I had an interesting conversation with my group last night about edition "feel" and felt rather justified in a feeling I've had for a while: time changes everything.
1E and 2E rocked. Why? Well, they were "simpler" and less bogged down by rules and minutia. Stories and settings were great, especially with the emphasis 2E put on them. It was really magical. I played through college and even spent long family afternoons/weekends with the kids when they were young.
Then came the new editions. In 3E prep time went up exponentially when trying to go from 10th level in 1e/2E to 3E. Time I didn't want to spend nor have. I only have a 3-4 hour segment once per week, if that. I especially didn't want to waste it prepping a BBEG who'd just get offed in a 'save or die' spell 3/4 of the time anyway. The system must be crap, right?
Then came 4E. Combat's cooler, more tactical. My prep time is way down. Combat takes longer some times because there's no more "I win NOW" spells. I try to have one combat each 3-4 hour game night we play, maybe two if it makes sense and we have the time. The thing is, the campaign now feels more like a delve string some times. The system must be crap, right?
And change systems? Why should I have to learn a whole bunch of new stuff just to play a game? Why should I spend my precious free time learning to play a game instead of actually playing it? The new system must be crap!
But wait, what really changed? Sure, the rules did, but is that all?
No.
The kids got older. They had other things of their own starting to happen and new interests. Suddenly the neighbor isn't the rogue, she's a girl.
Relationships changed, jobs changed, people got married, people moved away... For a myriad of reasons we didn't have all those long weekends to just hang and play. It's not just a marathon gaming session waiting to happen any more, life gets in the way.
Long prep time? not gonna happen. I have a life.
Story lacking? Why bother, I have a life.
"What happened to the good old days"?
Us. Life. Time.
If you enjoy 3E, you either find more time and/or find more shortcuts.
If you enjoy 4E, you make the conscious effort to give creedence to the story because the system isn't going to push you or remind you.
Otherwise you either go "back" or just give it up all together.
People try to say that young gamers are the future, but we're still the present. Games need both. While editions change, in many cases the bigger changes are actually in us. It's just a lot easier, and sometimes more comfortable, to see the changes in the game.
Thoughts?
1E and 2E rocked. Why? Well, they were "simpler" and less bogged down by rules and minutia. Stories and settings were great, especially with the emphasis 2E put on them. It was really magical. I played through college and even spent long family afternoons/weekends with the kids when they were young.
Then came the new editions. In 3E prep time went up exponentially when trying to go from 10th level in 1e/2E to 3E. Time I didn't want to spend nor have. I only have a 3-4 hour segment once per week, if that. I especially didn't want to waste it prepping a BBEG who'd just get offed in a 'save or die' spell 3/4 of the time anyway. The system must be crap, right?
Then came 4E. Combat's cooler, more tactical. My prep time is way down. Combat takes longer some times because there's no more "I win NOW" spells. I try to have one combat each 3-4 hour game night we play, maybe two if it makes sense and we have the time. The thing is, the campaign now feels more like a delve string some times. The system must be crap, right?
And change systems? Why should I have to learn a whole bunch of new stuff just to play a game? Why should I spend my precious free time learning to play a game instead of actually playing it? The new system must be crap!
But wait, what really changed? Sure, the rules did, but is that all?
No.
The kids got older. They had other things of their own starting to happen and new interests. Suddenly the neighbor isn't the rogue, she's a girl.
Relationships changed, jobs changed, people got married, people moved away... For a myriad of reasons we didn't have all those long weekends to just hang and play. It's not just a marathon gaming session waiting to happen any more, life gets in the way.
Long prep time? not gonna happen. I have a life.
Story lacking? Why bother, I have a life.
"What happened to the good old days"?
Us. Life. Time.
If you enjoy 3E, you either find more time and/or find more shortcuts.
If you enjoy 4E, you make the conscious effort to give creedence to the story because the system isn't going to push you or remind you.
Otherwise you either go "back" or just give it up all together.
People try to say that young gamers are the future, but we're still the present. Games need both. While editions change, in many cases the bigger changes are actually in us. It's just a lot easier, and sometimes more comfortable, to see the changes in the game.
Thoughts?
), an 11 yo, a baby on the way, a full time job, and I just bought a house. Almost every night after work, I go pick up my son from school/his moms, take him back to my house, help w/ homework, cook him dinner, drive him home then come back to my home. I have him every other weekend, and on the other weekends, I have to do all the stuff I could not do the weekend when I have my son and the focus is on him.
