Welcome to the Learn to Play (L2P) program! (Part 3)

The L2P role is a key position in the Flesh and Blood community, where you’ll be at the forefront of introducing new players to the game. As an L2P candidate, your role is more than just explaining the rules—you’re building lasting relationships, helping players discover a new hobby, and creating an environment that encourages growth and excitement for Flesh and Blood.

This guide will walk you through the core skills you’ll need to develop in order to receive the L2P certification and become an effective ambassador for the game. Each part focuses on a different area: People skills, Delivery skills, and Collaboration skills. Whether you’re interacting directly with players, teaching the technical parts of the game, or collaborating with your team, you’ll learn how to provide an experience that is friendly, professional, and enjoyable for everyone.

This part will go over the first major skill, Collaboration skills. For the other parts, see Part 1 and Part 2.

Part 3: Collaboration Skills

In this final section, we’ll focus on the importance of collaboration skills, which are essential for creating a productive and enjoyable environment at the Learn to Play (L2P) booth. As a guide, you will not only be interacting with players but also working closely with other judges and staff members. Mastering collaboration means being an effective communicator, providing constructive feedback, and mentoring your peers to help everyone improve. A strong sense of teamwork will make the L2P booth run smoothly, ensuring that players have a positive experience.

1. Communication

Effective communication amongst the team is crucial, especially in the high-pressure, fast-paced environment of conventions and large tournaments. Clear and consistent communication helps ensure that everyone is on the same page, tasks are completed efficiently, and issues are resolved quickly. This applies both before the event and during the event, where the ability to remain calm and focused can make a huge difference in how smoothly the booth operates.

Pre-event Communication

Before the event begins, it’s important to establish open lines of communication with your team. This ensures that everyone understands their roles, knows what to expect, and can raise any questions or concerns ahead of time. Setting the tone early for clear communication will create a more organized and cohesive team when the event kicks off.

Tips for Pre-event Communication:

Make sure you know your specific duties and what’s expected of you during the event. This minimizes confusion and allows everyone to focus on their tasks.
Ensure you know what time you are meant to arrive at the event, and to whom you should report. Allow extra time to find the correct part of the venue, if you are not already aware of it.
Ask questions ahead of the event. This is the time to iron out uncertainties, rather than trying to figure things out on the fly during the busy event.
Understand what is the best way to communicate during the event, whether that’s through a group chat, radio system, or regular check-ins. Make sure you know how, to whom, and when to get in touch if needed.

During-event Communication

Conventions and large tournaments are often chaotic, with many moving parts and high levels of noise and activity. In such environments, communication needs to be clear, concise, and respectful, especially when people are tired or stressed. Miscommunication or failure to share important information can slow down operations or cause mistakes, so staying proactive and focused in your interactions is essential.

Tips for During-event Communication:

When you need to convey information, especially in stressful situations, keep your communication short and to the point. Avoid unnecessary details and focus on what needs to be done.
Touch base with your team regularly to make sure everyone is up to date on tasks and changes in plans. This prevents misunderstandings and helps catch issues early.
Conventions can be exhausting, and tensions can run high. Make a conscious effort to stay calm, even when things are hectic. A composed tone goes a long way in keeping the team focused and maintaining a positive atmosphere.
If you notice something that could affect the team, such as a player concern or a logistics issue, communicate it immediately. Don’t assume someone else has already taken care of it—better to over-communicate than to miss something important.
Understand that long hours and stress can take a toll on everyone. Be mindful of how you communicate, particularly when someone is visibly tired or overwhelmed. A kind word or a quick break can go a long way in maintaining team morale.
In a multi language environment, if you are not a native English speaker make sure you understand and you are understood. Repeating what you just understood for confirmation is a quick and polite way to check. If you’re a native English speaker, make sure you use an adequate complexity level and talking speed in your speech and try synonyms or other ways to say the same if you feel someone is struggling to understand.

By fostering clear, respectful communication both before and during the event, you’ll help create a more efficient and harmonious team environment, allowing everyone to perform at their best even in the most demanding circumstances.

2. Mentoring and Feedback

A great L2P booth doesn’t just rely on individual skills—it thrives on collective growth. Part of your role is to mentor other judges or team members, providing support where needed. This is especially important for less experienced team members who may be new to teaching or guiding players through their first steps in Flesh and Blood. Offering constructive feedback and receiving it gracefully is critical for improving as a team.

Tips for Mentoring and Providing Feedback:

Pay attention to how your peers interact with players. If you notice someone struggling with a particular explanation or interaction, step in when appropriate or offer advice afterward.
Frame feedback in a positive, encouraging way. Rather than simply pointing out what didn’t work, offer suggestions for improvement. For example, “I noticed the player seemed confused during your explanation of resource management. Maybe next time, try using a visual aid like dice to help illustrate your point.”
Invite your peers to reflect on their own performance. Ask questions like, “How do you think that demo went?” or “Is there anything you would have done differently?” This encourages self-awareness and promotes growth.
Show, don’t just tell. Demonstrate best practices in your own interactions with players. Your peers are likely to learn as much from observing you as they do from your direct feedback.
Share your thoughts, ideas, and feedback. Every team member brings a unique perspective, and fostering an open dialogue will allow the team to grow together.
If an issue arises—whether it’s a challenging player interaction or a logistical problem—brainstorm solutions as a team. Don’t hesitate to ask for input from your fellow judges. Working together to solve problems builds trust and strengthens team dynamics.
Take a moment to acknowledge when things go well. Whether it’s a particularly smooth demo or a great interaction with a player, celebrate these wins as a team. Positive reinforcement boosts morale and encourages everyone to keep up the good work.
After each day, take time to debrief with your team—discuss what went well and what could be improved. This feedback loop will help the team grow stronger with each event.

3. Self-Governance and Time Management

In situations where no store representative, LSS staff, or team leader is present, it is important for L2P judges to self-manage effectively. This includes ensuring that everyone takes breaks and stays refreshed to provide the best possible experience to staff and players.

Scheduling Breaks: One of the team members must take the initiative to plan for each team member to have at least one longer break (60 minutes) and one shorter break (30 minutes) during the day, and rotate responsibilities to ensure booth coverage while someone is on break.
Communication: Discuss with your teammates at the start of the day to decide how breaks will be scheduled. Set clear time intervals when you can pause to recharge without compromising booth responsibilities.
Staying Refreshed: Hydrate regularly, eat during quieter moments, and after informing another team member, step away briefly if you’re feeling overwhelmed. Keeping yourself in good shape helps maintain the positive energy players expect when they visit the L2P booth.

This proactive approach ensures everyone can perform at their best, even without direct oversight.

Conclusion

Becoming a L2P judge is not just about knowing the rules of Flesh and Blood—it’s about creating a welcoming, educational, and enjoyable experience for new players while working effectively with your team. By mastering people skills, delivery skills, and collaboration skills, you’ll be well-prepared to handle the challenges of the L2P booth and ensure that both players and team members have a positive and enriching experience.

Remember, the ultimate goal is to grow the Flesh and Blood community by introducing new players to the game in a way that excites and engages them. With your knowledge, communication skills, and teamwork, you’ll play a vital role in building that community and making the game more accessible to all.

Good luck, and enjoy the journey!

Author

Émilien Wild

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