best way to teach BB to a newbie?

[fen]

DO NOT give the new guy something like ... say, elves and have the experienced player take dwarves. That's how I was introduced and it nearly turned me off from wanting to play after the first evening. Half my team was in the casualty box, I didn't score at all, had no idea of how to set up blocks or when to dodge, etc. Very demoralizing.

Indeed, anyone who plays an intro match (for any BB Format, TT, PBeM, Javabowl etc) and takes a Dwarf team against the newbie needs to get their head slapped and then checked.

It happened to me in PBeM, turned me off playing in the MBBL for good.

[thechosengobbo]

If they are already into wargames in general, and know a little of the system (from say, watching the game before) letting them chose is an idea.

I recently taught a GW staffer like this. He had norse, against my goblin team. (next time I take off the kid gloves)