DragonLancer
Hero
Hi Upper_Krust 
To an extent, yes, I agree. But thats the same with any RPG going back to the 1970's. It takes time to learn the rules, even the basics, but people have done that easily enough. I think the 3.X rules are a lot easier to read than prior editions - hell, looking back over the 1st ed AD&D rules they make no sense to me now, but we learnt and played them.
I'm going to raise my (probably) unpopular response here, one that I believe wholeheartedly. Time and commitments are IMO BS a lot of the time. We all have commitments, and family, and studies and all that, but we make the time to play. Whether it be our jobs, family or whatever, we need to escape for an evening or afternoon every week or fortnight. Not getting away from it is not healthy. Ok, mini-rant over.
IMO, and from talking to other gamers at my local FLGS, I believe that the biggest issue turning new players away from RPG's and D&D in particular, is the price. You can buy some games for about £15 UK/$30 US and thats all you need bar dice. D&D requires three books minimum, so you are looking at triple that price. Its a lot of money to fork out.
Then theres the reputation issue. Here in the UK, D&D does not have a negative image associated with it. Your everyday bloke in the street has heard of the game. Even mentioning it in job interviews has gone down very well for me in the past.
From what I've read on ENWorld and other forums, its a completely opposite image in the US. Gamers daren't mention to co-workers or prospective employers that they play D&D.
The games industry needs to work out those issues if they/we are to keep the gaming industry going. That could be the next BIG THING, no?
Personally, this is not what I want to see happen. This isn't a roleplaying game, it's another tactics/wargame in a box. Without meaning to sound elitist, thats not a roleplaying game and its a step in the wrong direction.
After reading through this thread two or three times now, and after discussing a similar issue with the owner of my FLGS lately, the next big thing needs to be opening awareness to potential players beyond the niche gamers. WotC needs to put some of that money they make into TV advertising on a big scale. Expand the game as it currently is to the masses rather than keeping it confined to the slowly shrinking circle of people who already play the game.

Upper_Krust said:I agree with what Shadowslayer was saying. The game as it stands is just too unwieldy for new people to pick-up without joining an existing group.
To an extent, yes, I agree. But thats the same with any RPG going back to the 1970's. It takes time to learn the rules, even the basics, but people have done that easily enough. I think the 3.X rules are a lot easier to read than prior editions - hell, looking back over the 1st ed AD&D rules they make no sense to me now, but we learnt and played them.
Additionally, how do you sell the game to new players? If you have a board, minis and cards I think you would attract far more people, especially young kids, families and casual gamers.
Also the current game takes too long for DMs to design/set-up. Thats a common complaint.
Another problem is the time it takes to play. You need 3-4 hours to get anywhere (and then throw in travel time on top of that). That can be difficult for people with jobs and families. But they could probably spare you an hour or 90 minutes.
I'm going to raise my (probably) unpopular response here, one that I believe wholeheartedly. Time and commitments are IMO BS a lot of the time. We all have commitments, and family, and studies and all that, but we make the time to play. Whether it be our jobs, family or whatever, we need to escape for an evening or afternoon every week or fortnight. Not getting away from it is not healthy. Ok, mini-rant over.

IMO, and from talking to other gamers at my local FLGS, I believe that the biggest issue turning new players away from RPG's and D&D in particular, is the price. You can buy some games for about £15 UK/$30 US and thats all you need bar dice. D&D requires three books minimum, so you are looking at triple that price. Its a lot of money to fork out.
Then theres the reputation issue. Here in the UK, D&D does not have a negative image associated with it. Your everyday bloke in the street has heard of the game. Even mentioning it in job interviews has gone down very well for me in the past.
From what I've read on ENWorld and other forums, its a completely opposite image in the US. Gamers daren't mention to co-workers or prospective employers that they play D&D.
The games industry needs to work out those issues if they/we are to keep the gaming industry going. That could be the next BIG THING, no?
One aspect of the boardgame format which could be developed (and I am borrowing this idea from Space Crusade), is the role of the DM as an adversarial player in their own right. Instead of DMs fudging rolls to keep PCs alive and the group together the DM would be out to get them. I think this approach would be much more fun for DMs.
Personally, this is not what I want to see happen. This isn't a roleplaying game, it's another tactics/wargame in a box. Without meaning to sound elitist, thats not a roleplaying game and its a step in the wrong direction.
After reading through this thread two or three times now, and after discussing a similar issue with the owner of my FLGS lately, the next big thing needs to be opening awareness to potential players beyond the niche gamers. WotC needs to put some of that money they make into TV advertising on a big scale. Expand the game as it currently is to the masses rather than keeping it confined to the slowly shrinking circle of people who already play the game.