Query for gamers, particularly inexperienced ones

[gothwalk]

Is there something counterintuitive about the principle in RPGs of race and class? I've been dealing with a number of newcomers to RPGs recently, and no matter how carefully I explain that you choose a race and a class, I get people wanting to play one or other, a gnome or a wizard, an elf or a rogue, and so on. These people are smart, and get the concept of roleplaying, and so on - it's just this one bit that seems to defy understanding.

Comments

My approach was always a little different....

[will-sample.livejournal.com]

...as I always made the potential player tell me a bit about what their character concept would be as a being, as well as their idea of a possible profession or ethos. From the personality profile, I would narrow the appropriate scope of available races, taking into account the setting of the game. For newbies, the profession or ethos tends to do the same for classes. From there, usually they could refine and pick what they liked best.

The essential communication of the difference is between what one is like, and what one does or believes. Most people can understand it if put that way.