The Great D&D Schism: The End of an age and the scattering of gamers

[Balesir]

For the 4E were seniors in college and had discovered the opposite sex.

I get to be in college again and (re)discover the opposite sex at nearly 60?? Way cool!! Bring. It. On!

One thing that always strikes me about these threads and conversations is that they too often focus on what D&D and the associated company (WoTC or TSR) did wrong.

In my opinion, they do not often enough make mention of what other games (whether it be 13th Age, Star Wars: Edge of The Empire, GURPS, Fate, or something else) are doing right.

Thoroughly agree. There are some great games out there that don't happen to be D&D.

 

[GameOgre]

Everyone I knew hated 3.0 and its totally (unnecessary changes) and stuck with 2E or 1E. Many still play them today and never gave 3.0/3.5/Pathfinder/4E a chance.

Heck I still have all my Basic stuff!

I think gamers are the exact same now as years and years ago and have a tendency to fall in love with their games.Just like anything else you fall in love with if someone else comes along pointing out all her flaws and how she is getting on in years and why not trade her in for a newer modern model you will punch them in the face and scream that you would never drive a foreign car!

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

I don't think it's particularly useful to use language like schism to describe what's happening in the RPG market place.

I think it's perfectly accurate. Some camps really don't want to identify in any way with others. It's more than just drifting apart. These are groups that would rather not play than use The Evil Alternate System. That's a schism. A severence of ties. The thing that acted as the biggest tie was the common game/version That no longer exists and 5e sure won't change that - it can only split it even further.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I think it's perfectly accurate. Some camps really don't want to identify in any way with others. It's more than just drifting apart. These are groups that would rather not play than use The Evil Alternate System. That's a schism. A severence of ties. The thing that acted as the biggest tie was the common game/version That no longer exists and 5e sure won't change that - it can only split it even further.

I agree I have now gotten to where I will never play pathfinder again, and some of the players that played in my first D&D game will never play 4e... so we don't play anymore... maybe 5e can bring us all back togather, but I'm not holding my breath,

 

[Remus Lupin]

I know the guy who hosts our game is about done with Pathfinder, because he finds it too unwieldy, especially at high levels. The problem is we don't have a consensus on a substitute, and the rest of the group likes Pathfinder, so we keep on with it. I love the game, so that suits me fine. I'd be open to other systems, but not if it requires another huge investment of capital, as another D&D edition almost certainly will.

 

[Brock Landers]

Everyone I knew hated 3.0 and its totally (unnecessary changes) and stuck with 2E or 1E. Many still play them today and never gave 3.0/3.5/Pathfinder/4E a chance.

Heck I still have all my Basic stuff!

I think gamers are the exact same now as years and years ago and have a tendency to fall in love with their games.Just like anything else you fall in love with if someone else comes along pointing out all her flaws and how she is getting on in years and why not trade her in for a newer modern model you will punch them in the face and scream that you would never drive a foreign car!

Thank you for this, I really did lough out loud, massive chuckling, amazing.

For myself, I started with 1st Ed AD&D, made the transition to 2nd Ed, 3rd Ed, 4th Ed, but after DMing about 7 or 8 eight-hour-long sessions of 4th Ed I became disillusioned, and started mining all editions (and rocking Basic) to come up with my own 2.5; so if 5th Ed ends up blowing chunks, it will still have stuff to mine.

 

[Brock Landers]

I know the guy who hosts our game is about done with Pathfinder, because he finds it too unwieldy, especially at high levels. The problem is we don't have a consensus on a substitute, and the rest of the group likes Pathfinder, so we keep on with it. I love the game, so that suits me fine. I'd be open to other systems, but not if it requires another huge investment of capital, as another D&D edition almost certainly will.

Yeah, after DMing 3rd Ed hardcore for over 3 years I got burnt out on the unwieldiness, pain to DM, so I would like a sort of 2.5, personally.

 

[Henry]

Yeah, after DMing 3rd Ed hardcore for over 3 years I got burnt out on the unwieldiness, pain to DM, so I would like a sort of 2.5, personally.

With the host of Old School Renaissance clones out there (OSRIC, Swords and Wizardry, Dark Dungeons), "investment" is a minimal concept for a D&D game that is lighter than 3.0 or Pathfinder. For that matter, if there's too much divisiveness on D&D, maybe a complete rule switch to something about as rule intensive as 2E AD&D is in order, such as Savage Worlds, whose rule book is all of 10 dollars for the "Explorer's Edition."

Life is too short to be hung up on version numbers, in my opinion. Ask those friends that, 10 years from now, will they regret that time spent not bonding with friends and family over gaming? (unless they're getting together over something else they all find equally fun, in which case it's a moot point).

 

[Remus Lupin]

Savage Worlds is our go-to alternative, but I am actually very tempted to suggest a switch back to a Basic/Expert game for our next campaign, particularly given the many resources that are currently out there for one.

 

[Hippy]

After reading the bulk of the responses to this thread (I admit I have not read every response), I think it comes to down to a fundamental truth. People are human beings and as such are individuals. There cannot possibly be one unifying edition all will play without argument or some modification of rules etc. as everyone has their own tastes. That is what makes the world go around!

For a quick example, when was the last time you went into a coffee shop and only saw regular coffee as a choice? Every coffee shop I have ever been in serves dozens of options, which you then tailor to further suit your tastes! RPGs are no different. You take what you want from whatever edition/revision or system and modify to suit your game! I for one am thankful for the many games choices we have in this modern world of the internet. It has opened my eyes to whole new worlds and ideas, which I have happily absorbed into my own games.

In closing, just play game and spend quality time with your family and friends. Don't worry about editions, it is those we play with that truly make our games great, not the system. So enjoy your players. As life has shown me in my forty plus years of walking this planet, you don't know how long you have to enjoy them at your table and in your life.

Just my two electrums worth - Game on!

Hippy