I've had a very different journey.
When I was but a little nerd I played games like Rules Cyclopedia D&D, and later 3e, Warhammer Fantasy, Battletech, and Risk.
When I was a medium nerd I played 3e and Magic the Gathering.
And now, as a giant nerd, I play eurogames, modern top-line miniature wargames like Infinity and Anima Tactics, and 4e. And I'm familiar with more RPGs than just the D&D franchise.
For those who know these games, there should be some clear trends indicated. A clear move away from rules that exist for simulation towards rules that exist to facilitate interesting decisions. Away from tables and multiple die rolls towards elegance and simplicity in rules, with complexity in viable options. A move towards elegance, and the idea that the part of the game that's decision-rich and interesting should be the part that you spend the most time upon, and conversely that any part that is decision-poor and uninteresting should require minimal attention.
Due to travel and not having a constant gaming group, its unlikely that I will ever crystalize in a single place on this path. Unless I do settle down with one set of friends, but that's not likely in the near future.
Its hard to really explain this to an audience that's probably mostly unfamiliar with modern trends in board games and war games.
But... modern games are a quantum leap ahead of a lot of older games. And RPGs, while probably the area of gaming that's the most conservative and terrified of change (ok, cardboard chit wargamers are worse), are still puttering onward into the future. And I can't even imagine going backwards.
When I was but a little nerd I played games like Rules Cyclopedia D&D, and later 3e, Warhammer Fantasy, Battletech, and Risk.
When I was a medium nerd I played 3e and Magic the Gathering.
And now, as a giant nerd, I play eurogames, modern top-line miniature wargames like Infinity and Anima Tactics, and 4e. And I'm familiar with more RPGs than just the D&D franchise.
For those who know these games, there should be some clear trends indicated. A clear move away from rules that exist for simulation towards rules that exist to facilitate interesting decisions. Away from tables and multiple die rolls towards elegance and simplicity in rules, with complexity in viable options. A move towards elegance, and the idea that the part of the game that's decision-rich and interesting should be the part that you spend the most time upon, and conversely that any part that is decision-poor and uninteresting should require minimal attention.
Due to travel and not having a constant gaming group, its unlikely that I will ever crystalize in a single place on this path. Unless I do settle down with one set of friends, but that's not likely in the near future.
Its hard to really explain this to an audience that's probably mostly unfamiliar with modern trends in board games and war games.
But... modern games are a quantum leap ahead of a lot of older games. And RPGs, while probably the area of gaming that's the most conservative and terrified of change (ok, cardboard chit wargamers are worse), are still puttering onward into the future. And I can't even imagine going backwards.