Thread by @rdonoghue

One of the most interesting questions to ask someone coming to learn an RPG is why they want to learn. "I have heard of this thing and I'm curious", "I have seen a stream and it looked fun", "My friends play and I want to join them" and many more answers exist (which is great!)

I mention this because this is just one of many complexities around the idea of learning to play - consider the different learning paths those different entry points suggest.

The most obvious example is "Are they learning the game from a friend? From a stranger (like at a public play event)? On their own?"

If you ask "What's the best game to learn?", I'd be hard pressed to come up with one answer that addresses just those scenarios.

Hell, just look at the "being taught by a friend" scenario. Even if there are games that might be better or worse, those differences are easily overshadowed by your friend's familiarity with games (and teaching inclination).

But here's the thing: This does not mean "What's a good game to learn?" Is a bad question, it's just that it's only *PART* of a good question.

Also, it's often less of a "what" question and more of a "how" question. "Is D&D essentially easier or harder to teach than other games?" Lots of answers that mostly just nerdfight.

"How do you make D&D easier to learn?" also has many answers, but they're more fun.

Heck, "What is the best 'Christmas morning'* RPG to learn?" Is a question that FASCINATES me.

* - a game that is received - like a gift - in isolation and needs be learned from just itself. This used to be MUCH more historically relevant, as this was D&D for many old folks

So many more questions. Kids or adults? Learning to play vs. learning to GM? Lore vs. rules? Imagined experience vs. actual experience?

"Best Game To Learn" is a pretty useless place to stop, but it's an AMAZING place to start.

(So long as you accept there's no one answer)

NOT THAT WE WOULD EVER JUST PROPOSE THAT OUR FAVORITE GAME IS THE BEST FOR [insert criteria here] WITHOUT HESITATION OR QUALIFICATION.

(Something else that is sort of widely but not universally known is that "the best way to learn" also varies GIGANTICALLY from person to person. Some folks learn by doing, some by reading, some my watching, some by other things. NO GAME DOES ALL THOSE THINGS.)

It's sometimes easy to think there's a magic bullet, because you are looking at a game that lines up with your tastes, your situation and your learning mode. This can be very well intentioned without being helpful, which is unfortunately a formula for internet fights.