The Next Best Thing to TT RPG?

Lawbag · October 03, 2011, 08:34:08 AM

Hi guys,

Im about to go on a hiatus for about 12 months as my wife is due to give birth in 3 months time to baby no. 3.

The group Im in play weekly (schedules permitting), but I still want to get my weekly/regular gaming fix.

So Im wondering what people have found is the closest/next best thing to tabletop RPG.

Daztur · October 03, 2011, 09:34:00 AM

At least for me, when my kids were born I didn't have time for ANYTHING

Not being vomited on was the next best thing

ggroy · October 03, 2011, 10:45:25 AM

Quote from: Daztur;483197At least for me, when my kids were born I didn't have time for ANYTHING Not being vomited on was the next best thing

Same here.

Outside of work, I didn't have much time to do anything.

Ended up getting cable tv again, at the time. Spent time playing with my kid while watching tv in the background.

thedungeondelver · October 03, 2011, 11:45:10 AM

Quote from: ggroy;483200Same here.

Outside of work, I didn't have much time to do anything.

Ended up getting cable tv again, at the time. Spent time playing with my kid while watching tv in the background.

I've been underemployed for years now, but yeah, this exactly.

jeff37923 · October 03, 2011, 12:36:28 PM

Quote from: Lawbag;483192Hi guys,

Im about to go on a hiatus for about 12 months as my wife is due to give birth in 3 months time to baby no. 3.

The group Im in play weekly (schedules permitting), but I still want to get my weekly/regular gaming fix.

So Im wondering what people have found is the closest/next best thing to tabletop RPG.

I'd say try to not go completely on hiatus. Having a newborn around will be stressful and you will need a break every once in a while when you can manage it. May be just cut back to gaming once every one or two months.

Otherwise, I'd suggest reading a lot and posting on forums.

Nicephorus · October 03, 2011, 12:53:22 PM

Well the first several months will be tough get anything done - but with #3 you already know how it goes.

PBEM/PBP are ok for a fix but they really can't replace tabletop.

You can work on new stuff to use eventually, something you can work on in the odd horu and come back to a week or a month later.

You can also aim for monthly or so gaming. I find it hard to run campaigns with this big of a gap; one shots with fairly simple rules and/or well known rules work best to me as people can quickly get into their character and start playing without spending an hour or more looking up character abilities.

kryyst · October 03, 2011, 01:16:37 PM

Next best thing I found was board games. It's easier to get people over to play them, they aren't dependent on the crowd all the time and you can make it more of a social evening that's more spouse friendly. Beyond that video games.

PaladinCA · October 03, 2011, 01:28:26 PM

Console RPG gaming. You can load a game when you get a little free time. They have zero prep. And unlike WoW or Everquest, you can save the game whenever you like as well as being able to step away from it at a moments notice.

The adventures are a little linear sure, but some of them have pretty good story arcs or side quests to adventure in.

Pseudoephedrine · October 03, 2011, 01:39:46 PM

Is it not possible to work out a time-share thing with your wife so that you get your 4-6 hours on Saturdays or whatever once a week, and in exchange you take the kid for 4-6 hours on another day of week while she gets a break?

flyingmice · October 03, 2011, 01:49:20 PM

IRC gaming is the next best thing.

-clash

Soylent Green · October 03, 2011, 02:08:16 PM

MMOs get a lot of bad press among roleplayers but many of them do have solid roleplaying communities - they just aren't always easy to find.

But if you take your time, do your research and get to know the community you might find joining an established roleplaying guild with like minded individuals it can actually be very rewarding.

Drew · October 03, 2011, 02:28:23 PM

My partner and I are planning on starting a family next year - if and when that happens I'll be get myself a Kindle and downl the re-released Fighting Fantasy books.

If that isn't enough there's always Skype to consider. One of my group has three kids and regularly joins the table via screen. We place a laptop where he'd be sitting and it works just fine.

thedungeondelver · October 03, 2011, 04:40:17 PM

Quote from: Drew;483255My partner and I are planning on starting a family next year - if and when that happens I'll be get myself a Kindle and downl the re-released Fighting Fantasy books.

Half a tick - are the FF books for the Kindle hyperlinked so you jump from one branch to the next with a single touch? What about dice rolling?

DKChannelBoredom · October 03, 2011, 04:45:10 PM

Quote from: thedungeondelver;483281Half a tick - are the FF books for the Kindle hyperlinked so you jump from one branch to the next with a single touch? What about dice rolling?

It's integrated in the book/game - my wife plays them on her iPhone - classic illustrations and all. Pretty cool and a decent substitute.

Here a new kiddo landed two months ago and all though I haven't gamed since (apart from a rather poor Pathfinder Society game) I hope to get something going soon - junior is behaving pretty well.

The Butcher · October 03, 2011, 06:16:11 PM

I hear the next best thing to playing a TT RPG is bitching about them on the Internet. Especially if you can pass yourself off as an academic.

I kid, I kid. I have so many things going on for me at the same time that it's never been an issue, though. Books to read, movies to watch, PC games to play, forum posts to catch up with... ah well. Maybe I have been working long hours.