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General Tabletop Discussion
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So what exactly is the root cause of the D&D rules' staying power?
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<blockquote data-quote="innerdude" data-source="post: 7342300" data-attributes="member: 85870"><p>I'd say this is likely true for a large majority of players. D&D may actually be the right "fit" for some, but as you say, most could find a game they like better if they'd just take a chance.</p><p></p><p>But therein also lies some of the problem---it's a <em>chance</em>. Maybe a player might like something better---but then again, maybe not. There's a risk that players might end up trying something, but it ends up only being <em>different</em>, not <em>better</em>.</p><p></p><p>Plus, all of the other factors (system knowledge, ecosystem of material, etc.) seem to self-reinforce the risk aversion. "Well, maybe I'll like it better, but even if I do like it better, I have to totally commit to learning a new system, AND teach my players how to play it, AND buy new books, AND find setting material and adventures for it, AND there's unlikely to be play opportunities at my local game store and conventions."</p><p></p><p>When I look at it this way, it totally makes sense why people stick with D&D almost blindly at times . . . but it still surprises me just how far people will take it. </p><p></p><p>I've had players tell me to my face (my old GM would be one of those) that "D&D is all I've ever wanted or needed in an RPG" when they literally haven't tried anything else. And the funny thing is, in 2003, <em>I would have been one of those people.</em> Because why would I have tried anything else? What else was there that was any good? Wasn't D&D "the best" RPG?</p><p></p><p>Another hint, I suppose, should be the continued popularity of Pathfinder. A large portion of the player base is basically still playing an extension of a rules system that came out 18 years ago. (Holy cow, that's a little crazy to think about). </p><p></p><p>By the same token, though, 3.x / Pathfinder are case positive of my point. You have to be willfully blind to look at 3.x / PF and say it's this amazingly engineered, well balanced system. My experience with Pathfinder was fun, but at no point when I was GM-ing it would I call it "elegant."</p><p></p><p>I suppose it's telling, though, that when given the choice between 4e, sticking with 3.x (Pathfinder), or branching out to something new, a substantial portion of the player base stayed with Pathfinder. By the time 4e rolled around, I was darn good and ready for something different. 4e ended up being exactly the <em>wrong kind</em> of different, so I went looking elsewhere.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="innerdude, post: 7342300, member: 85870"] I'd say this is likely true for a large majority of players. D&D may actually be the right "fit" for some, but as you say, most could find a game they like better if they'd just take a chance. But therein also lies some of the problem---it's a [I]chance[/I]. Maybe a player might like something better---but then again, maybe not. There's a risk that players might end up trying something, but it ends up only being [I]different[/I], not [I]better[/I]. Plus, all of the other factors (system knowledge, ecosystem of material, etc.) seem to self-reinforce the risk aversion. "Well, maybe I'll like it better, but even if I do like it better, I have to totally commit to learning a new system, AND teach my players how to play it, AND buy new books, AND find setting material and adventures for it, AND there's unlikely to be play opportunities at my local game store and conventions." When I look at it this way, it totally makes sense why people stick with D&D almost blindly at times . . . but it still surprises me just how far people will take it. I've had players tell me to my face (my old GM would be one of those) that "D&D is all I've ever wanted or needed in an RPG" when they literally haven't tried anything else. And the funny thing is, in 2003, [I]I would have been one of those people.[/I] Because why would I have tried anything else? What else was there that was any good? Wasn't D&D "the best" RPG? Another hint, I suppose, should be the continued popularity of Pathfinder. A large portion of the player base is basically still playing an extension of a rules system that came out 18 years ago. (Holy cow, that's a little crazy to think about). By the same token, though, 3.x / Pathfinder are case positive of my point. You have to be willfully blind to look at 3.x / PF and say it's this amazingly engineered, well balanced system. My experience with Pathfinder was fun, but at no point when I was GM-ing it would I call it "elegant." I suppose it's telling, though, that when given the choice between 4e, sticking with 3.x (Pathfinder), or branching out to something new, a substantial portion of the player base stayed with Pathfinder. By the time 4e rolled around, I was darn good and ready for something different. 4e ended up being exactly the [I]wrong kind[/I] of different, so I went looking elsewhere. [/QUOTE]
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So what exactly is the root cause of the D&D rules' staying power?
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