D&D 5E Variant 5e?

[Zardnaar]

Really?

In terms of playing them yes. Pathfinders the only other one most have heard of at least in any significant way.

D&D's the only one on sale, it's the only one played at least publicly.

If you want to play something else you more or less need an established group and get them to play it.

There's 3 or 4 groups, Tues,Weds,Thurs each group 6-8 all playing D&D. That's just one place.

There's another one but I think they're more into their boardgames.

The occasional individual had Warhammer or the new Star Wars but RPGs in general not popular, D&D yes.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Really?

I am sensing an enormous amount of sarcasm here... Either that, or incredible naïveté... I am not certain which.

 

[Morrus]

I am sensing an enormous amount of sarcasm here... Either that, or incredible naïveté... I am not certain which.

You know I publish and sell RPGs, right? And that I've been reporting on D&D for 20 years?

Which do you think it is?

 

[Zardnaar]

I am sensing an enormous amount of sarcasm here... Either that, or incredible naïveté... I am not certain which.

It's sarcasm.

Main point is functionally it's somewhere between very hard to functionally impossible to play anything else unless you run it yourself and supply your own players.

You might be able to find something that's not D&D but if you're looking for something specific forget it.

PFS fell apart around 2014.

 

[DND_Reborn]

FWIW, I understand @dave2008 . I am loathe to spend money on a new game unless I have a chance to play it first or really look it over.

I am SO interesting in AIME and the Warden since members have said I might like it for a Bard replacement, but there is nothing online for free I can browse and I don't know anyone with the book for me to look through it. There is nothing in our bookstore, of course.

At any rate, I am about about to spend over $30 USD for something I might not even find useful.

 

[Morrus]

FWIW, I understand @dave2008 . I am loathe to spend money on a new game unless I have a chance to play it first or really look it over.

I am SO interesting in AIME and the Warden since members have said I might like it for a Bard replacement, but there is nothing online for free I can browse and I don't know anyone with the book for me to look through it. There is nothing in our bookstore, of course.

At any rate, I am about about to spend over $30 USD for something I might not even find useful.

You'll enjoy reading it. If you play it, that's a bonus. $30 for the chance of years of awesome gaming is nothing compare to a dinner out or a movie ticket for the same number of people.

This "RPGs are expensive, let's just play D&D" narrative is not cute any more its becoming destructive.

 

[DND_Reborn]

You know I publish and sell RPGs, right? And that I've been reporting on D&D for 20 years?

Which do you think it is?

Yeah, I know. I was really more wondering why Zardnaar was actually replying to your "Really"s.

But to be honest, I have no idea of much of what you have likely made or done. Since the popularity of the Internet, it seems like half the people I know online (and their mothers) have "made my own game" or published this or that.

 

[DND_Reborn]

You'll enjoy reading it. If you play it, that's a bonus. $30 for the chance of years of awesome gaming is nothing compare to a dinner out or a movie ticket for the same number of people.

This "RPGs are expensive, let's just play D&D" narrative is not cute any more its becoming destructive.

Yeah, no thanks. I only gave 5E a chance because our local bookstore had most of the books and I was able to read through a lot of it before I bought any. I am all for supporting RPGs (like most, I am sure I have spent thousands over the years) and the people who make them, but not for risking my hard-earned money--even $30.

Example. I never played 4E or Pathfinder, so I looked over PF2. Umm.. No, no, thank you. It is (of course) too similar to 5E but has even more annoying things to bother with. So, I am very glad I didn't waste any money on that. I know a lot of people probably love it, just not for me.

 

[Zardnaar]

You'll enjoy reading it. If you play it, that's a bonus. $30 for the chance of years of awesome gaming is nothing compare to a dinner out or a movie ticket for the same number of people.

This "RPGs are expensive, let's just play D&D" narrative is not cute any more its becoming destructive.

You are aware that a lot of people don't have money and outside the USA maybe UK RPGs are expensive?

My 2E PHB in 1995 was 1 weeks rent.

Buying 3 3pp Kobold Publishing books cost around 150 pounds.

A book here is more like $50 USD or about 4 dozen beer. That's 4 weekends of fun with no prep time.

So not super expensive but it's enough for something you may not use or can't find players for.

 

[Morrus]

You are aware that a lot of people don't have money and outside the USA maybe UK RPGs are expensive?

DTRPG is a great equaliser. Geography doesn't matter.

Buying 3 3pp Kobold Publishing books cost around 150 pounds.

I don't know why you're buying three Kobold Press (not 'Publishing') books. A core rulebook for an RPG is a fraction of that. "150 pounds" is utter nonsense. Seriously: show me one RPG which costs 150 pounds to buy (other than D&D, which kinda does...)

I mean, D&/D is one of the most expensive games. You can pick up WOIN for $20. D&D needs three core rulebooks, which come to ... wait... $150!

I can sell you a full RPG for $10 in PDF, or $30 in hardback. I can point to a hundred RPG core rulebooks for a quarter of the ridiculous price you just quoted.