Do you buy new versions of TTRPG games when you haven't had time to play the older version sitting on your shelf?

[Ruin Explorer]

Out of all of those, there are only two I don't expect to ever fulfill. Both are cases where I backed them to show support to the creators and while it would be nice to actually get the rewards, I don't lose sleep about it. Though it's crazy to read some of the comments where people have lost their minds. Both are cases where the creators just got overwhelmed by the response to their project and just couldn't handle it, but some people are just vicious about the situation.

I haven't backed anywhere near as many, but also had two that never delivered and I kind of just forgot ever existed. I will say with both though, I don't think it's just people "losing their minds", I think that sometimes the messages about not delivering can really, really make things worse. Particularly when you see a creator/team keep stringing people along, then go silent, then someone else comes to essentially string people along. Kickstarter is a speculative business in most cases, unless it's a very established creator - particularly a company - with an obviously well-scope product (in which case it is essentially a pre-order), one has to treat it as hope rather than certainty. But as such, it's much better when you get a solid "It ain't happening, and also we spent your money so can't do refunds" than "Ohhhhh yeah there are issues right now but it'll be just a little longer" x 5 followed by radio silence followed by "Hi im not the creator im a friend of theirs, they're not having a great time but this project might still continue later!" - which is a bit of a pattern.

Just say "Yo sorry, it's over dog, money spent, not going to be able to do refunds, forget about it!", because most people will!

 

[Stormonu]

It bothers me that apparently the accepted life cycle of game editions is less than 5 years.

Instead of making a supplement with suggested rules tweaks, it’s always a new edition in 3-4 years with shiny new art and fancy Kickstarter toys.

I was okay with D&D because it was 10 years ago, but some other games have barely seasoned.

Yet the prevalent opinion is in favor of this constant churn. My wallet and shelf space disagrees.

Consumerism can get depressing.

Game designers who are active with their system never stop fiddling with their games. Eventually, you get to a point that all the changes you've incorporated is something you want to push out to everybody, thus a new edition.

I think I've got around 5 editions of Star Wars. I still use WEG Star Wars as my go-to version, but I'll convert a lot of the newer stuff back into WEG. Similiar situation with D&D. 5E is my primary version, but I've made a Frankenstein of it by pulling in what I feel is the best of all the prior versions. I've bought multiple editions of various RPGs to find out what's been revised or made better and then use the version I like best, pulling in ideas, gears and whatnot from other editions I find I like (so, I'm using 4th for L5R, 3rd for Shadowrun, 20th anniversary for Vampire, Free League's for Twilight 2000, etc. but grabbing items from whatever version fuels my fancy)

Also, I'm bad about buying another RPG even before I've tried the latest one I've bought. Most recent case of that was getting the Level Up book and turning around and buying Daggerheart, or buying the GI Joe, Transformers and Terminator RPG in rapid succession.

 

[Jd Smith1]

It bothers me that apparently the accepted life cycle of game editions is less than 5 years.

The problem is that brief periods of prosperity has raised the expectations of game designers. The fine old tradition of starving artists has fallen by the wayside, and the world is poorer for it.

 

[schneeland]

It bothers me that apparently the accepted life cycle of game editions is less than 5 years.

Instead of making a supplement with suggested rules tweaks, it’s always a new edition in 3-4 years with shiny new art and fancy Kickstarter toys.
...
Consumerism can get depressing.

Do you have any examples? Because in general, I do agree and I prefer the time between editions to be in the 5+, or better the 7+ year range. But now that I think about it, I don't think I have any games for which the time span was shorter (maybe with the exception of Outgunned Adventure, which is kind of Broken Compass 2e, but that was more of a license/IP thing).

 

[Autumnal]

The problem is that brief periods of prosperity has raised the expectations of game designers. The fine old tradition of starving artists has fallen by the wayside, and the world is poorer for it.

The humor value of this is diminished when you know people who’ve had chronic health problems exacerbated by malnutrition, while they had the misfortune to make a few hundred dollars too many per year to qualify for Medicaid.

The starving artist aesthetic has always been boosted by people who make money off artists.

 

[Jd Smith1]

The humor value of this is diminished when you know people who’ve had chronic health problems exacerbated by malnutrition, while they had the misfortune to make a few hundred dollars too many per year to qualify for Medicaid.

The starving artist aesthetic has always been boosted by people who make money off artists.

The arts are a tough gig. You can laugh, you can cry, but in the end, the outcome is the same. For every artist, actor, writer, etc, that sees success, a dozen starve. Its even worse for poets.

 

[Autumnal]

That’s true. But the world is not poorer off for having fewer people - of any sort - starving in it. That seems brutally callous more than, I dunno, snarky or something.

 

[Jd Smith1]

That’s true. But the world is not poorer off for having fewer people - of any sort - starving in it. That seems brutally callous more than, I dunno, snarky or something.

It wasn't snarky, I assure you.

One man's callous is another man's realism.

 

[HaroldTheHobbit]

New is shiny is better.

 

[Jd Smith1]

New is shiny is better.

A sales axiom that has been true throughout the ages.