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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Keldryn" data-source="post: 6366971" data-attributes="member: 11999">I wasn't arguing that people can't be bothered to get together face-to-face to play games anymore.  Board games and party games are doing quite well, and many people still participate in recreational sports leagues.  We are social animals and we have a need for face-to-face interaction.My point was simply that coordinating schedules among 4-6 people and having everyone meet in one location, on a regular and consistent basis, is significantly more work than just loading up a game on your PC or game console.  It's more work than just playing an MMO with some of your guild members, if that floats your boat.I can invite some friends over for a board game night once every couple of months, and it doesn't have to be the same people every time.  It's pretty difficult to have a satisfying game of D&D with that same approach.Absolutely.  My most active gaming years were between the ages of 12 and 20 (1986-1994).  Most people that I gamed with started with Basic/Expert D&D and then moved on to AD&D.  Prior to 2e, not one single person that I gamed with ever played AD&D as written.  We already knew how to play D&D, so we didn't need to read "the rules."  We all more or less assumed that AD&D 1e worked the same way as B/X.  None of us were old enough to have played during the late 70s (or even early 80s), so we either discovered the game on our own and learned through the Basic/Expert Sets, or we were taught to play by an existing player -- who had also originally learned through the Basic/Expert Sets.  Thus, even those who started with AD&D 1e were taught to play by those who had internalized the B/X D&D rules. So yeah, the way that we played AD&D was pretty simple.  Most of us had internalized the B/X rules, so we just used the books to look up classes, spells, monsters, and magic items.  The Labyrinth Lord Advanced Edition Companion is very close to how we actually played, and demonstrates how simple that game actually was.I'm totally with you on this.  I've been into video games and computers since the 80s.  I've built a career as a programmer, and I spent a couple of years as a game designer on a AAA console title.  I'm very comfortable with technology.  And yet I cringe whenever I hear someone talking about being "always connected" as an entirely positive thing.  I've already been distancing myself from much involvement in social media for a while.  It's starting to feel very invasive.Yes, that too.  That person is usually me; the last time I was a player in someone else's game was 2007.And when you're the one putting that time and effort into the game, nothing kills your motivation faster than players who don't want to put any effort into the game.  But sometimes you need those players to have a large enough group to play.  Short rant coming:  I prepared the adventure, I hosted the game, I let you use my books and miniatures, I printed off character sheets for you to use, and I picked you up from the bus stop so you wouldn't have to walk for 15 minutes in the rain; the least you can do is 1) read the short rules summary that I printed out for you and 2) bring enough snacks to share.  The crap I put up with just to get enough people together to play.</blockquote>

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