The Golden Age of Gaming
- Thread starter Aus_Snow
- Start date
Akrasia
Procrastinator
In many respects, I think that this is the golden age of gaming (despite being an unrepentent grognard).
It may not be a 'golden age' for publishers (given persistent market decline). But for gamers, it's pretty amazing (assuming, of course, that you can find other gamers).
The OGL is largely to thank for this. While I'm no fan of 3e, and think that it has altered the 'D&D paradigm' in some unfortunate respects (though I look forward to playing in Rydac's campaign starting January), the OGL has allowed for many intersting new systems to develop (e.g. M&M, True20, etc.), as well as allowed for some healthy 'old school' style gaming (e.g. C&C).
But OGL aside, there is also the new WFRP system, which I think blows most other FRPGs away right now (at least for the 'everything is dark and depressing and dingy' style of FRPG, which I love).
And there is also Unisystem, which is the best system (or at least its 'Cinematic' version is; I have no experience with 'Classic Uni') that I've ever encountered for 'modern' style games (whether fantasy, a la Buffy and Angel, or horror, or other').
I used to love Runequest (2e) back in the early 1980s. And now Mongoose will be coming out with a new version of Runequest, which will be 'open license'. I'm painfully excited to look at the new product.
Lots of great fantasy campaigns are available now -- e.g. Wilderlands (okay, it's been available since 1976, but the new version is nifty), Castle Zagyg (EGG's original dungeon at long last), Midnight (a brilliant take on standard LotR tropes), Iron Kingdoms -- as well as many that I don't like (e.g. Eberrron), but hey, the more the merrier!
And I've only mentioned the games that I have a remote chance of playing in the near future. There's also Conan (best treatment of the setting I've ever seen, even if the system is far too crunchy for my tastes), HARP (kinda like MERP, but with a vastly better magic system), Burning Wheel (genuinely innovative), FUDGE, Spycraft, etc.
And if you're pining for an OOP game (I'm looking at you, MERP, D&D Rules Cylcopedia and Star Frontiers), there's always e-bay.
Yeah, it's looking like a gold age to me ...
It may not be a 'golden age' for publishers (given persistent market decline). But for gamers, it's pretty amazing (assuming, of course, that you can find other gamers).
The OGL is largely to thank for this. While I'm no fan of 3e, and think that it has altered the 'D&D paradigm' in some unfortunate respects (though I look forward to playing in Rydac's campaign starting January), the OGL has allowed for many intersting new systems to develop (e.g. M&M, True20, etc.), as well as allowed for some healthy 'old school' style gaming (e.g. C&C).
But OGL aside, there is also the new WFRP system, which I think blows most other FRPGs away right now (at least for the 'everything is dark and depressing and dingy' style of FRPG, which I love).
And there is also Unisystem, which is the best system (or at least its 'Cinematic' version is; I have no experience with 'Classic Uni') that I've ever encountered for 'modern' style games (whether fantasy, a la Buffy and Angel, or horror, or other').
I used to love Runequest (2e) back in the early 1980s. And now Mongoose will be coming out with a new version of Runequest, which will be 'open license'. I'm painfully excited to look at the new product.
Lots of great fantasy campaigns are available now -- e.g. Wilderlands (okay, it's been available since 1976, but the new version is nifty), Castle Zagyg (EGG's original dungeon at long last), Midnight (a brilliant take on standard LotR tropes), Iron Kingdoms -- as well as many that I don't like (e.g. Eberrron), but hey, the more the merrier!
And I've only mentioned the games that I have a remote chance of playing in the near future. There's also Conan (best treatment of the setting I've ever seen, even if the system is far too crunchy for my tastes), HARP (kinda like MERP, but with a vastly better magic system), Burning Wheel (genuinely innovative), FUDGE, Spycraft, etc.
And if you're pining for an OOP game (I'm looking at you, MERP, D&D Rules Cylcopedia and Star Frontiers), there's always e-bay.
Yeah, it's looking like a gold age to me ...
Man, there have been a lot of great years.
1981 - I had discovered Basic D&D and had a lot of fun with it.
1985 - I played Villains & Vigilantes with a great group of friends. Some I'm still in touch with.
1992 - I rediscovered D&D with 2e and played Rifts. I'm still gaming with some of these friends.
2002 - d20 was going great for me, including but not limited to D&D, and I went to GenCon.
2006 - Hopefully! I am enjoying gaming again with Savage Worlds and hope it continues.
So, I'll say the golden age is right now. I have more and better games than ever before with access to the internet and thereby just about any game I could ever want.
1981 - I had discovered Basic D&D and had a lot of fun with it.
1985 - I played Villains & Vigilantes with a great group of friends. Some I'm still in touch with.
1992 - I rediscovered D&D with 2e and played Rifts. I'm still gaming with some of these friends.
2002 - d20 was going great for me, including but not limited to D&D, and I went to GenCon.
2006 - Hopefully! I am enjoying gaming again with Savage Worlds and hope it continues.
So, I'll say the golden age is right now. I have more and better games than ever before with access to the internet and thereby just about any game I could ever want.
Imperialus
Explorer
For me personally it's right now. For the past 4 year I've had a regular group with mostly coherent campaigns. I'm playing with people I can honestly call some of my best friends and we have a lot of fun. What more can I ask for?
JRRNeiklot
First Post
Late 70's - early 80's. Nothing else can even compare.
Nyaricus
First Post
Hey Aus Snow!
Just thought I, one of the new generation of D&D'ers, would chime in here.
I have been playing since i was 11 years old. we got a copy of the AD&D PHB, and a splat book DMG, and a FR module for Myth Drannor. Had lots of fun with that, and had some realy memorable characters too - then we smartened up and realised that there was a new version of D&D out, and got the 3 core, along with a few othes as they came out.
What can i say? Those were great days, but highschool f***ed up those guys, and i don't talk to or play with them anymore. They are just another bunch of potheads and crack addicts, literally.
So for me, there was a golden age from 1999 (when i started playing) to 2002 and part of '03. What i look forward to now is maintaining some great and lasting friedships with a bunch of great guys that i know and play with. I want to keep with this hobbie till the end. I have a girlfriend of two years who knows very well that when we get a house together in the future, the basement is mine for D&D goodness .
I think we can only define a golden age once we are past it, and even then it is largely indivualistic or based upon 'majority rules' and whatnot. But i also think that there is rom for many golden ages within our lifespan - but only so many can be rembered. Anyways, I for one love D&D and i could go on for quite some time, but unlike elves, i need 8 hours sleep, not 4 hours trance. So goodnight!
Cheers
Just thought I, one of the new generation of D&D'ers, would chime in here.
I have been playing since i was 11 years old. we got a copy of the AD&D PHB, and a splat book DMG, and a FR module for Myth Drannor. Had lots of fun with that, and had some realy memorable characters too - then we smartened up and realised that there was a new version of D&D out, and got the 3 core, along with a few othes as they came out.
What can i say? Those were great days, but highschool f***ed up those guys, and i don't talk to or play with them anymore. They are just another bunch of potheads and crack addicts, literally.
So for me, there was a golden age from 1999 (when i started playing) to 2002 and part of '03. What i look forward to now is maintaining some great and lasting friedships with a bunch of great guys that i know and play with. I want to keep with this hobbie till the end. I have a girlfriend of two years who knows very well that when we get a house together in the future, the basement is mine for D&D goodness
.I think we can only define a golden age once we are past it, and even then it is largely indivualistic or based upon 'majority rules' and whatnot. But i also think that there is rom for many golden ages within our lifespan - but only so many can be rembered. Anyways, I for one love D&D and i could go on for quite some time, but unlike elves, i need 8 hours sleep, not 4 hours trance. So goodnight!
Cheers
