It tells me that their perception of games/gameplay that existed in the 80s is likely shaped by actual experience, not by rants and internet wars. So knowing nothing else, it gives me a clue on how deep their expertise and opinions of those game runs.

Doesn't mean that that less experienced folks can't be enjoyable to game with or have good opinions on gaming in general. Indeed, I just read an excellent article on adventure design by a GM with less than a decade of play experience. But I do give you a little more credit when you talk about older games when you have actually experienced them.

It means exactly the same as what anything else that is posted on the internet means.

Quote from: dragoner;894455It means exactly the same as what anything else that is posted on the internet means.

...it must be true?

Quote from: AaronBrown99;894459...it must be true?

Exactly. IIRC it was Vonnegut who said "Be careful of who you pretend to be."

I don't think roleplaying or GMing skills necessarily improve over time. Off hand, I'd say my two favourite roleplayers are a guy around 55 who started 40 years ago, and a girl of 22 who started last year. They both make great characters, have a reasonable grasp of the rules, play dynamically and add a lot to the richness of whatever game they play in.

Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;892544When someone says they've been playing or GMing RPGs for 30+ years, what does that really say to you? You see how they play now, and you're not impressed. Do three decades make any difference in their play-style quality?

It really says to me that they've been playing for 30+ years. I'd wonder why it was relevant, though, since no amount of time playing means anything. It's up there with "I played with Gary" in the I Don't Give A Shit department.

Quote from: Matt;894854It really says to me that they've been playing for 30+ years. I'd wonder why it was relevant, though, since no amount of time playing means anything. It's up there with "I played with Gary" in the I Don't Give A Shit department.

Ah, but you should give a shit, because it means they'll never shut up about it, and claim that 'back in their day it was done X' in a passive aggressive attempt to One True Wayism.  And you should care enough to know when to tune them out.

On the Give a Shit Meter, it ranks at a 0.5 out of 10.

Personally I prefer "I've been doing this since BEFORE YOU WERE BORN..."

I've actually used that line on a few new people who come in and start telling everyone how to do this and this and this BETTER!!! Except that what they are describing is inefficient compared to whats being done allready, has failed (repeatedly,)  or proven to just not work, (repeatedly.)

And usually I only say something like that when after patiently listening to the grand new idea, that turns out isnt grand and isnt new, and patiently explaining in detail why it wont work and then being told I dont know what Im talking about. THEN its more likely to happen. I do not dismiss someones ideas just because they are new or old at the biz. Does it work? Is it easier or more enjoyable than whats currently in use? Has it been tried before? If it was and failed then why did it fail?

And that can apply to RPGs too.

I started a new 5e campaign with my friend whom I've played 1e with since 86. I set the game in Sigil and when he found out where he was he kept raving about finally getting to try Planescape after 20 years of the boxed set sitting on the shelf. I like playing with both vets and noobies as well as everyone in the middle. The only real limitation with the older gamers is they are usually hesitant to try something new that is far removed from D&D.

Quote from: Krimson;894894The only real limitation with the older gamers is they are usually hesitant to try something new that is far removed from D&D.

I think that depends on individual tastes far more than the number of years spent playing. I have enjoyed D&D and many other games and still enjoy trying new ones. The amount of bullshit I'm willing to go through just to try a new game has decreased significantly over the years.

If I can just sit at the table and try a new game, I'm happy to do so. If the new game requires plowing through several hundred pages of rules to be able to play then forget it.

Quote from: Exploderwizard;894937If I can just sit at the table and try a new game, I'm happy to do so. If the new game requires plowing through several hundred pages of rules to be able to play then forget it.

Precisely.

Being "impressed" by somebody's gaming, whatever the hell THAT means, will depend not on "how many years they have been gaming," but what kind of person they are.

I don't game with assholes, and new gamers are every bit as likely to be assholes as old gamers.

Quote from: Omega;894878Personally I prefer "I've been doing this since BEFORE YOU WERE BORN..."

I've actually used that line on a few new people who come in and start telling everyone how to do this and this and this BETTER!!! Except that what they are describing is inefficient compared to whats being done allready, has failed (repeatedly,)  or proven to just not work, (repeatedly.)

And usually I only say something like that when after patiently listening to the grand new idea, that turns out isnt grand and isnt new, and patiently explaining in detail why it wont work and then being told I dont know what Im talking about. THEN its more likely to happen. I do not dismiss someones ideas just because they are new or old at the biz. Does it work? Is it easier or more enjoyable than whats currently in use? Has it been tried before? If it was and failed then why did it fail?

And that can apply to RPGs too.

I've used that line too. Sometimes, oftentimes, when playing World of Warcraft players would start talking shit about how they are God's Gift to gaming and could do everything in the game better than anyone else. There's only so much I could take before I had to blurt out something like "I've been gaming since before your parents screwed in the Toyota! So STFU!!!!"

I prefer the line, "I have dice older than you." Not that it means anything, but I'm amused.

Quote from: Krimson;895073I prefer the line, "I have dice older than you." Not that it means anything, but I'm amused.

So you bought those dice made from dinosaur bones? :cool:

Quote from: Omega;895124So you bought those dice made from dinosaur bones? :cool:

Bought?

That was back in the days way before we had invented barter. Back then we had to run down the dinosaur by ourself, choke it to death with our bare hands, chew the meat off with our teeth, and gnaw the bones into the shape of dice.

And we liked it that way.