Too many supplements a cause for burnout?

[taliesin15]

I'm wondering whether other DMs and players are getting burned out because there's so many new Rulebooks, supplements, variant classes, feats, and so on. Personally, it seems like some of my players seem to be into all these variations much more than roleplaying, and there's been many times where obvious facts about the fantasy world they are playing in seem to slip their minds, because they are all agog about some exciting new variant to their character's class recently published in some new third party work.

Is the marketplace actually driving the joy out of roleplaying?

 

[Crothian]

I don't think so., A really well written and creative product makes me want to use it and makes me want to game even more.

 

[taliesin15]

I don't think so., A really well written and creative product makes me want to use it and makes me want to game even more.

*sure, if it was just one well-written and creative product, there wouldn't be a problem. I'm talking about a tsunami of variations here.

 

[Imaro]

I'm wondering whether other DMs and players are getting burned out because there's so many new Rulebooks, supplements, variant classes, feats, and so on. Personally, it seems like some of my players seem to be into all these variations much more than roleplaying, and there's been many times where obvious facts about the fantasy world they are playing in seem to slip their minds, because they are all agog about some exciting new variant to their character's class recently published in some new third party work.

Is the marketplace actually driving the joy out of roleplaying?

I agree that's why I switched to C&C for my D&D needs. I have plenty of point systems, and D&D becoming a hybrid class/point-buy isn't my cup o' tea. I also am not keen on the whole "take the DM out of the equation philosophy". My thoughts have always been if you don't trust your DM, then why are you gaming with him?

Before anyone starts, yeah I know...Don't use it if you don't want to, or All you need is the core. That's not really what the OP is asking about. I think there is a glut of sourcebooks for D&D and I aam guilty of having bought my fair share...but it's gotten to the point now where I and my players just enjoy playing the game, and all the feats/new actions/new classes/combat rules/etc. don't add enough to the fun for it to be worth the increased investment (in money and time.) YMMV of course.

 

[Crothian]

*sure, if it was just one well-written and creative product, there wouldn't be a problem. I'm talking about a tsunami of variations here.

I find that not buying the crappy ones helps

There is a reason I don't buy everything that comes out. I just want the good stuff so a lot of the books I just don't get.

 

[Vigilance]

I find that not buying the crappy ones helps

There is a reason I don't buy everything that comes out. I just want the good stuff so a lot of the books I just don't get.

Yep. The way to insure that no crappy books come out is to never ever buy crappy books.

 

[Vrecknidj]

I'm wondering whether other DMs and players are getting burned out because there's so many new Rulebooks, supplements, variant classes, feats, and so on.

It can be tiresome, I think; but it hasn't caused burnout for me.

Personally, it seems like some of my players seem to be into all these variations much more than roleplaying, and there's been many times where obvious facts about the fantasy world they are playing in seem to slip their minds, because they are all agog about some exciting new variant to their character's class recently published in some new third party work.

Yes, though I see that more from the player's in my son's campaign than from the players in my campaign. I credit this to his friends being teenagers and having more time on their hands, and my friends being 40-somethings with no time on their hands.

Is the marketplace actually driving the joy out of roleplaying?

I don't think so. I think that the glut is actually consumer driven still.

Dave

 

[Gundark]

To answer your question yes I think so. However I don't think it's the main reason.

 

[taliesin15]

Someone mentioned making it clear what sources one would use in a campaign from the start, and while I did this, and said clearly what I wanted to use and not, a couple of the players (gone now) constantly were bringing up "cool" variations for their classes/spells/feats/skills/ familiars/weapons/armor and so on, ad nauseum, most of which I considered corny, others out of character with the flavor of the milieu, ultimately being not just frustrating but boring, empty and soulless.

 

[carmachu]

I'm wondering whether other DMs and players are getting burned out because there's so many new Rulebooks, supplements, variant classes, feats, and so on. Personally, it seems like some of my players seem to be into all these variations much more than roleplaying, and there's been many times where obvious facts about the fantasy world they are playing in seem to slip their minds, because they are all agog about some exciting new variant to their character's class recently published in some new third party work.

Is the marketplace actually driving the joy out of roleplaying?

No real burnout, but you really have to limit whats allowed in game...its crazy to keep up.