What Does the RPG Hobby Need Now?

[Twiggly the Gnome]

I don't understand posts like this. There are tons of games that aren't anything like D&D, in mechanics, form, genre or presentation. I don't know how you would miss them if you are even slightly interested in finding one.

Yeah, the lack of support for non-fantasy genres isn't from the lack of games set in those genres. TSR/Wizards alone has produced lots of non-fantasy game that just haven't met the opportunity cost threshold for not using those resources for a D&D supplement instead.

 

[TiQuinn]

I don't understand posts like this. There are tons of games that aren't anything like D&D, in mechanics, form, genre or presentation. I don't know how you would miss them if you are even slightly interested in finding one.

Holy crap.

That's fine, Reynard, I don't understand responses like yours.

I can find other games. I'm also lucky in the fact that I have a DM is also into finding and trying new game systems. The rest of the table that I sit at doesn't know too much else about other games outside of D&D and Pathfinder. They don't know what Tales of the Valiant is, or what Level Up would bring to the table for them, or why they should be excited about Daggerheart. Yesterday, one player said "I heard you guys say OSR. What does that mean?" This was the same player who's head spun around when he saw how deadly Mothership was compared to another sci-fi game we played, Lancer. There are players and DMs who are knowledgeable and have to be both teacher and cheerleader for the game system. Couldn't tell you why the hell I'd want to play Shadow of the Weird Wizard. Hear lots of good things about 13th Age. Haven't the slightest idea how to pitch it to my group and make them want to play it versus 5e D&D.

But honestly, I even find myself struggling sometimes. Sorry, not perfect. Not as dialed in like you. Ain't got my finger on the pulse all the time. Also any idea how many people have suggested systems that, to be really nice, are so inscrutable and inaccessible that I couldn't even be fully honest with how much they just suck? I don't read every system out there just for grins.

In short, I'm not talking about me not being able to find other systems - I'm saying TTRPG designers in general often suck at marketing their game, even when they have someone in front of them asking what their game is about. SUCK at it.

Edit: And not to put it entirely on the designers of these games, the general YT, influencer community promoting said games fall into the same patterns and ruts in promoting those games also.

 

[Distracted DM]

I think it is time to.finally kill prep. Games and adventures should be designed such that they can be used with little to no preparation. That can mean a lot of different things, but definitely includes embracing layout and art/cartography that informs. It means ending "paid by the word" style walls of prose. And it means tearing down the explicit divide between players and GMs.

A lot of DCC adventures can be run with little to no prep. I'm often amazed at what a joy they are to run and how easily they flow.

 

[Reynard]

In short, I'm not talking about me not being able to find other systems - I'm saying TTRPG designers in general often suck at marketing their game, even when they have someone in front of them asking what their game is about. SUCK at it.

Edit: And not to put it entirely on the designers of these games, the general YT, influencer community promoting said games fall into the same patterns and ruts in promoting those games also.

I misunderstood your post. My apologies.

That said, I think the information is there. I'm not sure what you want from, say, the creators and fans of Spire that they aren't giving you if you look for it.

 

[TiQuinn]

I misunderstood your post. My apologies.

That said, I think the information is there. I'm not sure what you want from, say, the creators and fans of Spire that they aren't giving you if you look for it.

The post is about what can be done better. Thanks.

 

[Umbran]

In short, I'm not talking about me not being able to find other systems - I'm saying TTRPG designers in general often suck at marketing their game, even when they have someone in front of them asking what their game is about. SUCK at it.

Yeah, well, how many professions do you expect them to be good at? They need to be game designers and art directors and business managers and project managers and marketers...

Being an awesome game designer comes with NONE of those other skills wrapped up and ready to use.

Oh, and they go broke if they suck at them...

 

[Reynard]

The post is about what can be done better. Thanks.

So what can they do better? How do they not suck at it?

 

[Bedrockgames]

Oh, and they go broke if they suck at them...

They even go broke if they are good at the sometimes. The margins are tight in this industry lol

 

[kronovan]

A Bits & Mortar equivalent for digital content purchased for Virtual TableTop. I really dislike having to buy the same publication 2 times over, or even worse 3 times - VTT, print & PDF. I really appreciate Bits & Mortar for print books. For VTT content though, currently Paizo is the only publisher I know of that will give you the PDF free when you buy one of their VTT publications.

These days, even when running an IRL session around a table I'm often hosting a remote player or 2 on the big screen via VTT. So it's fairly common for me to buy at least the CRB in both print & VTT for the players. But I always want the PDF for pepping or homebrewing and having to also pay for the PDF feels like pouring $ into a money pit.

 

[TiQuinn]

Yeah, well, how many professions do you expect them to be good at? They need to be game designers and art directors and business managers and project managers and marketers...

Being an awesome game designer comes with NONE of those other skills wrapped up and ready to use.

Oh, and they go broke if they suck at them...

I don’t disagree.