Do you gaming groups that only play on system?

[Wolfpack48]

I've had group that only played one system. Back in the 3.X days, my group would only play D&D and when I suggested one night that we give my D&D brain a break and play a Star Wars one-shot or something else, a couple of players stood up to leave if we weren't going to play D&D (which really pissed me off because I was hosting, DMing, and all I wanted was a one-session break).

My current group has games they prefer and games they won't play, but generally are game to try anything once, and some things more than once. We'll have a D&D campaign, then a few one-shot of something else, or a short campaign in a different system entirely before moving on to the next D&D campaign. It's kind of nice.

What do you attribute such a hard line with playing one game that people were ready to immediately get up and leave if it wasn’t being played?

 

[Queer Venger]

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 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.

kind of bummed this has happened to you. I live in LA and there are plenty of games and players but I mostly stick to my core group of friends, but we do open it up for new players every now and then. That said, though I primarily play 5e D&D I do run Vampire the Masquerade and Werewolf the apocalypse. One of my own players runs Monster of the Week and Call of Cthulhu, so pretty much all our bases are covered but we do play different systems. I hope you find a good group that is willing to try new games, just don't give up.

 

[JediSoth]

What do you attribute such a hard line with playing one game that people were ready to immediately get up and leave if it wasn’t being played?

I have no idea. And it was so long ago now, I'm not even in contact with anyone from that group anymore. Such a hard line stance baffled me at the time.

 

[aco175]

It might be universal that nobody likes a setting primer more than a page on length. Players will not read it and at what point are you no longer playing what you think you are playing with too many house rules.

If I go to play 5e with some people and they hand me a book saying that they changed all the spells, and classes, and feats, and, and, and... It would certainly not be what I was expecting or used to.

 

[LyleTheLloyd]

The previous group with which I played has played 2nd since the 1990s and their cohesiveness has naught to do with the system run but the people who play it. I know every situation is unique. I just think the cohesion between players probably means more than what was run. I didn't leave with ill will towards the group. I won't go into detail though.

The group I'm with currently mostly runs 5th, although I ran a v3.5 with them for a bit last autumn, and it went fine. We've dabbled in Paranoia too. Again; players, not games.

I've run into groups that weren't cohesive, as well, and I didn't stick with them long. I think it depends on what you try to get out of a group. I would just move on from it and find a new group, unless I misread what happened.

 

[GrimCo]

One group i know and play with occasionally, only plays PF1. They know system and setting lore inside out. I ran 5e for them, they tried, didn't like it, that was that.

My primary group mostly plays 5e. It's just our comfort zone and it does what it needs for most of our needs. 2 weeks ago, we talked about new campaign, spit-balled some ideas and systems we could use and then concluded - let's just stick with 5e.

In OP's case, it's not about system. Probably they didn't mesh so well playstyle or personality wise and use system preference as convenient excuse.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I’m not going to wade into the OP’s group dynamics issue.

While I personally have played in over 100 different systems and prefer HERO overall, the group I’ve played with the longest has a history of being very tightly focused on D&D.

When the group formed, we only played 2Ed. We moved to 3Ed and 3.5Ed when they came along. One guy ran a 4Ed campaign. 5th never got any takers. The only other RPGs even tried were short stints playing RIFTS, Mutants & Masterminds 2Ed and Monster of the Week- each for only a few months. There wasn’t even interest in 3.X games like Pathfinder, etc.

While I’d love to have played other RPGs & genres, I was fine playing just D&D, because it was a fun group to play with.

 

[MNblockhead]

I've had group that only played one system. Back in the 3.X days, my group would only play D&D and when I suggested one night that we give my D&D brain a break and play a Star Wars one-shot or something else, a couple of players stood up to leave if we weren't going to play D&D (which really pissed me off because I was hosting, DMing, and all I wanted was a one-session break).

Did you spring it on them at the last minute? Like they came to play D&D and you said "let's play Star Wars today"? I could see some players getting upset with that. Even so, was there at least a discussion or debate. Was it "I want a break from D&D, let's play Star Wars" and they said they would rather play D&D, and you said you didn't want to play D&D that day. Or did you just make the suggestion and they immediately got up to leave.

With my regular group, I've suggested running one shots from time to time in other systems. I have one player who noped out of a Paranoia game because he doesn't like science fiction games. Not a big deal, the rest of us played the one shot and picked up on our D&D game the following session.

I can't imagine myself getting up and walking out on a game, even if it came as a last minute surprise. I can see situations where I might be disappointed, but I can still enjoy myself hanging out with people playing whatever. If it was a complete change in campaigns, I may drop out and not come to future sessions.

I suppose it depends how close one is to the other players. There is not to many (realistic) scenarios I can come up with where I would walk out on people just because the activity changed. But that's because I big part of getting together is getting together with friends. At a convention, sure. If I signed up to play a specific game or adventure and I learn something else will be run when I get to the table, I'd walk away if it is something I'm not interested in.

 

[JediSoth]

Did you spring it on them at the last minute? Like they came to play D&D and you said "let's play Star Wars today"? I could see some players getting upset with that. Even so, was there at least a discussion or debate. Was it "I want a break from D&D, let's play Star Wars" and they said they would rather play D&D, and you said you didn't want to play D&D that day. Or did you just make the suggestion and they immediately got up to leave.

Yes, it was last minute.
There were few ways in those days to notify players of anything ahead of time. I suppose I could have called them all up individually, but I expect (and can't remember exactly, because it was over 20 years ago) I didn't realize that I wasn't up for D&D until quite late in the day). We weren't all connected via social media in those days; that entire group came together by finding each other with a note pinned to a cork board at our local gaming store. I'm not even sure if I had a cell phone at that time... and it if I did, it was one of those pay-as-you-go accounts.

IIRC, I made the suggestion and they immediately got up to leave. No discussion. Not wanting to NOT play, I acquiesced and ad-libbed (poorly) a D&D session I wasn't particular prepared for. Yay. Great fun for me as the GM.

 

[GrimCo]

@JediSoth

People tend to forget that there was time when we weren't as connected as we are today. You either called someone at home or on mobile if they had them. And it was never one person who called whole group. You called one person, told them where and when to meet and told them to call another and so on. Text messages were expensive and most people had pre paid plans ( at least where i'm from). I totally get you and why you told them when you all met. That was usual back then.