1 Shot Campaigns, and throw away characters.

[Morrus]

Yes, I can understand trade shows as I have a bit of experience in that area. I just feel that understanding a profession or race is better done over time. I as a GM typically expect very little until 5th lvl from my players as they are often still defining their characters. I find there is often a vast difference between gameplay styles with a 1st lvl character and a 5th or vs a 20th lvl character.

You're assuming we're only playing D&D. Thousands of games have much lighter rules. Your question becomes very different when not viewed through a narrow D&D lens.

 

[zarionofarabel]

I like to use one-shots as pickup games when members of the group are absent and the regular campaign wouldn't really function properly with said PC missing (which is almost always the way I run campaigns).

So I use simple systems, like Mausritter or my absolute new favorite, Mothership! Systems like those means it takes but a few minutes to make a PC, so very little time in the session is dedicated to character creation.

The throwaway nature of the PCs means a couple of things that I think really enhance the experience over a regular long form campaign. With a one-shot, because players know it will probably only be a single session, they tend to be WAY less risk adverse, which means PCs take all kinds of crazy risks that don't normally happen in a campaign where the players try hard to keep PCs from harm. It makes for some interesting and unusual gameplay, and lots and lots of laughs. I really love Mothership especially because it's a horror game, so a TPK at the end of the session is pretty much expected. Makes for a nice little concise story with a satisfying horror movie ending.

 

[payn]

I actually prefer some styles and genres to be one shots. In that case, I spend much less focus on the character aspects (species, ancestry, ethnicity) and more of a focus on the setting and story. Really leaning into the genre conventions. Its a nice change of pace.