Time Reading Versus Time Playing

Galeros · 7th March 2009, 04:23 AM

I have noticed on the forums that a good number of people have said they probably spend more time buying and reading RPG books without an active group, than buying and reading with an active group.

I am sort of in this situation right now. I have picked up the Wheel of Time RPG and I think it would be fun to play in a game with it. I am just far too busy with real life for that to be possible.

How many here spend more time reading RPG books and coming up with ideas without an active gaming group?

darjr · 7th March 2009, 04:33 AM

I would kill for more strait up reading time.

But I've been there.

Not currently though.

arcady · 7th March 2009, 05:04 AM

Always been this way for me. Even when I was in very active groups - it just meant I was reading even more...

I think a lot of the -kick- for this hobby for many is the reading.

Dannyalcatraz · 7th March 2009, 05:22 AM

For me, its usually feast or famine. I have a huge collection of RPGS, most of which I've only read through and mined for ideas.

OTOH, at one point, I was in 3 different D&D campaigns...AND a HERO campaign.

I'd say, though, over 30+ years of gaming, I've read more than I've played.

Wormwood · 7th March 2009, 05:34 AM

4e heralds the first time in nearly 30 years that I spend more time playing than reading the game.

Finally.

Lord Xtheth · 7th March 2009, 05:43 AM

My bookshelves are bowing, I've had 2 featherdusters quit on me, and there are times I consider buying a new book over eating food... and I've read close to every single page of all my books (Not all at once mind you, and there are a couple books I haven't gotten to yet) So I can definately say that I read more than I DM

freyar · 7th March 2009, 04:28 PM

I absolutely read more than I play or prep. I only have a very slow-paced campaign right now. Some of this is due to having a very busy work life at the moment, but I think a lot has to do with my aversion to going out and meeting new people.

Wombat · 7th March 2009, 04:41 PM

Given my current minimal employment, I am able to devout a lot of time to reading ... which includes rpgs.

There was a two year stretch in my undergrad college days when I had no game group where I read books and created worlds in my spare time; I may not have been "gaming", but mentally I was there.

And as GM for a host of games over the years, I will admit that for every hour I give folks at the table, I spend 2-3 prepping up, writing background material that the players never see, and reading & re-reading game books, many of which are not the system I am using currently, but somehow provide inspiration for same.

Yeah, I read a lot.

Jhaelen · 8th March 2009, 01:29 AM

I definitely read a lot more than I play. At the moment I'm buying everything from Ars Magica just to read it (our campaign died several years ago...). I'm also buying some of the 4E books even though we're still busy playing 3E.

We're also playing only once a month, so even if though I'm easily spending as much time preparing for a session as the time we're playing, I've got plenty of time left to read stuff.

Crothian · 8th March 2009, 01:31 AM

I only game once a week for about 4-5 hours. Usually I spend more time reading RPG books in a given week especially when I'm reviewing and judging.

Ahnehnois · 8th March 2009, 01:40 AM

I have gone through periods of long gaming inactivity. Best to be well prepared foir when the next opportunity arises.

jdeleski · 8th March 2009, 03:24 AM

I spend most of my time working, attending to my family, and studying for a class that I'm taking, but I do devote one night a week (about 3 hours) to DMing our local group. Even with such a tight schedule, though, I try to read about a half hour each night before sleep, whether it's fantasy novels, RPG rulebooks, or adventures, looking for that next crazy-fun, addictive gaming hook.