Too many RPGs out there?

[Odhanan]

Are there too many role-playing games published?

Express yourself at leisure. I'm interested in your opinions.

 

[Yair]

I don't think it's a matter of too many wonderful new published settings and game systems, so much as it is a matter of not having enough free time. If I could play seven days a week, I'd probably be content with the amount offered.

There are definitely way too many good products I want to play and don't have the time to play from where I'm standing. But that's a good thing - as long as they're making money, it's all good.

 

[GlassJaw]

Are there a lot of products out there? Oh yeah. A wicked lot.

Too much? I don't know. What is your definition of "too much"?

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

From the point of view of the consumer? Certainly not. Variety is good.

From the point of view of the RPG companies? Well, as long as they don't go broke publishing stuff for all those lines... on the other hand, few people write RPG books to make a living. So I guess if they want to publish that many RPGs, we should be okay with it...

 

[AIM-54]

I hope not, there's nothing I like more than reading and getting into a new system (preferably well-designed ). That said, time is precious and I have less and less of it for gaming as things progress forcing me to make hard choices about what I spend my time and money on.

But I still like to look at new stuff even if I never get to play it.

 

[Crothian]

THere are a lot of RPGs out there and quite possible too much. But there is not enough quality RPGs out there.

 

[Hjorimir]

THere are a lot of RPGs out there and quite possible too much. But there is not enough quality RPGs out there.

Ditto.

 

[Akrasia]

What does it even mean to claim that there are 'too many' RPGs in the marketplace?

If an RPG is successful, it will survive in the marketplace. If it survives, then there is obviously an adequate demand for it.

Personally, I am quite pleased to see the wide range of FRPG options available these days: WFRP, HARP, D&D, Conan, C&C, Angel/Buffy, True20, Burning Wheel, etc. If there exists adequate demand for these different products, there are not 'too many' of them.

 

[GlassJaw]

From the point of view of the consumer? Certainly not. Variety is good.

Variety is certainly good for the consumer but honestly, there are so many products out there that I will never know even actually exist, nevermind buy. The unfortunate part is that I don't even really care. I keep tabs on a couple of companies here and there and pretty much only buy their products. Maybe once in a great while, I will buy something outside that circle.

So if you define "too much" as the point in which the consumer can no longer keep track of all the products available, then yes, I would say yes, there is too much out there.

 

[Kanegrundar]

Too many RPGS? Seeing as how I only keep up with a few (D&D, D20 Modern, and WHFRP as well as many 3rd party D20 publishers) and there is still a good amount of quality titles coming out, there is just enough. For others, who knows. All I know is that I'm able to afford the books I want to buy. I'm content, so that's all that matters.

In all honesty, there's quite a few RPG's that I've just found out about (Burning Wheel for instance). Too bad I don't see them on the shelves...EVER. Not that I would pick any of these smaller RPG's up, but I would give them a look see.

Kane