What Does the RPG Hobby Need Now?

[Laurefindel]

Just because something has been "officially published" doesn't mean it's automatically an excellent product.

Definitely not! Just like because it’s fan-made doesn’t mean it isn’t an excellent product.

But for many people, even if just on the subconscious level; published = already went through some quality control and professional approval.

[edit] precision: that is what being published means; gone through quality control and approved by a professional (the editor).

That alone is not going to make it much more popular. It’s the official part that will. Then people will buy it, because then it’s implied that it has the approval of the IP holder.

 

[Theory of Games]

Definitely not! Just like because it’s fan-made doesn’t mean it isn’t an excellent product.

But for many people, even if just on the subconscious level; published = already went through some quality control and professional approval.

Would you include "Self-Published" in that?

 

[Laurefindel]

Would you include "Self-Published" in that?

Oftentimes, yes. Published, even by your own publishing company, adds credibility in the eyes of customers in a « fake it until you make it » kind of way.

[edit] that sounded quite diminishing of self-publishers here, which wasn’t the intent. In a vast majority of cases, this credibility is more than justified

 

[Jd Smith1]

Definitely not! Just like because it’s fan-made doesn’t mean it isn’t an excellent product.

True. But given the track record of franchise-based products, I would say the odds are about equal.

 

[Micah Sweet]

But if it’s free it’s still just a fan-made product. If its published and purchased it’s like a seal of approval; its professional instead of amateur, which in the subconscious of enough people makes it that a paid official product has more worth than a free version of the exact same thing.

Ah. I have never cared about that personally. Like, at all.

 

[Laurefindel]

Ah. I have never cared about that personally. Like, at all.

Im sure a lot of people don’t care, but many others do. Enough, I think, to make @Reynard ´s comment true (« if it were official, people would actually buy and play it »)

 

[SlyFlourish]

Something that will bring back the absolute sense of wonder and amazement that I experienced when I rolled up my Level 1 Human Thief in 1978. Despite his lifespan of about 45 minutes, I understood the infinite possibilities that could be created with pencil, paper, and some stupid-looking dice.

Tablet, liquid, or suppository will do. But it can’t cost more than $16.99, as I’m on a fixed income now.

Looking forward to testing it out.

Today in my Tales of the Valiant game, I grabbed a fire drake miniature and had it attack an archer by smashing it into the archer and yelling "rarr". Someone remarked that it made them feel like we're 7 years old again smashing dinosaur toys into one another and I said that was exactly the point.

 

[Jd Smith1]

Im sure a lot of people don’t care, but many others do. Enough, I think, to make @Reynard ´s comment true (« if it were official, people would actually buy and play it »)

Except franchised games seldom last. I'm with MIcah.

And lets face it: game design is largely an art, not a science, so there is often little difference between 'professional' and 'amateur'.

Particularly in this era, where pay and job opportunities are scarce enough that a lot of professional grade people are not in the field.

Although in game design where professionalism shines through is art , presentation, and editing. But not always.

 

[Laurefindel]

Except franchised games seldom last. I'm with MIcah.

And lets face it: game design is largely an art, not a science, so there is often little difference between 'professional' and 'amateur'.

Particularly in this era, where pay and job opportunities are scarce enough that a lot of professional grade people are not in the field.

Although in game design where professionalism shines through is art , presentation, and editing. But not always.

Oh believe me I’m not telling anyone what’s good or saying what’s better. I’m with you and Micah on that matter.

I’m only observing that given two products of equal quality and equal availability, the official published product will be more popular despite being more expensive. If the 5e Star Wars hack was an official product, more people would play it, I’m pretty sure. It wouldn’t make it better. It would become worse. The product itself wouldn’t change whatsoever, but the perception of the audience would.

That’s something that is observable in many domains, not just for RPG.

 

[payn]

Personally, I think it is too complex and crunchy for Star Wars. Stars Wars begs for a quick resolution system. That's why I advocate SWADE: it has the perfect pace and tone for Star Wars right out of the box.

I’m starting to remember our talks on SW ROG again. I think I want a rather different experience. Which is one reason I think SW never takes off as an RPG there is no middle spot for it.