Do you gaming groups that only play on system?

[Golden age Superhero]

So, I just got a text from a group of players that were coming to my house every other Saturday. We played a couple of session of 3.5 D&D and then everything kind of stopped for the holidays. We were supposed to get back last Saturday but other real life stuff, sickness, relatives,work and so forth but I was looking forward to getting back with them next Saturday. I then get a text saying that they are parting ways with us because they want to keep playing 3.5 and were leaving because I had stated that nowadays I prefer lighter systems.

I never once said that I wouldn't play in their game, I play in a Pathfinder game as well and even though I don't love it I will still play it regardless. They some how got the idea that I wouldn't play in their game or try and change systems.

So I do know that they have very busy lives so I would completely willing to keep playing 3.5 if that is what everybody wants. My only real problem is that this mentality goes against most of my gaming experience.

So, I am 61 years old, I started playing way back in 1977. My first RPG was Red Box D&D. I played that game, then White Box, then 1st edition AD&D. I also played Boot Hill, Top Secret, Traveller and lots of other RPGs. Now of course I was 14 so as a teenager I had a lot of time. Now that I am a retired/self employed gig worker I have time.

However, even though I use to have a full time job and I gaming group that switched games. I was the Champions GM for a long time, my wife primarily ran D&D as well Legends of the Five Rings. We played different stuff and we had a busy lives too.

In fact before we left Florida for Wisconsin I ran Amazing Adventures, my wife ran BASH and Adam ran 5th edition D&D. I was retired part of that time but the other players had full time jobs as well.

Now I am in Two Rivers, Wisconsin and the gaming groups I have found here only want to play one RPG exclusively, usually 5e and when I suggest anything else they respond with but we play X, why should we play anything else?

So now I am really bummed because it seems that I am always getting into trouble for having a contrary opinion. Is there something wrong with me? Do I just have to keep my mouth shut once the majority has made their ruling? I have been having such a difficult time getting a group to play at my house I was so hopeful and optimistic this time and feels like such a gut punch.

 

[billd91]

That sounds... fishy. It's possible someone got the impression that you were only reluctantly playing 3.5 or wanted to push for something else. But it also kind of sounds to me like someone grasped onto a convenient excuse to not come by your place to play.

How many other players are you talking about here? Was it just another carload of players who were already an established group before you joined? Did you get any indication that the vibes were off for any of them, particularly in the last session you played or in scheduling discussions afterward? Is there a significant gap in anything - age, outlook, location?

 

[Golden age Superhero]

Well, they told me that they couldn't game at their previous location because the relatives house that they were playing at were moving. That's fine with me looks like a mutually beneficial agreement. Then we have a session zero and make characters. We play in a mock combat and then next session we have an honest to goodness short dungeon. Then the Holidays come and everything's on hold. Then when this ends we don't get together because of real life, sickness, work and so forth. Finally I get a message out of blue that we have different gaming styles.

 

[Morrus]

I would get so bored playing only one game ever. I think I'd have long since left the hobby if there was only one TTRPG.

 

[billd91]

It starting to sound to me like someone (or ones) in the group didn't think you and they meshed as well as either of you may have hoped when they first started coming over. That happens sometimes and why I always kind of look at adding a new player as being a try-out period. We play a few sessions and see if we've got good enough chemistry to be worth the effort of the drive, blocking out time on Saturday, putting up with the fat cat that always comes to sit on my bag (looking at YOU, Holmes)...
It honestly might not be anything more than that. You could always ask if they just didn't feel the group had the chemistry they were looking for, no hard feelings, etc.

But as far as the question of single games - there seem to be LOTS of groups that play just one game together. Or maybe just one main game + 1 supplementary one. My main heyday of having lots of games to choose from AND having readily willing players was back in college. My (future) wife and I were part of a campus gaming/fandom organization so it was easy to schedule a variety of RPG groups. D&D was most common, but there was also Call of Cthulhu, Paranoia, Warhammer Fantasy, Champions, Cyberpunk, and Shadowrun. Not long after we graduated, Vampire entered the mix. But that was the benefit of there being a bunch of us with different interests all mixed together. Opportunities were high. Forming groups after that has always been harder and with a somewhat more limited palette of game choices because a lot of groups never venture past D&D.

 

[aco175]

I tend to play only D&D. I like it and I do not have the amount of free time that I used to to play both D&D and try other games like when I was a teenager. I would try other gamers if the group wanted, but would like it to be only between playing D&D, so maybe 20% or just some one-shots around when others cannot make the D&D game.

The OP issue feels like something else. Bringing an established group to your house since they lost their place to play might be part of it. It could be the drive, the location, the cleanliness (which could be about anything to anyone). The others might have found another place to play. It could be an age thing or even politics.

I have an established group but someday I will need another group and do not look foreword to trying to make that happen.

 

[Deset Gled]

That sounds... fishy.

To add to this, the decision to hold onto 3.5 so hard adds to the suspiciousness. A group of 5e players who started with 5e and never wanted to learn another system is one thing. And there are ways to address that. A group who insists on OD&D or OSR is another thing. 4e and some other systems are known to have particularly [adjective] fanbases.

But insistance on 3.5 is... odd. Especially without a much more specific reason. And that's coming from someone whose favorite version of D&D is 3.5. I like it a lot, but I currently play 5e.

I definitely suspect there are other factors at play.

 

[Wolfpack48]

Perhaps valid question: what was the age differential between you and the rest of the group? Age discrimination in RPGs is a thing.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Perhaps valid question: what was the age differential between you and the rest of the group? Age discrimination in RPGs is a thing.

I'm not sure there are a lot of young people who are passionate about 3.5, a 23-year old system.

 

[Black Dougal]

I'm not sure there are a lot of young people who are passionate about 3.5, a 23-year old system.

I'm only 51 and passionate about 3.5