Seriously considering dropping the hobby

[Philotomy Jurament]

Are there any other gamers out there who run games inspired by the Iliad and Conan: the Barbarian instead of Final Fantasy and 300?

Yep. I do.

 

[Corinth]

This game is a team-focused glorified tabletop skirmish wargame where the best players are those that master the rules and make no bones about enjoying the virtual power trip of playing a supremely potent individual. The PCs are akin to professional athletes, with all the celebrity excess implied; the groups are teams, and the campaigns are seasons, with fat treasure hoards and large XP awards being their payment for performing up to expectations. It has always been this way, and it always will be this way because that's what brings in the fat wads of cash into the corporate coffers.

And you know what? It's a lot more fun than playing the amateur thespian/literary critic mode. Go gameplay for the win.

 

[atom crash]

This thread serves to illustrate how much your gaming experience is influenced by who you game with.

I doubt giving it up is the answer. It sounds like you need to get a different group. Take a break, as others have suggested.

When I lived in Florida, I looked for and found a group. I was excited to be playing again. After a few sessions, I realized that I wasn't a good fit for their game. They weren't bad people or bad players and it wasn't a bad game, but it wasn't a good fit for what I was looking for. So I graciously bowed out. I never was able to find another group there.

Several years later, I moved to a new city again. So I began searchig for another group again. After a few short months, I found a group of guys who were looking for more players to join their established campaigns. We've been playing ever since, and what's more, we're great friends now. Often when we get together, we don't even game. And when we do game, it makes it even better that we can do so without having arguments. (Sure, there are rules disputes, but we're able to settle them like reasonable adults).

Don't let a few bad eggs ruin the whole thing for you. There are good players out there. Or rather, more to the point, there are players out there whose play style and temperament are compatible with what you expect from fellow gamers. You may need to look a bit for them, but they're out there. And you'll appreciate the effort when you do find them.

Good luck!

 

[EricNoah]

You are changing, the game is changing, and the world and its people are changing. Picking one thing to blame it on is probably an exercise in futility. Maybe you've had a "straw that broke the camel's back" recently, but there are probably other straws that have piled up over time.

Everyone needs a break, even from their most favorite thing. Take one, don't do it with any expectations, and see how you feel in a few months.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Life is too short to play games you don't enjoy.

 

[rgard]

I feel your pain.

I'm 38 and I've been playing RPGs in one form or other for thirty years now. Although that includes a long layoff in the nineties.

I have found it well-nigh impossible to find gamers my age and at my station of life. I was the oldest in my last group; the rest were all in their twenties. I'm married; none of them were. I have a child; none of them do. I'm wanting to talk about my daughter's latest escapades at preschool; they're all talking about how cool kung-fu movies are.

The other problem I've found is that RPGs just aren't worth the work anymore. I love video games and board games, and I'm starting to think that since my time is at such a premium (especially with a four year old child) that I'd rather stick with those for my gaming pleasures.

On that note: last week some friends came over for a five-hour session of ARKHAM HORROR, the Call of Cthulhu boardgame. No rules bickering, no uber-powered characters gleaned from umpteenth source books, no hours of prep for me ahead of time (I usually DM). Instead, we set up the game and had a hell of a good time gaming. Instead of twenty minutes of fun spread out over five hours (which is what D&D 3.5 sessions often become), it was five hours of solid gaming goodness.

Now THAT is what I've been missing.

The other day I took out the old Nintendo GameCube and started playing through Resident Evil 4 again. Damn, was that fun. Give me THAT anyday over debating about attacks of opportunity with some egghead who has more rules knowledge than social skills.

To get my D&D fix, I'm starting to consider the boardgame Runebound. I suspect it may very well offer the best of both worlds.

Anyway, the tabletop RPG hobby is dying. Fewer and fewer people look at the 1000+ pages of rules and say, "Why?"

It's getting harder for me to answer that same question.

In a similar boat here. Before I forget, some rpg playing folks I know play Runebound and love it. So that may be a good fix.

I had my dry spell with d&d mostly during the entire course of 2e. When I did get to game my friends and I played 1e during that period and I think I averaged a game session once every 9 months or so.

Then the kids started showing up and that perpetuated the dry spell. Now my kids are 14, 12 and 9. And for the past 4 years, we've played lots of d&d, swd20 and the occasional board game (Ticket to Ride, Risk & Monopoly)...actually convinced my wife to play Ticket to Ride. Won't be long until your daughter would enjoy playing Ticket to Ride.

I guess to sum things up for you and the op, go ahead and take a break from playing the game. When you are ready to get back into the game, post here and at the WotC site looking for mature gamers in your area. Also, you could introduce your daughter to d&d too as soon as you want. My youngest was 5 when he started and really took rolling d20s seriously.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[gm4hire]

Am I being unreasonable for basing my games on classical mythology and literature instead of video games and anime? Are there any other gamers out there who run games inspired by the Iliad and Conan: the Barbarian instead of Final Fantasy and 300?

We do. In fact we're running a game set in a romanesque setting that draws heavily from the fall of the republic.

Before that we ran a Greek myth game.

Both are D&D, the key is that we have a good group of players. It took a long time to find the right group and we're unfortunately losing one to real life at the end of the summer. It is possible though, but it's also a pain and there's a lot of frustration, players that don't get it, and bad sessions before you find the perfect mix.

Strangely what I've noticed is that when we stop looking for players is when we get the good ones. Go figure.

I guess my point is that there are like minded players out there it just takes a lot of work to find them (or convert them). At some point I suppose it becomes too much work and that's what you need to decide.

I don't think it's an age issue either. Our current group's youngest member started with us when she was 18 (she's now 21) and our oldest member is 33.

Oh! And for the record I like video games and anime too and we've run games with those elements too. When the group was interested in it. I don't think they are mutually exclusive.

Hey! I just noticed you're in RTP. I know some really good gamers there if you're interested.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Maybe you should look for players close to your own age, I'm guessing the players you describe are significantly younger than you. I'm sure there are plenty of online resources for finding new players, here, rpg.net, the WotC boards, perhaps dragonsfoot for more 'old school'. Alternatively you could play entirely online.

I'm 36, currently in a weekly DnD 3.5 game. I love it, partly because of the players (who are aged 29+), partly because of the system.

 

[Doug McCrae]

The PCs are akin to professional athletes

Interesting analogy, I'd never considered that one before. I usually think of PCs as being like special forces ninja types.

 

[Kaladhan]

Wow, there's some great advice in here.

There are a few d20 companies/appeal that could appeal to you, but the easiest thing might be to start playing something totally different. Play a Mutant & Mastermind Campaign, or try Delta Green d20.

You should also consider changing group.