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Message: <blockquote data-quote="BlackMoria" data-source="post: 3307882" data-attributes="member: 424">This thread is inspired somewhat by Upper Krust's Future Format of 4th Edition D&D thread as well as the host of many threads discussing whether D&D is too rules heavy and the quest by some for a good D&D-Lite ruleset.The question:  Is generational factors warring for the heart and soul of D&D?The question came about when I was contemplating some of the recent threads.  I am 50 years old and have played D&D since 1974, so that make me old generation.I noted as I grown older that there is a difference between my generation of gamers and the younger generation.The majority of the gamers (that I know, so that is a caveat) of my generation were wargamers (boardgames or miniatures).  I grew up playing wargames from SPI, Avalon Hill, West End Games and Game Design Workshop.Wargames tended to be very rules-centric, very structured, took time to setup and a even longer time to play (games took several days to several months to play to a conclusion).  Complex rules - hell, yes!!  I've played SPI's Terrible Swift Sword, Wellington's Victory, War in Europe and War in the Pacific.  It took nearly a week to set up a full campaign of War in Europe and it took months and months and months to play one game.  Wargame clubs and wargamers were everywhere.  I could go to any very large town or city and find people playing wargame or miniatures.Where am I going with this?   Wargames and miniatures were: rules complex, very detailed and took a long time to play out.  For whatever reason, my generation embraced such complexity systems.Over the years, wargames have fallen out of favor more and more, most likely due to the mainstream effect of home computers and the fact that wargames were rules heavy and time consuming.An interesting note is that computer wargaming (which now handles the rules for you and greatly speeds up the amount of time playing) doesn't have a significant following of younger gamers - in fact, it is dominated by the older generation who move from the kitchen table or rec room to the computer for their gaming fix).Now for Generation X.    Ask young gamers about wargames and most likely you get a blank stare and a 'what are those?' in response.  Their games (caveat - as noted by me in the areas I have lived) tend to be CCG like Magic: the Gathering, Yui-Gui-Yo, Pokemon, to name a few.  Boardgames are games like Descent, Talisman or Risk variants.  Miniatures are DDM or Whiz Kids click games.  Now these games have several things in common.  They are not rules heavy and can be played quickly - several games in a evening is common, particularly the CCG.  Just the opposite of wargames.Now, look at D&D.  Its origins are the Chainmail miniature rules, evolving into a pencil and paper RPG.  Over several editions, the rules have grown more complex, compared to OD&D.Now we are at the crossroads.  A certain vision of D&D's future (some of it coming from WOTC itself) is that the game should evolve to a simpler rule set, have a even greater emphasis on miniatures and be more board game like.  The reason - to make the game more attractive.  I am certain that the target demographics are not players my age (I have no illusions of that) and is probably the 12 -30 years of age crowd.  The Gen-Xers.D&D has remained somewhat an oddity in that the game has grown more complex over the years, while even CCG like Magic: The Gathering have simplied their rules.  I think the reason is that the old guard of D&D which have remained steadfast loyal represented the majority interest in the game.  But is this the case now?   Have we turned the corner and has WOTC accepted that the future of D&D is now in a simplier rule set and the game having more in common with DDM than its old pen and paper roots?  Make the game easy and fast to learn and play - because the future is no longer with the old D&D gamers but must lie with the larger younger generation. What do you think?</blockquote>

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