Excited for the future of the hobby

[Kzach]

By the time 3e rocked up, D&D was all but dead to me. I was a GURPS convert but couldn't get anyone else to play it. And the ones who wanted to play D&D were... well... let's just say they could do with some basic socialisation classes.

Anyhoo, 3e most definitely got a lot of people back into the hobby, but I rarely saw new people to the game. Most of them were like me; people who had given up on 2e and were looking for something new.

But ever since I started playing 4e games, I've experienced a lot of people new to the hobby. Now, maybe this is just an isolated experience, but it does seem they've pushed the word out a bit further than they did in 3e. And no doubt, 4e is riding on the coat-tails of 3e's push into the market as well.

Regardless, upon reading the latest Ampersand and investigating the new starter kits, I have to say I'm quite excited for the future of the hobby. I know they did something similar in 3e, but it never grabbed my attention, and nobody I know ever picked it up either.

This starter kit looks really flash and exciting and seems like a lot of thought and effort has gone behind it to make it a really fun, new experience for people entering the hobby. This is something I could easily see myself gifting to my nephew or recommending to others as a gift as well.

It would be good to have some fresh blood into the hobby. Get all those old codgers off their lawns so they stop moping about 'the good old days'. I'm so over hearing, "I started with the box set, sonny!"

 

[Aus_Snow]

I'm glad you're excited for the future of the hobby. I am too, as it happens, if for different reasons. Or perhaps, based on different events, perceptions, assumptions, and so on.

Either way, I am always glad to hear of more people getting into this wonderful, unique hobby. And if there are things that gamers or others believe will contribute to that, it will probably have my blessing, FWIW. And I will be hoping that it succeeds, of course.

As to the likelihood of this particular example truly succeeding, well, this mightn't be an appropriate thread in which to speculate. So I won't.

 

[Monkey Boy]

I'm a primary school teacher and I teach 5/6 in Melbourne, Aus. I've brought in some fighting fantasy books and they have proved phenomenally successful, so I suppose there is some hope. The books are well loved during independent reading time. The issue I see is the competition. Boys these days are playing RPG's the problem for WOTC is that they are playing them on the computer. Kids will talk to me for hours about Oblivion and WOW, D&D doesn't rate a mention. Who knows with the new 'Red Box' though I suspect they will struggle to get the attention ahead of the latest X-box release.

Also GW is bigger now than they have ever been and again will be competing with new 'Red Box'. The number of primary school kids I run into who want to talk Warhammer is staggering.

 

[Snoweel]

It's a funny thing.

Part of me wants the hobby to grow while another part doesn't want my game marketed at 15 year olds. I think selfish grognardism is natural but ultimately not good for the hobby.

I'd say for the hobby to grow it's going to have to lose some old fans and that's what's happening right now. Those of us who remain will have to adapt.

Boys these days are playing RPG's the problem for WOTC is that they are playing them on the computer. Kids will talk to me for hours about Oblivion and WOW, D&D doesn't rate a mention. Who knows with the new 'Red Box' though I suspect they will struggle to get the attention ahead of the latest X-box release.

Sadly I think pen-and-paper RPGs might never catch on enough with the younger generation to make them truly viable, and D&D (and its imitators) could well die a slow death.

Computer games are just too bright, flashy and convenient.

 

[Monkey Boy]

In order to grow significantly it will need an influx of new blood from those younger than 15. Classic Red Box was for ages 10+ if I remember correctly. I discovered it in grade 5. If it wasn't for Red Box I and many other gamers wouldn't be here. GW learned this lesson in the early 90's and I would like to see Hasbro have a fair dinkum pitch at that market.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I came to D&D at age 11, so I don't have a problem with the marketing of RPGs towards young folk...just at established names excising those things that older players also find enjoyable.

Its the same kind of tightrope walk that the best cartoons manage to walk: no matter how much they're aimed at the kiddies, they always include something for the older folk who are in the room.

That said, I'm glad if the hobby continues to attract new blood. After all, its not as if I can't play an RPG any old time I want to just because I'm not playing the current "hot" game.

 

[Snoweel]

Classic Red Box was for ages 10+ if I remember correctly. I discovered it in grade 5.

Me too!

1986 - I remember it like yesterday.

 

[vagabundo]

It needs a new DND cartoon damnit. That's how to get kids into the hobby, or at least get the name out to them.

The starter kit and essentials is a step in the right direction.

I suppose I don't really care that much; I'll continue to game, in fact I'm having more fun with my DND game now than ever before.

 

[Kzach]

I'm a primary school teacher and I teach 5/6 in Melbourne, Aus.

What is it with Melbournian gamers crawling out of the woodwork lately? You're the second Melbournian I've noticed in two days and yet try and put a group together and you all go scurrying back to your burrows

 

[Pig Champion]

Why should younger people play a PnP RPG that focuses on combat when computer games achieve this task in a much better way?

Most of our group is between 16-21 and we all agree that if we wanted to "kill monsters and take their stuff" we'd play Final Fantasy or Torchlight.

I'm glad that the OP is seeing a lot of new players come into the hobby but from my experience, kids would rather be playing a CRPG or Warhammer than DnD.

I honestly think the biggest problem in Australia in regards to new blood isn't any game but a lack of a decent and well advertised convention.