What do you want in a role-playing club?

[maddman75]

Well, I checked 'no' on the RPGA question and I got no furthur questions.

My guess is that the guy who's running their online poll is the same one that is running their web site

 

[Mark]

I checked "Yes" on the RPGA membership question, got four more questions which appeared to be geared toward non-members and that ended my survey...

No third page for me!

 

[qstor]

My main problem against the RPGA is the whole "gaming for trophies concept". Remove that, and the whole organization improves 100%. As it is, people that are in the RPGA, IMHO, seem to care only about their "points" and how many modules they can fit into their busy schedule. They are powergamers to the extreme, and the whole organization tends to promote that. Again, this is all just IMHO.

I know there are good role-players in the RPGA, but it would seem that the organization doesn't really promote that aspect of it. I think opening up free memberships was a great idea, but they need to move away from the "living" events and more towards promoting gaming in local areas, attracting new gamers, and encouraging new game systems.

Anyone have any thoughts?

I joined the RPGA for Living Greyhawk in Sept 2000. I was in an RPGA club in Michigan in law school BUT I was never a member of the RPGA then. Since then I have found mixed things in it as with everything in life. But overall I have found it to be enjoyable. A main downpoint is that I dont have a lot of time for my home group anymore none of whom are in the RPGA. I have branced out to play Living Force (star wars d20) and Virtual Seattle (Shadow Run) and the brand new Delta Files "Living" Delta Green.

As to promoting powergamers, there are powergamers where ever you game. No more so in the RPGA, IMO. I find it that some players get to travel more to home games and out of state conventions. Most of them are single or have significant others that game. My spouse has allowed me to go to GenCon and I'm going to Origins but I dont get to go to a small con in Tennessee every weekend.

As to promoting role playing, the players get to vote at the end of some of the modules, if this option is chosen for the best role player. I know some mini maxers that dont win tables. If you win a table you get a "die bump" I feel this is a good way to promote role playing.

The new head of the RPGA is introducing a new judges promotion where quaility judges will get benefits from free $5 membershipd in the RPGA to a free trip including airfare to GenCon.

For a mere $5 now I feel overall the RPGA is worth it. I encourge others to play with the free membership and see if the $5 is worth it.

Mike

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I guess the poll must adjust according to how you answer the first three questions, which means that somehow I was filtered out as a potential member. Perhaps it had to do with my age and the fact I'd never been a member of the RPGA? If the latter, it seems kind of dumb to not want to know what would get me to join. Well, if on the basis of three questions they've lost interest in me as a member, then you can be damned sure I won't join ever. Where is Erik Mona when ya need him?!?

 

[Oracular Vision]

The "trophy" syndrome is more emblematic of Living City, where even low level characters have huge books of certs. Recently, they opened up LG so that you could just buy things out of the PHB and DMG, so there is no longer any reason to "trade" things. So, rewards are in gold, not much "unique" treasure, etc.

The problems I have with it is that many of the modules have huge holes in them, but with a good DM, they are all playable. Many of the people I see are playing junkies, but don't really have that much loot. I have a lot of dumb stuff but nothing very nice, maybe a +1 cloak and a MW weapon at 4th level. In Living City, I could be a portable magic warehouse by now...

 

[Teflon Billy]

My experience with Living Greyhawk (and Living Force for that matter) have been universally bad.

Someone above already mentioned the "Phat Lewt/ P&P Everquest" mindset, and it is in my experience true.

I'll pass. My convention experiences are already not great, and I seem to only enjoy gaming with the thirty or so people I have recruited over the years.

I don't think any of the RPGA stuff has anything to offer me.

Outside of Gen Con pre-registration

 

[Kichwas]

There it is.

Two pager here.

I focused my answers on getting a newsletter and getting contacts.

I think finding local contacts is the number one concern of most gamers. Especially when in more isolated regions.

 

[Bagpuss]

The main reason I joined the RPGA in the UK was for Polyhedron as there were virtually no other magazines that covered a wide range of roleplaying game systems.

Of course then WotC came in and turned our nice UK Polyhedron that supported all game systems into a house magazine.

If they want me to renew my membership then the club should support all roleplaying games not just D20, and not just D&D. The "Living" Campaign should not be the main focus, although obviously they are popular and should remain.

Its main aim should be to find ways to bring more people into the hobby and bring those people that are already playing the hobby together, more smaller local conventions might be one way.

Its should re-introduce the schools competition, but remove most covention competitions as roleplaying isn't really about competition after all.

From the survey I could see why they might attact members with some of the offers but I couldn't see the point in having members.

 

[Shadowdancer]

I took the poll, and only got two pages of questions.

 

[mirzabah]

Survey is ageist - No it's not

It looks like the WotC survey is ageist. If you're over 35, WotC/Hasbro doesn't care what you think.

The survey uses browser cookies to figure out whether you've already taken it or not. If you delete your browser cookies, you can fill out the survey as often as you like. Mind you, deleting browser cookies will mess up your auto-logins for various sites and you will probably lose track of where you are in message boards.

Edit:
Looks like I was a little premature with that claim. A little more testing has revealed that it's based on playing frequency. If you play once a month, or less frequently, they aren't interested in your opinions. So, if you want to be heard, tell 'em you play once a week.