Finding out what gamers are like

[Dethklok]

Hey all, I've been reading through some of the old posts, and one of the DM surveys got me to thinking about running a survey here at EN world. To start with I was just curious about what kinds of games everyone plays, what kinds of features they like in games, and that sort of thing. But eventually I started to wonder what kind of person even plays rpgs at all.

Dave Arneson said that everyone will play an rpg, you just have to find the right game. But clearly most people aren't interested in the hobby. Why not? And why did we get interested? Was it only because we grew up with them? Or would we want to roleplay just because that's the kind of people we are?

Anyway, what I mostly wanted to ask was (assuming anyone's interested in this to begin with!) what rpgs should I even include in the survey? I made a list based on the one that EN world uses, but it had a lot of games I'd never heard of, and missed a couple I'm very passionate about. Does this look like a complete list to you?



Original D&D
BECMI (rules cyclopedia D&D)
1st edition AD&D
2nd edition AD&D
3rd edition D&D
Pathfinder
4th edition D&D
Ars Magica
Babylon 5
Barbarians of Lemuria
Big Eyes, Small Mouth
Blue Rose
Call of Cthulhu
Conan
Cyberpunk
d20 Modern
Deadlands
Dragon Warriors
FUDGE
GURPS
HERO System
Kult
Mutants and Masterminds
Palladium
Rolemaster
Runequest
Savage Worlds
Shadowrun
Star Wars
Storyteller
Traveller
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
Zenobia

 

[was]

But eventually I started to wonder what kind of person even plays rpgs at all.

I've been gaming for around 16 years now and I do not think there is one, single type of person which is attracted to gaming. All sorts of people are attracted to gaming, and its various genres, for various reasons. I've certainly gamed with some folks that were very different from me, both online and at the table.

But clearly most people aren't interested in the hobby. Why not? And why did we get interested? Was it only because we grew up with them? Or would we want to roleplay just because that's the kind of people we are?

I did not game growing up. Coming from a small town, I was not exposed to it until my early 20's. I became interested in it because I enjoyed the creativity and imagination that it entailed. Non-gamers still play games (cards, Monopoly...etc..), but I find that many do not have the patience or imagination that role-playing entails.

Anyway, what I mostly wanted to ask was (assuming anyone's interested in this to begin with!) what rpgs should I even include in the survey? I made a list based on the one that EN world uses, but it had a lot of games I'd never heard of, and missed a couple I'm very passionate about. Does this look like a complete list to you?

Looks pretty comprehensive to me, if you're just focusing on role-playing games.

 

[Jhaelen]

Does this look like a complete list to you?

Of course not! There's hundreds if not thousands of PRG systems on the market. But I'm not sure if it matters for a survey. Just include an option 'Other: '. Also, what's the purpose of the survey? Your list currently lists plenty of different editions of D&D but doesn't make that distinction for any of the others. Unless you plan to split the survey participants into D&D and non-D&D players that strikes me as odd. And what's 'Storyteller'? There's plenty of RPGs fitting in that category. I'd argue that e.g. Ars Magica also belongs to it. Thinking about the Systems I'm playing it's missing Earthdawn. Thinking about the systems I own, it's missing plenty: Burning Wheel, Castle Falkenstein, Amber, Pendragon, MERP, The One Ring, Trail of Cthulhu, to just name a few.

Maybe a more systematic approach would be in order? Several rpgs share mechanics. There's FATE, d20, Gumshoe, GURPS, WoD, etc. Then there's genres: Super Hero, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, etc. Simply asking about these categories might give better results.

 

[Dethklok]

I've been gaming for around 16 years now and I do not think there is one, single type of person which is attracted to gaming.

No, I agree. I also wonder what kind of person might like one rpg over another.

I did not game growing up.

What was your first experience like? Did it feel amazing, like an unknown vista suddenly opening for you, or was it just interesting? I recall that, in the intro to 2nd Edition AD&D, one of the writers mentioned that he had started as an adult, and had been totally blown away by his first game.

Looks pretty comprehensive to me, if you're just focusing on role-playing games.

I was actually wanting to ask about more, but if the survey's too long, people will probably lose interest. I've done this kind of thing before, and getting enough responses for a good statistical analysis is tough.

Of course not! There's hundreds if not thousands of PRG systems on the market. But I'm not sure if it matters for a survey. Just include an option 'Other: '. Also, what's the purpose of the survey? Your list currently lists plenty of different editions of D&D but doesn't make that distinction for any of the others. Unless you plan to split the survey participants into D&D and non-D&D players that strikes me as odd.

I'm wanting to ask about games with some popularity, and D&D is massive - most rpg forums I've seen have a separate D&D section, like EN World does. Considering all the vehement edition wars I see around regarding specifically D&D, I think it will be interesting to see how the editions differ in popularity.

And what's 'Storyteller'?

White Wolf. I could have said Vampire, Changeling, etc, but I don't know how many responses I'd get. I do agree that "Storyteller" is confusing, though. Do you think splitting the World of Darkness up would be wise? I don't seem to see anyone online who talks about any of those games anymore.

Thinking about the Systems I'm playing it's missing Earthdawn. Thinking about the systems I own, it's missing plenty: Burning Wheel, Castle Falkenstein, Amber, Pendragon, MERP, The One Ring, Trail of Cthulhu, to just name a few.

Most of those I don't know, except for Amber and MERP. I'll have to check their popularity - maybe Hackmaster, Legend, Paranoia, and Adventurer Conquerer King as well.

Maybe a more systematic approach would be in order? Several rpgs share mechanics. There's FATE, d20, Gumshoe, GURPS, WoD, etc. Then there's genres: Super Hero, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, etc. Simply asking about these categories might give better results.

Hm... Now that you mention it, I may try it both ways, actually.

So thanks for your input! I really mean it, too - this will be a massive undertaking for me, and the better the design the cleaner the results will be. (If I weren't on break, I wouldn't even consider this!)

 

[was]

What was your first experience like? Did it feel amazing, like an unknown vista suddenly opening for you, or was it just interesting? I recall that, in the intro to 2nd Edition AD&D, one of the writers mentioned that he had started as an adult, and had been totally blown away by his first game.

My first experience in gaming was fantastic. It was AD&D and my younger brother introduced me to the game. He was the DM in a FR campaign. He was going to a community college and I had just started there after leaving the military. My first character was the typical elven ranger, but everything about the game was new and amazing. I actually had to drive 30 minutes to the nearest game store, but I started picking up as many books as my paycheck would allow. I've been hooked ever since.

 

[Dethklok]

All I can say is yeah, that's roleplaying games for you!

 

[ThatGrumpyScotsman]

You have Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, but you don't have 40k Roleplay. I think the latter is far more popular, now?

 

[Jhaelen]

40k Roleplay. I think the latter is far more popular, now?

Really? I kinda find that hard to believe. The 40k miniatures game is more popular, but the RPG?

 

[ThatGrumpyScotsman]

Really? I kinda find that hard to believe. The 40k miniatures game is more popular, but the RPG?

Definitely, I'd say. WFRP 3rd Ed isn't as popular as previous editions were, whilst Fantasy Flight have released/supported five separate 40k RPG lines.

If you look here: http://www.rpg.net/columns/designers-and-dragons/designers-and-dragons25.phtml - 40k RP is third behind Pathfinder and D&D.

 

[JoshDemers]

You may want to include Exalted in the list separately. The 2nd Ed system was VERY different from any of the WoD or NWoD games, and the setting is a complete break from them. Plus, it would be interesting to see how many people play one and not the other.