are crucial for reducing that fearful resistance to learning a new game. Relating something new to something familiar is the Miyagi method. Wax on; wax off. With just a little training it is possible to walk into a karate tournament to defeat a 2-time All-Valley Champ.
Board games don’t have to be as serious, but it is still nice to know what you are doing before a game starts. Going over the rules, objectives, & a few common strategies is all it takes for a new player to feel like a welcomed guest. After a few plays they will feel at home. 1980’s motivational music montage is optional.
A spirit of adventure is a common characteristic among players that encourages them to overcome the barrier of the unknown. I see learning new games like traveling. A whole new world awaits those that are willing to explore. Learning new languages, customs, & cultures is done best through immersion. So get into the game.
“the world is a book & those who don’t travel only read 1 page.”
~ St. Augustine
Immerse yourself into the story. Gain the glory.
One new game that I’ve learned is Eldritch Horror, a co-op strategy game played with up to 8 players. This game can be terrifying to the uninitiated for the objective is to guard the globe from inter-dimensional demons all mastered by the Ancient One. I did my best to solve mysteries & survive murder, but my pistol misfired with a weak roll of the dice & the whole team was slain.
The best way to conquer the fear of this game is to accept that you are going to die.
Learning the game through failure is an effective method. I definitely learned something to never do again. It also transitions the unknown into the known. The unfamiliar monsters that are released through the portals become your acquainted adversaries. You’ll want to play again just to see you friend.
“To win any battle, you must fight as if you are already dead.” — Miyamoto Musashi
Once failure is accepted, it can be conquered.
Play as the warrior.