Buying to not use

[Ruin Explorer]

I avoid buying anything that I know I would never run, is about the best I can say!

Generally I only buy RPGs now under one of two conditions:

1) I am definitely interested in this RPG and would like to run/play it, regardless of whether or not that actually happens.

2) This RPG sounds extremely intriguing and I can't find out enough about it to determine that I would never run it, so I decide to risk it.

Re: supplements etc. - I usually manage to limit those to games I definitely want to run and am excited about after reading the core book, but there have been a couple of times where I've ended up buying supplements for an RPG I couldn't tell if I wanted to run until I had the supplements that covered X.

If I know I dislike a system I'm pretty good at never buying anything for it. E.g. Cypher system, terrible system on so many levels (imho), like worst of so many worlds, so despite some vaguely intriguing stuff, I've never bought anything past Numenera and a couple of books for that.

I no longer buy hardcopy RPGs as I'm still trying to work out how to get rid out huge amounts of material from the 1990s which I will definitely never use. It's a pity as there are a few RPGs I'd love to have in hardcopy, but living in the UK I just don't have the room.

 

[Professor Murder]

I buy a lot of RPGs for their potential use, i.e. that I might use them in the future. I might not be running a desert campaign now, nor do I plan to anytime in the foreseeable future, but I might someday, and since bestiaries, compendiums of spells and items, environmental supplements, etc. all have a long bookshelf-life (see what I did there?), I figure "why not?"

This is what I have told myself for years. But on reflection, I know I was being very optimistic.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Also, like, if we look at the success of Free League's '80s-nostalgia-property stuff, I feel like I can safely guarantee that the vast majority of people backing the new Blade Runner RPG, or who own the Alien RPG, or for that matter Tales from the Loop RPG, will never run it, and neither had nor have any serious intention of running them. It's the concept that appeals, not the actuality. Otherwise people would discuss the rules a lot more in these situations, and they just never do. So the market of people buying RPGs not to play them, merely to own them as sort of nostalgia-products or the modern-day equivalent of coffee-table books is pretty significant. I mean, Blade Runner coffee-table book will actually get you LESS kudos/cool with most people my age and younger than owning a Blade Runner RPG that is basically the same thing.

 

[Jer]

What about you? Do you only buy materials you intend to use at your table? Do you buy materials just to read or just to push the hobby in directions you appreciate?

Everything I read eventually gets used in some way, it's just a matter of time

I buy a lot of charity bundles - Humble Bundle, Bundle of Holding, the various itch bundles. I'll never actually run all of those games, but I pull things from what I read into my games, even if it's just ideas or approaches to the game so I feel like it's worth it.

I've been running a "summer con" for the last few years - an online event for my friends who couldn't go to Origins due to the pandemic - and I'll go through all of the games that I have and pick a handful to play over the course of a few nights during the week. Lots to check out this year - still trying to narrow down which games we're going to try out.

 

[payn]

Also, like, if we look at the success of Free League's '80s-nostalgia-property stuff, I feel like I can safely guarantee that the vast majority of people backing the new Blade Runner RPG, or who own the Alien RPG, or for that matter Tales from the Loop RPG, will never run it, and neither had nor have any serious intention of running them. It's the concept that appeals, not the actuality. Otherwise people would discuss the rules a lot more in these situations, and they just never do. So the market of people buying RPGs not to play them, merely to own them as sort of nostalgia-products or the modern-day equivalent of coffee-table books is pretty significant. I mean, Blade Runner coffee-table book will actually get you LESS kudos/cool with most people my age and younger than owning a Blade Runner RPG that is basically the same thing.

I can see this. I can also see that folks get into the particular "bespoke" experience the RPG is supposed to deliver. So you get more subjective discussions on delivery than getting into heavy mechanics arguments. The mechanical heft isn't a necessary drive of the RPG like D&D is. YMMV

 

[FriendlyFiend]

Also, like, if we look at the success of Free League's '80s-nostalgia-property stuff, I feel like I can safely guarantee that the vast majority of people backing the new Blade Runner RPG, or who own the Alien RPG, or for that matter Tales from the Loop RPG, will never run it, and neither had nor have any serious intention of running them. It's the concept that appeals, not the actuality. Otherwise people would discuss the rules a lot more in these situations, and they just never do. So the market of people buying RPGs not to play them, merely to own them as sort of nostalgia-products or the modern-day equivalent of coffee-table books is pretty significant. I mean, Blade Runner coffee-table book will actually get you LESS kudos/cool with most people my age and younger than owning a Blade Runner RPG that is basically the same thing.

The funny thing is, Alien is a game I have run, and thoroughly enjoyed - it's a system that works very well, at least in cinematic mode. Plus, it's ideal for one-shots and the IP behind it meant I got people involved who'd never played an RPG before. And I'm fascinated by Blade Runner's attempt to hack the Year Zero engine into a game where investigation will take centre stage.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

The funny thing is, Alien is a game I have run, and thoroughly enjoyed - it's a system that works very well, at least in cinematic mode. Plus, it's ideal for one-shots and the IP behind it meant I got people involved who'd never played an RPG before. And I'm fascinated by Blade Runner's attempt to hack the Year Zero engine into a game where investigation will take centre stage.

I do think Alien probably gets more play than Blade Runner ever will. I honestly would be shocked if we somehow found out more than 10% of the people who bought BR actually ended up playing it.

 

[payn]

I do think Alien probably gets more play than Blade Runner ever will. I honestly would be shocked if we somehow found out more than 10% of the people who bought BR actually ended up playing it.

I guess time will tell? I often think how often would I even run an Alien RPG? Though, if it hits the targeted experience well, it might be encouraging to revisit (It is). BR will largely determine how good that similar experience is in the BR RPG (it might). I'm hopeful.

 

[overgeeked]

What about you? Do you only buy materials you intend to use at your table? Do you buy materials just to read or just to push the hobby in directions you appreciate?

I prefer materials, especially physical products, get actual use at the table…mostly because the price point is often drastically higher than non-gaming materials. If the plan is to only read, I prefer novels or cheaper non-fiction takes on the same material. Such as a paperback or hardback about the lore and world of Legend of Zelda instead of a $60-70 game book set in the LoZ universe. I don’t feel the need for bespoke and custom-designed rules for every world or setting. But I will buy products (or refuse to buy products) that I want to see more (or less) of.

 

[Guest 7034872]

I only buy stuff I intend to use and I always buy physical copies. One of the things I've loved about D&D is all the money I've not had to spend on it.

Guess I'm just cheap.