[MR] Advice to newcomers

[Medwyn]

It seems likely to me that this particular newcomer is coming from a 
background of playing RPG's, and is seeing the SCA as a next step in his 
gaming life. I would say this was the case for MANY of us in the earlier 
years of the Society. But at that time, the SCA was really all there 
was. Since then, more options have become available.

One person has commented about the "old games we used to play". I don't 
think there's a problem with playing such games among agreeable 
participants - but, as another comment made clear (the story of the 
ruined dress), we need to be careful that those games do not involve 
others who have not chosen to participate. As always, courtesy and 
consideration for your fellow members should be the rule.

My advice to this particular newcomer would be similar to what I would 
offer almost anyone new to the SCA: Don't worry about persona yet. Get 
some simple garb together and visit a few events. Come to some local 
meetings. Get a better feel for what the SCA actually IS, before 
deciding on anything. And find out what YOU are most interested in. Many 
people change their minds after a little time, and having already 
established a persona too early can sometimes make it difficult to 
change who you are in the SCA - at least in the minds of those around 
you. Don't be in a hurry.

If, after a number of meetings and events, this person STILL wants to be 
an assassin, then encourage him to study assassins in a historical 
context and to build a persona based on the factual information 
available. I can see how that might be a fun challenge to someone. But 
if he wants to play a black-cloaked ninja-like character who sneaks 
around killing people (ala D&D), then you may want to point him toward 
LARP groups that would be a more appropriate (and enjoyable) venue for 
such a character.

melissa haney wrote:
> Can  someone give me some advice to pass on to a newcomer. He wants to be an assassin as his persona. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Brenna
>
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