NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Deset Gled" data-source="post: 9271716" data-attributes="member: 7808">I think the initial cost is part of what makes people think it's expensive to start.  Even if the actual cost is low, there's an up-front cost that can feel imposing.  In that sense, starting an RPG hobby is more like starting a video game hobby than a sport or board game hobby.Consider:If you want to play a friendly, introductory game of bowling with your friends on a weekend, everybody spends a small fee to rent a lane and shoes.  You play a round.  Anyone who gets serious eventually buys their own shoes, ball, etc.If you want to play a friendly, introductory game of basketball/soccer/rugby on a weekend, one person buys a ball.  Everyone else shows up at a park.  You play a game.  Anyone who gets serious buys their own ball, shoes, gear, etc.If you want to play a friendly, introductory game of D&D with your friends on a weekend, often at least one person buys ~$150 worth of books (PHB, DMG, MM).  If people don't want to have to share PHBs, multiple people buy copies.  A bunch of people buy dice.  The startup cost to try the game out can easily be over $200.Now, there are ways to get around that initial cost.  Sure, you could find a FLGS.  If you're lucky.  And if they have an open gaming event going on.  And if you want to learn to play with a bunch of strangers instead of your friends.  But it's hard to be sitting around and say "Let's try this RPG thing that I've heard about" and just get going.  Maybe VTTs will be a market force that changes this in the future.</blockquote>

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