Tabletopocalypse Now - GMS' thoughts about the decline in the hobby

[Dannyalcatraz]

Some RPGs will fade away with time; probably almost all of them.

However, it is possible that a certain few- big dogs like D&D, for instance- may survive for centuries, like chess, checkers, go and others, due to a hard core of players teaching the games to friends, family and acquaintances.

But only time will tell which RPGs, if any, reach that kind of status.

 

[ggroy]

Some RPGs will fade away with time; probably almost all of them.

However, it is possible that a certain few- big dogs like D&D, for instance- may survive for centuries, like chess, checkers, go and others, due to a hard core of players teaching the games to friends, family and acquaintances.

But only time will tell which RPGs, if any, reach that kind of status.

If and when the copyright on the earliest tabletop rpg books expire and enter the public domain, will there still be a large enough audience that would want to reprint it? Or for that matter, will there still even exist an audience by then?

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Well, since you can't copyright the rules of a game, that's not the issue. Someone could make an RPG that has the same rules structure: the trick would be doing so without using the unique terminology and other copyrightable elements within the game.

The question that remains is about the audience, and it's a valid one. I'm willing to teach, but I don't currently have any students. That may change, because I plan on playing RPGs as long as I'm able. Given the longevity in my family and how long we tend to retain our mental faculties, that's another 40 years or so.

In that span, I expect I'll find others to initiate into the hobby, just like I have in the past. Some of them may even stick with the hobby if I do it right.

So the answer is...only time will tell.

 

[Hungry Like The Wolf]

I could care less. In some ways, I think the tabletop rpg's dying out on a retail level would be a good thing. I think the hobby is strongest with in the grass-roots like the OSR. Having said that, the hobby can't exactly die out when people are dedicated to playing. The fan support for out-of-print products is pretty big.

 

[prosfilaes]

Well, since you can't copyright the rules of a game, that's not the issue. Someone could make an RPG that has the same rules structure: the trick would be doing so without using the unique terminology and other copyrightable elements within the game.

The OGL on D&D gives us a lot of that for the earliest RPG books. I don't think any non-D&D books really have people lusting after the rules; Empire of the Petal Throne surely doesn't, and even early Traveller is mostly Traveller world, not rules.

It's funny how little can block reuse; D20 Traveller makes Vargr OGL, and my first response was "Cool!" and my second response was "How useless". The name Vargr is protected, and I can make a wolfman species standing on my head; without invoking the Vargr name, it doesn't help at all.

If and when the copyright on the earliest tabletop rpg books expire and enter the public domain, will there still be a large enough audience that would want to reprint it? Or for that matter, will there still even exist an audience by then?

Currently, works published prior to 1978, in the US, will leave copyright 95 years from publication (rounding up); 1/1/2072 for works published in 1977. Works published 1978 or later (or whenever in the EU) get 70 years from the death of the author (or 95 years if they're works for hire, at least in the US) which means works not-for-hire of Gary Gygax will leave copyright on 1/1/2079. Canada and a few other places are a bit more generous at life+50, which 1/1/2059.

Given all that, I have no hesitation that there will be reprints available, given the current trend of scanning everything, and the very low cost of making it available. But I strongly suspect that it will be like the 1789 American Cookery that I own; an interesting piece of history, but not something actually used for the purpose it was written for.

 

[ggroy]

Given all that, I have no hesitation that there will be reprints available, given the current trend of scanning everything, and the very low cost of making it available. But I strongly suspect that it will be like the 1789 American Cookery that I own; an interesting piece of history, but not something actually used for the purpose it was written for.

Same here.

Most of the copyright expired books I've come across over the years, were more for historical interest than actual practical use. For example, an old algebra book from the late 1890's differs very little in content from an equivalent algebra book published in 2010 (besides the absence of colored pictures and glossy paper pages).

 

[Umbran]

I could care less. In some ways, I think the tabletop rpg's dying out on a retail level would be a good thing. I think the hobby is strongest with in the grass-roots like the OSR.

The moral equivalent of all music being produced by garage bands?

A great deal of the creative strength and passion in gaming is found on the level of home craft, not in mass production. But part of the reason you have that strength is that folks were drawn in by the retail market. If you cease to have that market, you may find the home strength dissolving away.

There's an ecology to all healthy things. Every element plays a part.

 

[Hussar]

I also think that computer games, specifically MMORPGs are getting a lot of the pnp gamers. I've seen in the past a lot of folks playing pnp games over irc, forums, Ventrillo, Skype, etc. And to be honest I find that a poor excuse for the social interaction the pnp RPG excels in, why would folks want to play a RPG that way when there are boat loads of far more immersive computer (MMO) games out there? This isn't 10-20 years ago when a lot of the computer games weren't exactly immersive (bad graphics), very little multiplayer/interaction. If I have the option of playing D&D over Skype with a bunch of folks I don't really know or play MMO X (WoW, LotrO, DDO, EQ2E, etc.) I think I'll go with an MMO.

As someone who has been playing over VTT for the past eight years now, I can categorically say that you are wrong. The social aspect of VTT play is every bit as rich as tabletop play. It's different sure, but, that doesn't mean it's inferior. This attitude that VTT play is just a poor substitute for "real" tabletop really surprises me to be honest. I mean, it's not like it's 1995 anymore. Between VOiP programs, interactive battlemaps, streaming music and sound, you can make a very, very rich online game that is equal to any tabletop.

 

[Aeolius]

Between VOiP programs, interactive battlemaps, streaming music and sound, you can make a very, very rich online game that is equal to any tabletop.

Even something as simple as an IRC chat room can work, in a pinch. While I haven't run a face-to-face game since 1994, I started DMing online in 1995. Given my hectic offline schedule, sitting at my computer for a few hours Sunday nights is challenging enough!

 

[BryonD]

As someone who has been playing over VTT for the past eight years now, I can categorically say that you are wrong. The social aspect of VTT play is every bit as rich as tabletop play. It's different sure, but, that doesn't mean it's inferior. This attitude that VTT play is just a poor substitute for "real" tabletop really surprises me to be honest. I mean, it's not like it's 1995 anymore. Between VOiP programs, interactive battlemaps, streaming music and sound, you can make a very, very rich online game that is equal to any tabletop.

But you have also commented in the past on your runs of bad luck with face to face groups......

I have had some great VTT game experiences and it can be a ton of fun.

But, I can categorically say that FTF is superior.