The Golden Age of Gaming

[Li Shenron]

- more D&D players than ever before, at least according to the publishers

- highest number of D&D books and settings available, thanks to OGL

- more gamers interaction and discussion about the hobby than it has ever been, thanks to the WWW

- a better image of the game than before, because it's normally played by adults nowadays

I don't know what makes a "golden age", but it seems to me at least improved compared to the past. The fact that your favourite ruleset was an older version, doesn't make it a golden age of D&D... And so doesn't the fact that at thatn time you were young and beautiful and happy and free, that means it was YOUR golden age

 

[blargney the second]

I'm with Sledge: it's great now, and only just getting started. Games in general are becoming steadily more popular and mainstream. RPGs are accretive - once people start, they're not bloody likely to stop again!

-blarg

 

[shilsen]

I'm DMing two weekly games, playing in a bi-weekly one, and joining another bi-weekly group. This is the golden age of gaming all right

 

[DragonLancer]

IMO the Golden Age of roleplaying was the 1980's (the best decade ever anyway. ). The game may not have been as popular or populous as it is now but whenever I think back to the glory days of AD&D its that time that I think of.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

In my opinion, we're in it.

 

[Aus_Snow]

In my opinion, we're in it.

Heh. As it happens, that is my opinion also. Though I'm definitely intrigued to see what the future holds for the hobby. Hm, either or, perhaps.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

I'd say things are pretty good right now. But I'm only 19 years old and don't too much about how things were except for the last 2 years of 2e (when I got into RPGs) I'd certainly say things are many times better than back then.

 

[Odhanan]

When was it? Or is it right now? Or yet to come?

It was, is and will be again. I tend to see it as a cycle. One day it's D&D. Then it's D&D and Cthulhu. Or Vampire. Or 3.0. Etc. From time to time, there is "something" that triggers a buzz in the community. But there's nothing like introducing people to the game, or people introducing themselves to the game. That's the key to any "golden age", so-called.

 

[painandgreed]

Mid to late 80's. Lots of different game systems including many that people still talk about today and people were willing to try them. 1E AD&D had hit its stride and there was a D&D game on every nuclear sub if not every naval vessel. The gaming industry had the youth and creativity while was just mature enough to make use of them.

Today everything in much more refined and even "advanced" but also it seems much more homogenized. It may be a golden period for d20 and the OGC but not gaming in general. In many ways, I can see parallels to the comptuer industry with an early industry full of creativity, choice, and drive to a present persistant monoculture of more powerful tech. I don't think I'd go back if I could in either case, but the present just will never generate the same sence of wonder and legacy. Console gaming, for example, will suck some of the thunder from both groups these days and show that they are not speical.

 

[diaglo]

Late 70's - early 80's. Nothing else can even compare.

pretty much what i'd say too.
edit: we will foreverafter being living in the shadow of the real age of gaming. never again achieving even a small part of that former glory. we can only hope to come close.