Why join the NAF?

[sann0638]

A full answer to that perennial question - why join the NAF? Anything missing? http://www.thenaf.net/2015/12/why-join-the-naf/

[Regash]

Since I am one of those people who constantly asks himself: "Why would I need to join?", here is what I think about your statement.

First of all, #1 already had me shake my head.
"Being cheap" is not only depending on your life but, c'mon, something you don't need can never be cheap enough.
Something you don't need is just a waste of money, no matter how cheap it might be.

Second, the giveaways, is something I don't understand either.
Yes, I'd still love to have all still available colors of block dice and the NAF branded six-siders are nice as well.
But giving you the exact same amount of money WITHOUT becoming a member is something you just decline.
That makes me scratch my head as you state how much you need the money for stuff you do.

Third, all the rest just seems to say "tournament, tournament, tournament, tournament, tournament", which can't even bother me to raise an eyebrow.
I don't play tournaments, neither local nor abroad, so why would I care?
Be an active, paying member for something I don't care about is really going under #1: Something you don't need is just a waste of money, no matter how cheap it might be.
Now I'm thniking about online players. What benefit do they have from the tourney scene?

You see, all those reasons are still only reasons for a very special kind of BB player: tabletop tournament players.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not all against the NAF.
I just fail to see the reason to become a member, even after you listed your reasons to do so.

[frogboy]

In contrast to Regash, I've paid to be a member of the NAF for a couple of years despite only playing in TT for just under a year. I've done this for the same reason I sometimes fling some money at FUMBBL or supported another website I have used/enjoyed.

I like to support these awesome projects!

[sann0638]

OK Regash, over to you. What would make a BB players' organisation worthwhile to join for you?

[Regash]

Well, that is easily put but hard to tell...

Right now, the NAF has absolutely no benefits whatsoever for a player like I am. (Except maybe the block dice but that is not enough reason for me to be a member.)
That is what I meant when I said, everything I don't need is a waste of money, no matter how cheap it is.

To be honest, I don't see anything were any kind of organisation would give any benefit to a player like me. I never said I could do better than you guys do!
Well, to be honest, even if I did play tournaments, I wouldn't say I need some book-keeping to see how good or bad I am playing BB.
You might remember seeing a lot of my posts basically saying: "Come off it, BB should be fun, not a competition."
I play for fun, not for competition.

If the NAF had a position were it could take influence in the game and it's future, maybe this would be something I'd see as something worthwhile.
But, let's face it, GW didn't care, Caynide doesn't care and the specialist games renewal won't care either about what some self-proclaimed players organisation has to say.
So, aside from all the tournaments and the database, what is the NAF actually doing? For the game or the players, I mean?

Again, don't get me wrong. I don't want to insult the NAF nor do I want to stop the tournaments going on.
I just think that there really is no point for the casual player to be a NAF member.
If or if not that can be changed, I really don't know.

[sann0638]

You might remember seeing a lot of my posts basically saying: "Come off it, BB should be fun, not a competition."
I play for fun, not for competition.

Some quick responses, but I don't think I will convince you:
- people that play in tournaments are playing for fun.
- people that don't play in tournaments might need to know where to buy figures, where to find local leagues, might want to read articles about BB etc

I could go on, but it's probably better for you to have a look around thenaf.net, and actually see what's there?

[Regash]

Don't worry, I did.
That is why I said, I don't see any point in being a member.
I have been a member, you know? But mostly so other people had the game they played against me count in your database for them.

Maybe "fun" is something different for everyone. I remember someone describing a game that was lost because of a bad kick-off result as a waste of time.
And quite a few people I played with had "victory is fun, defeat is not" on their minds and some took this whole tournament stuff pretty serious.

Finding a league that is not in your database is also quite difficult!
Not that this is your fault, just saying... Shteve0 tried to show me the "benefits" of the NAF but I just fail to see them.

And you sure remember our little discussion about block dice...

[frogboy]

Edit; ok so seems as there has been new a post now... Fun games can be had at a TT, but also you get them coaches that are just bellends, I try to give a bit of both, serious on the first day then fun after loosing my first three games on the second

It might not be the best "self-proclaimed players organisation" but it's the only one we have so worth investing in, I was also doughtful about what bridges between Cynide GW and the NAF really existed but after reading the Q&A's for the NAF election you can see there is some serious effort going into these things behind the scenes. As for the causal players they will be effected too, finding leagues also but if new players join the community etc. Plus the dice for them players is totally worth the joining fee to use. So already you can see there are a lot of good reasons to join the NAF.

As for negative ones, I'd say open the Forum/website up for everyone, I really don't see the point in it being locked. If you want to pay then do so for the rankings and the gift/dice. If not still join in the community.
We should have more non-English speaking community's joined in one place, currently there are lots of different forums with different languages, it would be nice to share with these people too, painting, gaming tactics etc. With Google translate not always the best, someone else in the community can sometimes help with these things? On one forum, one forum to bind them all lol...

Also I think NAF will always be mainly focused on tabletop play, FUMBBL already has a ranking system in place, I'm guessing Cynide dose too? But was nice to see the colaboration between the three this year for RTNAFC. I hope more things like that will happen in the future and hope the NAF can really sort their website out.

Also most of the time I just make generalised assumptions so please take this as me just muttering about something BloodBowl related and not just derailing the thread, in conclusion, there are good reasons to join the NAF, it's not perfect but it is worth it IMO.

[GalakStarscraper]

I had a suggestion to Sann to make the NAF membership worth something to non-tournament players ... will hopefully see if he wins and it happens. I'm on board to make it happen if it is pursued.

[Regash]

@ Frogboy:
Yep, you might find reasons to be a member of the NAF and I really don't have a problem with that.
I just have a different point of view.
You seem to go to tournaments, so the NAF does a lot for you.
I don't, so...

I had a suggestion to Sann to make the NAF membership worth something to non-tournament players ... will hopefully see if he wins and it happens. I'm on board to make it happen if it is pursued.

I really hope I misunderstood that post, Galak.
As it reads, you had an idea that would make the NAF more appealing to people but you just told Sann, so he can use it IF he wins the election?
It's not your intention to help the community but to help one candidate?
This really sounds odd and, to be honest, I'm now REALLY curious about your idea...

[sann0638]

Yeah in general hopefully I can spend the next two years changing Regash's mind!

[PercyTheTroll]

OK Regash, over to you. What would make a BB players' organisation worthwhile to join for you?

Whilst this isn't aimed at me, I've been making noises about the NAF and online players too. I have some ideas and I'd like to share then with the NAF but I'd like to wait until after the current elections which gives me time to formulate my ideas further.

I'd also like to invite a NAF representative onto the Trollcast to discuss the NAF and online players. Again this'll be after the election so that we know who the media officer will be (assuming that's the right person to get on?).

[Regash]

Yeah in general hopefully I can spend the next two years changing Regash's mind!

I really doubt you can...

[sann0638]

Raveen - Nate (TD), Shteve0 (LD) and I have all been doing the rounds, and I'm sure one of us will be available.

Regash - I'll leave Galak to answer for himself, as he's more than capable (didn't want you to think I was ignoring your post).

[Regash]

I'll leave Galak to answer for himself

Don't worry, I'd never expect you to answer for him.
Actually, I'd understand if he didn't answer anyway.
I just wanted to express my feelings that his post sounded a bit odd to me.