Best tables for a newbie tournament

[Espy]

Hi all,

Another games night is coming up at my work, and I'm looking to try and run a TPA tournament to try and spread the pinball love. Obviously no-one here is a pinball enthusiast, and won't know much about the game. Looking for tables to pick for the tournament. Main concern is that they are easy to have a lot of fun on. Something like AFM, maybe? Quite easy to take down a UFO or two. White Water is a lot of fun but currently gubbed on PS3, so that's out. Suggestions?

P.S. May also consider Zen, but they are a lot more complex to understand in general.

 

[Kolchak357]

People new to pinball seem to gravitate to Scared Stiff. Not difficult and almost everyone will get to multiball.

 

[vikingerik]

Yeah, AFM and Scared Stiff, in that order. Everybody grasps AFM right away, bang on that saucer. Scared Stiff is the next nice easy gateway into more complexity, getting the idea of making shots to start features.

If you think the license might grab them, Harley-Davidson. Its flaws aren't apparent to newbies and there's LOTS of multiball.

Terminator 2 is another option, probably the easiest multiball out of any table.

Not Whitewater, it's too punishing for novices, randomly whacking the ball around the main playfield will score and accomplish nothing except for quick drains.

 

[Espy]

Thanks guys, all tables I thought about. Scared Stiff is a bit risque so might not be safe for work, literally. But T2 is a shout.

What about Ripleys? It's not too drain-heavy, but maybe a bit too complex, rules-wise?

 

[Sean DonCarlos]

Theatre of Magic is another possibility. There are so many loops, ramps and orbits on the playfield that flailing often brings good results in spite of itself.

 

[Roo]

A similar pick to AFM, obviously, but MM is another great choice.

 

[Bowflex]

Space Shuttle, Gorgar, Black Hole or Haunted House are all good choices too. Simple but addictive gameplay. I would agree with Scared Stiff as it does not have some super-complicated rule-set but is fun, entertaining and gives big points. AFM or MM is great for entertainment and theme but the rules might have newbies very confused.

 

[vikingerik]

Nooo, not Haunted House. That game is punishingly difficult even for experts, newbies will get nothing out of it. I wouldn't recommend Black Hole either, that lower playfield reentry gate will piss off folks, you have to know what you're doing to work towards multiball. Shuttle or Gorgar are OK but I think non-pinball folks would find them boring compared to the audiovisual package of a modern DMD.

MM's rules might confuse newbies with that awkward Madness and Trolls sequence, but AFM is all awesome, you don't have to do anything but bang on the saucer to make good progress.

 

[Kolchak357]

Cactus Canyon and Monster Bash would probably work well. Recognizable themes, lots of toys, good call outs and animations.

 

[switch3flip]

+1 on Theatre of Magic. For pinball introduction, it's got a little of everything. Mood, music, toys, multiball, ramps and MAGIC. Fairly easy to understand. My girlfriend doesn't like playing pinball at all but she loves playing ToM. She doesn't look at it as a pinball machine, it's a Theatre of magic.

Also don't forget Monster Bash! Everybody loves that game! Besides me.

 

[neilpinbot]

I would think big licensed table's like T2, TZ, STTNG would get people who are not interested in pinball at least a bit interested. And of course Elvira will pull the guy's in

 

[Brock]

Thanks guys, all tables I thought about. Scared Stiff is a bit risque so might not be safe for work

Really? Where do you work? I honestly cannot imagine a scenario where the mild double entendres in Scared Stiff would render it not safe.

As to the question, definitely Attack From Mars. Everybody understands this table instantly. It's brilliant for noobs, and likewise Medievel Madness.. Same deal.

 

[Espy]

Really? Where do you work? I honestly cannot imagine a scenario where the mild double entendres in Scared Stiff would render it not safe.

As to the question, definitely Attack From Mars. Everybody understands this table instantly. It's brilliant for noobs, and likewise Medievel Madness.. Same deal.

It's more the humongous cleavage on the backglass. If I had that at my desk (not that I would), I would get disciplined. Having it on our huge presentation screen isn't much better.

 

[Nightwing]

I think that CFTBL would be easy enough,and fun for newbies also.

 

[Espy]

Tournament wasn't a hit unfortunately. Beginning to see that you need to put a lot of effort into pinball to really see what makes it good. Most people just played a game and walked away.

 

[Brock]

Then they are fools and you should tell them so. With swears.
Good on you for trying though.

 

[Naildriver74]

Tournament wasn't a hit unfortunately. Beginning to see that you need to put a lot of effort into pinball to really see what makes it good. Most people just played a game and walked away.

There are some that just don't get it or understand it. Don't feel bad about trying they may have been looking for something easy to win at. That's not the way it is for most of us. I keep buying and playing because it's a challenge to get better. It's not an easy reward for me anyway.