Design Discussion: Barriers to New Player Entry for T2k

[3catcircus]

Originally Posted by Raellus

Our forum community seems pretty evenly split between those with at least some first-hand military experience and those without.

https://forum.juhlin.com/showthread....y+service+poll

I have a feeling that most game fan demographics skew much more veteran-lite/civie-heavy.

I wonder what it is about T2k that attracts veterans. In a bit of an aside, I'm really curious why a combat vet would want to RP being a soldier in a military-themed war RPG. Like, how many plumbers want to spend their free time RP'ing being a plumber in a home repair RPG?

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I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that most of us only remember the good part. "It sucked but I had a good time" is fairly common when I talk to other vets. Shared misery and a sense of accomplishment that most people miss when they get out or retire. I certainly don't miss scrubbing bilges or 4/4/4/8/8 vulcan death watches during ORSE workups, but fondly remember our port visit to Brisbane. And the shenanigans (I think the statute of limitations have passed by now...)

Luckily, I work in an industry that is veteran-heavy where people of my generation are "work the job, not the clock" types who have a sense of urgency in what we do. That culture can rub off on people - employees who've never served end up either that they "get it" or they move on to a job that requires less of them.