I think that musing about D&D is only natural given the social nature of RPGs. Both in playing and creating things.
My opinion is the real question people should be asking is
How hard is it to organize or play in a RPG campaign?
Because if that is hard then everything RPG related is in trouble..
Social media makes it easier than ever to do this: not counting Meetup (which someone has to pay for, I think) there's Google+ and Facebook. Locally we use a Facebook group to arrange a lot of our games, in conjunction with Warhorn.
In the past we primarily arranged things on Yahoo groups and Warhorn. I think it's only gotten easier.
I am an active participant in three separate RPG groups, and our local meetup.com group seems to have lots of people playing most every edition of D&D. Things seem alive and kicking from where I'm standing, at least where D&D is concerned.
The difficulty of organisation can mean a lot of different things.
Net-based organisation has huge potential. I met both of my current groups online (except two players, one of whom I have known since 2003, and another since ca. 1995). I participate in online communities and use their ideas in games, mostly as inspiration/best practice. Apparently, gaming via Google+ also starts to become viable and allows for transcontinental gaming.
A lot of gaming groups are completely insular, though, and with the transformation of hobby shops and disappearance of the RPG clubs once common in cultural centres/universities, you may just walk by them. This can be a problem in small towns without a critical mass of people looking for games. The central places of the gaming network may thrive, but if the capillaries dry out, it can make even the centres feel the consequences.
The third issue concerns the role of specific games in organising the hobby. I believe it is positive that fans and game companies are starting to realise there is a problem in the first place, and thinking more about entry products and community organisation. There are several different approaches here, from the Red Box through Pathfinder Basic to various people introducing their kids with Labyrinth Lord. That's good. But more effort should be dedicated to disseminate good gaming practices and sell the hobby to non-players. That means games which are accessible, showcase the virtues of the hobby, and help people play/GM well.
If, suddenly, tomorrow, everyone in the world but me stopped playing RPGs and completely forgot that there had ever been such a thing as a tabletop RPG, I'd still have a game next weekend.
I'd just tell some people 'hey, want to come over, hang out and play a game?' And then, when they showed up, I'd take 5 minutes to explain the rules of D&D, 5 minutes to create a character, and then we'd play. Those who enjoyed it would be back next week, and I'd ask them to invite all their friends. Repeat until I have 20 or so people interested in an open-table campaign, then find some willing DMs in that group to start their own campaigns to handle overflow.
I don't think that social networks of pre-existing gamers are necessary. The wider state of the hobby/industry has little or no effect on me.
I don't think its hard to organize groups today.
I've been using a virtual tabletop (vtt) since 2005. At the time I was playing with a group at the local gaming shop but once that died I never looked for another face to face game.
I haven't had actual "in real life" friends that also played table top RPGs since I graduated from high school over twenty years ago. I have on occasion wondered why this is so. I gave up trying to get friends to play table top RPGs early on. Unlike Kaldric, I would hold out little hope if I had to rely on finding people by personal exposure. It just hasn't worked out much for me with adults.
So, even though I haven't used the social media tools, just the community of people using my vtt of choice has been sufficient to keep me engaged. If that ever fails me I would likely either turn to those social media tools or to the local game shop.
That said, I think that it is hard to find adults willing to run games because of the time investment in being the DM. I think if a system catches fire and goes "viral" that is easier to run than D&D has been, at least since 3.0, that would do wonders for the number of gaming groups and for the satisfaction of individual gamers that would feel more empowered to move on from groups that are not a good match for them.
The hardest parts of getting a group going are the same things they've always been - getting off your duff, and making time. It's great that we have all these net resources to make the other parts easier, but the individual commitment won't ever change.
I think one of my goals this year is going to be to get a (semi-?)regular game going at my local comic/game shop with players I don't already know. That's 100% unlike me and thus a challenge, so it's worth doing.
What is the justification for yet-another version of D&D? I understand that of WotC as a company, but from a fan's point-of-view, I wonder what is it that the new D&D version would bring about that isn't out there already or that cannot be house-ruled?
* Ability to find gaming groups? I don't think I would like to game with people who have strong version issues. Gaming is mostly a social thing, and I am more concerned about the personalities around the table than the details actual system.
* System? The old groups had been on hiatus, and after some excellent rules-light and free-form gaming elsewhere I wanted to see what is the role of systems. I ran a short BECMI campaign (TPK) and now I am running two 2e campaigns just to find out why D&D works despite the obvious short-comings. So far it's been fun: grittiness, frugality with EXP, toned down fantasy. Players seem to care about their characters and the story despite possibly mild distaste of the clunkiness.
* Support? What is system support of RPGs? Can I call somewhere and complain if the system does not run? Do my older versions still run after the new one's been released?
* Curiosity? Cautious maybe.
* Aesthetics? Often the game art and the game I am running are not quite in harmony.
It's not hard to get a group off the ground. It just requires patience, and a mindset that stops you from thinking the best gaming can only be had with other gamers. It's bullshit. Then, you select the game that fits the people you intend to play with the best, you prepare your first adventure well, and on you go.
I had written a bunch of posts in French on the topic of "How to start role playing games". Maybe I should translate them here.
Quote from: Benoist;499503I had written a bunch of posts in French on the topic of "How to start role playing games". Maybe I should translate them here.
That sounds like a good idea to me. Where on the forum would you post them?
Quote from: BedrockBrendan;499504That sounds like a good idea to me. Where on the forum would you post them?
Maybe the Design, Development and Gameplay forum? That seems most appropriate there.
I have a group, and staying in touch with them is easy. Getting them to make time to play? That's the hard part.
Quote from: Serious Paul;499516I have a group, and staying in touch with them is easy. Getting them to make time to play? That's the hard part.
This.
Quote from: Serious Paul;499516I have a group, and staying in touch with them is easy. Getting them to make time to play? That's the hard part.
The social commitment can sometimes be an issue, but I think certain games (TSR D&D, T&T, some story-games) get around this by their ability to be played with whoever shows up, or their shorter playtime/prep.
It's on hiatus atm because of the holidays, but I was running Basic D&D with whoever showed up at my friend's, or if other plans fell through. It worked pretty well, and it's easy to just make a note of where you left off, pack it up, and pick it up the next time you've got people around.
From the looks of things WOTC is getting ready to lambaste us with 5th edition D&D I also see they have laid off more people, looks like a shambles to Me. Now RPG's will survive but the D&D brands future is uncertain.
Quote from: Peregrin;499529The social commitment can sometimes be an issue, but I think certain games (TSR D&D, T&T, some story-games) get around this by their ability to be played with whoever shows up, or their shorter playtime/prep.
Honestly every game I play works this way: whoever shows up can play. It's getting everyone to show up. Kids. Jobs. Other social commitments. Better social commitments-if I get a choice between knocking out some ass and throwing down Shadowrun sorry guys, game is next week.
I rarely even have an adventure that goes more than one session these days just because of this. And that's okay-we're having just as much fun!
I'm still doing pretty good just having the game out in the local bar. People come by, get curious, and try it out. Or at least remember when they used to play and talk about that.
Quote from: Benoist;499503It's not hard to get a group off the ground. It just requires patience, and a mindset that stops you from thinking the best gaming can only be had with other gamers. It's bullshit. Then, you select the game that fits the people you intend to play with the best, you prepare your first adventure well, and on you go.
I had written a bunch of posts in French on the topic of "How to start role playing games". Maybe I should translate them here.
Well, since you're too lazy to translate INSMV, you may as well. :D
Things seem alive and healthy from where I sit... play in a weekly group, run another game with a loose schedule... and just signed on for something else. Most local stuff is Pathfinder or D&D but I haven't had too much trouble finding folks with a wider repertoire. So things seem good. A solid CoC group would make things great... maybe I'll make that happen.
The future holds death for the aging pioneers whose vacated authority will be filled by a bickering vain blogging elite. Young people will continue to be mystified by roleplaying and feel embarrassed for the older gamers they know.
Quote from: Melan;499469Apparently, gaming via Google+ also starts to become viable and allows for transcontinental gaming.
You make it sound like James Bond has taken up gaming. Did you mean 'intercontinental'?
Quote from: CRKrueger;499656Well, since you're too lazy to translate INSMV, you may as well. :D
Fuck you. I will. :D
Kent: the wording, and its connotations, are intentional.
Quote from: Melan;499686Kent: the wording, and its connotations, are intentional.
Why then do you make a point of limiting the connectivity of Google+ to within a continent?
Once again, text and subtext. But I am already overexplaining myself.
"What might appear ridiculous to others: a question of that shade of difference between the two, a shift of emphasis."
Quote from: VectorSigma;499496The hardest parts of getting a group going are the same things they've always been - getting off your duff, and making time. It's great that we have all these net resources to make the other parts easier, but the individual commitment won't ever change.
For sure.
Over the last few years, the biggest problem I had was with unreliable players, regardless of game system and/or edition. (ie. Players and DMs which don't show up at all, etc ...).
With some particular individuals, in hindsight I probably would have been better off finding somebody else.
Quote from: Melan;499690Once again, text and subtext. But I am already overexplaining myself.
"What might appear ridiculous to others: a question of that shade of difference between the two, a shift of emphasis."
Two can play at that game,
ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu arts student R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn
In the House of R'lyeh, Sleeper Cthulhu awaits his coming. And some odd stuff about arts student or smth in the middle.
Or it went something like that. I'm too lazy to google - fu that.
I am fortunate enough to live in (relatively) big city, and go to a prominent gaming club there - so if I want to GM, I just say "Hey guys, I'm GMing today, it's This and That game, anyone interested?"
There usually are at least 3 - 4 people, enough to get a party going. If no - I just sit and play board games. Either way, I have fun.
I am running 2 campaigns at the moment, and well - I know time's sometimes an issue. But I make sure with players who want to have a campaign, that they have time for it - at least once, twice per month. Then again I am still young, studying, working only occasionally, so I have a bit of free time to spend.
Quote from: Kaldric;499472If, suddenly, tomorrow, everyone in the world but me stopped playing RPGs and completely forgot that there had ever been such a thing as a tabletop RPG, I'd still have a game next weekend.
I'd just tell some people 'hey, want to come over, hang out and play a game?' And then, when they showed up, I'd take 5 minutes to explain the rules of D&D, 5 minutes to create a character, and then we'd play. Those who enjoyed it would be back next week, and I'd ask them to invite all their friends. Repeat until I have 20 or so people interested in an open-table campaign, then find some willing DMs in that group to start their own campaigns to handle overflow.
I don't think that social networks of pre-existing gamers are necessary. The wider state of the hobby/industry has little or no effect on me.
QFT.
When I was a kid, I yearned to "find a group I could join". Then I got over it, asked some friends to play with me, and I've been playing ever since. Outside of convention play, I've never actually done the "gotta find some gamers" thing: I've always played with friends or friends-of-friends.
What I did find difficult was:
(a) Capitalizing on interest from people who weren't currently playing.
(b) Getting people to make the long-term commitment necessary for a regular campaign.
An open table (http://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/1223/roleplaying-games/opening-your-game-table), of course, solves both problems.
(I'm not saying there's anything wrong with finding fellow gamers to form a group with. But I am saying that making that your default method of finding people to play with
even when it isn't working feels really problematic to me.)
Quote from: CRKrueger;499656Well, since you're too lazy to translate INSMV, you may as well. :D
No, no, no! :nono: He has to translate Les Annees Folles first! That shit's rare! :cheerleader:
Quote from: Opaopajr;499944No, no, no! :nono: He has to translate Les Annees Folles first! That shit's rare! :cheerleader:
I need to do both of them. Seriously.
Les Années Folles not translated in English should be considered like... a crime against humanity or somethin'. :D
Quote from: _kent_;499734Two can play at that game,
ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu arts student R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn
I wasn't really sure if I liked you or not, until just there.
RPGPundit
Quote from: Justin Alexander;499878(I'm not saying there's anything wrong with finding fellow gamers to form a group with. But I am saying that making that your default method of finding people to play with even when it isn't working feels really problematic to me.)
If the friends thing works for you, I think that's great. Certainly for people in their 20's or earlier, it's a viable option.
The problem is, as you get older you tend to get together with friends a lot less. Friends move away, get married, have kids, get busy in their careers, etc. Their tastes also change over time and you start to have a lot less in common in what you want to do with your leisure time. I'm not saying it happens to everyone, but it's pretty common.
Before you know it, it starts being a major effort just to keep in contact with people. Not only is a "movie night" off the table, but just getting together for a dinner takes a month or two of planning. Trying to get more than one together for a 3+ hour gaming session would almost require an event planner (for example, my gf has spent the last six months trying to get her friends together to no avail - the 4th of July party turned into a Christmas party which will likely become a Memorial Day party by the end; and I've spent the last 5 years trying to organize a vacation with mine only for it to always fall apart at the last minute).
Honestly I think that for anyone in their 30's or older, finding a dedicated group of gamers is the way to go because I know they will try to make time once every two weeks to come to a session.
Quote from: jgants;500869The problem is, as you get older you tend to get together with friends a lot less.
At 32, this is actually
why I play games with my friends. It's an easy, open social lubricator.
I can set-up a board game night, invite 15 people, expect 4-5 to show up, and hang out with people. (If I instead tried to set plans with those specific 4-5 people, we'd probably cancel twice and then give up on it.)
I've had similar success with open tables for RPGs, although the number of my friends interested in that is a more focused group. And from that open table I've been able to "recruit" people into my regular, dedicated campaign who I would never have thought of playing with previously. (Because neither I nor they knew how interested they would prove to be; nor how dedicated they would be willing to be.)
Consistency and enthusiasm are the critical qualities I recruit people for these days. Everything else they can learn, those have to be brought to the table.
I am in the process right now of divesting myself of what has otherwise been the best gaming group I've ever been part of, because since the guy who used to DM moved away, their willingness to actually show up, and their enthusiasm for playing have been flickering out. I'm scheduling every Saturday off and playing maybe 1 in 4, without adequate prior notice of whether we are or aren't (in one notorious case, one of the guys notified us an hour before the game was supposed to start). This isn't an age thing, since these guys are my age (late 20's), and I game with a bunch of older guys (late 30's) who are more reliable.
Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;501073Consistency and enthusiasm are the critical qualities I recruit people for these days. Everything else they can learn, those have to be brought to the table.
.
Well put.
These days I find it's good to have multiple groups at a time. Most of the people I game with are in the 35-50 age range, so scheduling games Can be tricky.