Regards, Reader

@Samual: I have one “New Gamer” amongst those that I regularly GM; he joined in 4-5 years ago as a fresh-faced 16yo, having done nothing but computer-based RPGs and some Collectable Card Games. And he’s struggled, in some respects, but has found the ability of a GM to customise a game to accommodate whatever the PLAYERS want to do too addictive to let go of. At about the same time, we had another “New Gamer” start up as well, and he grew fascinated by the idea of DMing, and proved a natural at it. He’s since had to drop out due to university commitments, but we expect him back in 2010. So my thoughts had some basis in experience. But for every new player, there’s one who’se tried it and bailed, and 100 who’ve never even thought about it.

I think the reliance on CG visual effects (which are technically recognized as different from special effects, to my knowledge) is very bad for the overall quality of the movies we see—there’s little reason for film-makers to hire good story-tellers when explosions and CG superheroes pull in hundreds of millions of dollars. I couldn’t agree more that I love the technological advances and the ability to experience stories in ways we couldn’t before, but I can’t laud it beyond that because it’s being, well, abused.

As a side note, try watching the Little Shop of Horrors movie and notice how convincing they could make a giant puppet way back in 1986. I wish they used puppetry like that for more movie monsters these days, as I find it easy to be jarred out of the story with current CG (although it is getting quite good).

I think people flock to their ‘vices’ in tougher economic times, so (unfortunately) I predict that we’ll continue to see CG-centric films at the box office, and I expect people will continue to go see them. Like roleplaying, it can actually be pretty cheap when compared to other hobbies.

Now, I’m not going to paint myself as one, but as of right now I am definitely a 4E detractor. Still, my second-cousin is 16, and she got into D&D right after 4E came out. The 9-10 players involved in that campaign are looking to branch out to other games with other GMs, and her little sister (14) wishes she could join them. I’m not sure if that proves anything, but it’s evidence that new players are out there.

I’m not sure how I feel about Lingshu’s ADHD comment (You sound like a fist-shaker, sir!) but I’d wager a zillion gp that ‘your’ Harry Potter idea is well in the works. If not, I’d better contact J.K. about that. That, and read her books, I guess.

I hope Dan Howard is wrong… although really, I’m not sure if his predictions coming true would be such a bad thing for people who enjoy tabletop RPGs. It’s essentially a (growing) fringe hobby right now, as it has been since I started. I don’t mind playing on the fringe. :)

Sorry about the length. Thanks again for the post.

RPG Ike’s last blog post..Are there any antagonist GMs in the audience? Okay, I’ll speak slower…

I’m not sure how this trend can be reversed. Like you said, people want someone else to do the heavy-lifting for them these days.

Samuel Van Der Wall’s last blog post..Contest Results: Sundered Skies & Savage Worlds

But many people don’t want that as much as they like games where the primary objective is to game the system. In the old days, it was the rules lawyers and stats memorizers. In 3e, it’s the people who develop elaborate move/action combos and then just replay them repeatedly in games.

Card games and WOW cater to this urge, rather than subvert it. The main enjoyment of these games comes from fine-tuning skill and strategy through repetition. Role-playing, stories and flexibility are secondary and not the point.

I like D&D and I like role-playing but I’ve come to think that card games and WOW are the future … because they give the majority of people what they want.