Ageism in gaming

[Elf Witch]

I was wondring if other people have experianced this. I have been searching for another game to play in and on several of the boards and few gaming store notices the signs say seeking players mid 20s to mid 30s. Since I am mid 40s I don't respond but I have wondred what would happen if I did and why the age cut off? Just because I am in my 40s I am not yet senile.

I can understand not wanting to play with kids though I have found some very mature kids who play.

 

[Nightfall]

Elf Witch,

If you lived near me, I wouldn't care if you were 105. Just don't drool on my books.

 

[Crothian]

I shy away from the young crowd usually. Not because of maturity, but responsibility. They seem to have a habit of not showing and not caring enough to call or e-mail. I can see college kids and younger caring about the suppossed old people, but I just don't know.

 

[Kichwas]

I wouldn't think twice on it.

When people put 20's to 30's 90% of the time they're thinking of a cut at the low end, not the high end. They're forgetting there are older gamers.

I've got a player in his 40's, and I still put that down a lot -simply forgetting to think twice. Some of the best people I know are in their 40's and 50's... So it's no intent to cut them on my part.

It's more a desire to cut on the lower end. Put simply I'm not comfortable gaming with people who aren't really even alive yet...

 

[abri]

Strange, I always put a age minimum in my campaign (a few bad experience with young players) but I'm almost the only one putting any limit at all where I live. A lot of group (actually a majority of) I've been in included a 40-50 year old.
Personally I rather play with everyone in the group beeing at least mid twenties.
Ps: I'm only 26 but I've been called old grandpa many times due to the fact that I look at least the double...

 

[Elf Witch]

Elf Witch,

If you lived near me, I wouldn't care if you were 105. Just don't drool on my books.

I wish I did live near you I have been looking for a scarred lands game I have the campaign setting and some of the other books and am really impressed with the setting.

As for drooling well I control it most of the time just don't have any pictures of Orland Bloom as Legolas around.

Yeah yeah I am old enough to be his mother ....... but I ain't.

 

[Derulbaskul]

I'm not too concerned about ages, personally.

What I really want from a group is that right blend of taking it seriously (both in terms of keeping commitments and making an effort to play the game) and not taking it seriously, because it is only a game.

Of course, last week's episode of being taken aside by a player in his 30s with literal tears in his eyes telling me how he was so upset about people telling him how to play his character (something which they did... in character) and how they wouldn't heal him but they healed the other fighters and... and... and... (include trembling chin) made me, once again realise that sometimes the proverbial sheep in wolf's clothing (yes, that's a deliberate reversal) sometimes infiltrates my game... and chronological age is not the issue.

Cheers
D

 

[Elf Witch]

I wouldn't think twice on it.

When people put 20's to 30's 90% of the time they're thinking of a cut at the low end, not the high end. They're forgetting there are older gamers.

I've got a player in his 40's, and I still put that down a lot -simply forgetting to think twice. Some of the best people I know are in their 40's and 50's... So it's no intent to cut them on my part.

It's more a desire to cut on the lower end. Put simply I'm not comfortable gaming with people who aren't really even alive yet...

I should just call and see. I had not considered it was a way of keeping younger kids out. Besides what are they going to do card me?


I can understand why say a bunch of 19 year olds may not want to play with someone of their parents age.

My son is 25 and I often have sat in on the games he and his friends play. When he was a teen ager his friends loved to hang out at my house because I had cool games and movies.

I don't mind playing one shots with them but they have a tendency to get bored easily and want to move on to a new game.

 

[Nightfall]

I wish I did live near you I have been looking for a scarred lands game I have the campaign setting and some of the other books and am really impressed with the setting.

As for drooling well I control it most of the time just don't have any pictures of Orland Bloom as Legolas around.

Yeah yeah I am old enough to be his mother ....... but I ain't.

Well just cause you are doesn't mean you can day dream.

But in any case I could ALWAYS use more Scarred Lands people. There's a considerable dearth here in WV.

 

[nimisgod]

Well, there's definately a problem if you have minors coming to your game. After all, if you are the host and some of your players are too young, you have to be responsible for them and that's a lot of work.

Here's something to share:

This issue came up for me when these bunch of kids were looking for a group to play with. My group's host didn't want anything to do with them for the reasons above. So I GMed them instead. I'm only 20 so I still remember how to GM. Also, I considered it a challenge to GM for younger groups and cater to different gaming styles (and maybe convert them to my fave style).

I sometimes don't like it when people require a minimum age for their players (though its entirely their opinion and choice, and I respect that). I often avoid those groups that call for gamers with a minimum age.

I started gaming with those older than me. Some of my best gaming friends were 5-20 years older than I was. I was the youngest of the group as well. I know what it feels like to be the kid of the bunch. But despite my age, they respected me and treated me like an adult. I was kind of the exception to the rule concerning age and maturity (at least, that what they said).

Since then, I've learned to take gamer's ages with a grain of salt. I usually consider each person's maturity individually, regardless of his or her age.