Why are people not interested in RPG?
- Thread starter Li Shenron
- Start date
Lwaxy
Cute but dangerous
It is either people have other interests, or the already mentioned rules baggage.
Time is a factor in most interests nowadays - even for things related to your health, like physical activity. I should swim several times a week but can't because the pool is too far with bad public transport and also has bad opening times. It is just not doable, and I'd love to be able to.
So maybe RPG groups don't meet at the right time or places in addition to the rules one would have to learn and the time it takes to make a PC the way you want it. Maybe the sessions are too long, or they would prefer less and longer sessions (this is always an issue in my groups).
And in addition, at least people 30 and up already have a hobbies they are already doing so adding one more would take time away from them. With exception of one grandma to one of the kids playing, I didn't have anyone over the age of 25 start RPGing, anyone older has just switched groups.
Time is a factor in most interests nowadays - even for things related to your health, like physical activity. I should swim several times a week but can't because the pool is too far with bad public transport and also has bad opening times. It is just not doable, and I'd love to be able to.
So maybe RPG groups don't meet at the right time or places in addition to the rules one would have to learn and the time it takes to make a PC the way you want it. Maybe the sessions are too long, or they would prefer less and longer sessions (this is always an issue in my groups).
And in addition, at least people 30 and up already have a hobbies they are already doing so adding one more would take time away from them. With exception of one grandma to one of the kids playing, I didn't have anyone over the age of 25 start RPGing, anyone older has just switched groups.
I think this is an interesting topic, and I have a few relevant theories I'd like to add.
I think the complicated rules systems are by far the major factor preventing people from playing. Strange as it may sound, I think D&D is largely responsible for the lack of interest in the very hobby that this game has created. Why? Because even in the early years, that game was incredibly complex. Look at the 1st ed. DMG! Nothing but tables and numbers.
If you want regular people to play, you should start with an extremely rules light system. Preferably, don't ask them to read a single thing, or even role up a PC. Just give them a sheet and tell them what to do as you go. I got a complete group of noobs together to play a game of Fiasco, and they all commented on how big the rule book is. lol! Good thing they didn't notice the Pathfinder Core Rules on my shelf.
That being said, I truly believe that RPGs are poised for a resurgence. Here is why:
1. Geek is in, and it's big business. People love gaming. MMOs, board games, MTG. Regular people really respond to this stuff. The RPG industry has just done a terrible job of marketing to them. This is changing though. Rules light systems are increasingly popular, even among long time RPGers.
2. I'll get a lot of pushback about this point, but I think that video games are going to decline. That industry has been driven by technology for the last 30 years, but this trend is coming to an end. We're going to see next gen consoles coming out soon, but people just don't care that much. The games all look good now, and they have for several years. The problem is, the video game industry is out of ideas. I'm talking about the whole industry. There are a lot of people that really enjoy video game RPGs, but are just not getting what they want out of them any more. I should know, I'm one of them, and this has driven me recently to RPGs. People want a deeper, more dynamic gaming experience, and it's already out there waiting to be discovered.
I think the complicated rules systems are by far the major factor preventing people from playing. Strange as it may sound, I think D&D is largely responsible for the lack of interest in the very hobby that this game has created. Why? Because even in the early years, that game was incredibly complex. Look at the 1st ed. DMG! Nothing but tables and numbers.
If you want regular people to play, you should start with an extremely rules light system. Preferably, don't ask them to read a single thing, or even role up a PC. Just give them a sheet and tell them what to do as you go. I got a complete group of noobs together to play a game of Fiasco, and they all commented on how big the rule book is. lol! Good thing they didn't notice the Pathfinder Core Rules on my shelf.
That being said, I truly believe that RPGs are poised for a resurgence. Here is why:
1. Geek is in, and it's big business. People love gaming. MMOs, board games, MTG. Regular people really respond to this stuff. The RPG industry has just done a terrible job of marketing to them. This is changing though. Rules light systems are increasingly popular, even among long time RPGers.
2. I'll get a lot of pushback about this point, but I think that video games are going to decline. That industry has been driven by technology for the last 30 years, but this trend is coming to an end. We're going to see next gen consoles coming out soon, but people just don't care that much. The games all look good now, and they have for several years. The problem is, the video game industry is out of ideas. I'm talking about the whole industry. There are a lot of people that really enjoy video game RPGs, but are just not getting what they want out of them any more. I should know, I'm one of them, and this has driven me recently to RPGs. People want a deeper, more dynamic gaming experience, and it's already out there waiting to be discovered.
Yeah, the eyes do roll when I tell people about the NASCAR scarf I knitted for when I play my birdwatching LARP...
Because it's a really weird thing to do with your free time.
It isn't comparable to console games, or MMOs, or board games, or card games. No, it's a totally unique, and decidedly odd, way of spending some hours.
"Let's play make believe" is just not going to sell well to most people. Not even most kids, beyond very early years.
Sure, it has dice and rules and numbers. But the core of what a RPG is, is what prevents it being a popular pastime in the scheme of things. There is no getting around that.
But other niche hobbies survive. I'm sure this one can too. The internet is perhaps the main thing holding it all together: finding group members for tabletop play, and starting or joining online play. Also, discovering games that might better suit, reading reviews, discussing systems and campaigns and more...
I find it amusing that some people post about how whole sections of the internet are - in effect - bad for the hobby, and where do they choose to air such views, along with (sometimes) advice on how to fix everything? Ah yes, the very places they are criticising! These places where newcomers are almost universally welcomed and assisted with impressive promptness and courtesy, where "veterans" can talk about anything they want to, where - as is common throughout the internet - there's nearly always someone on hand willing and wanting to answer questions on anything they're familiar with. Then there are the myriad other sites (blogs, information centres, etc.) with everything you could hope for, and more
, freely available to peruse, download, do with as you see fit.
It occurs to me that, at times, we don't know how lucky we are.
It isn't comparable to console games, or MMOs, or board games, or card games. No, it's a totally unique, and decidedly odd, way of spending some hours.
"Let's play make believe" is just not going to sell well to most people. Not even most kids, beyond very early years.
Sure, it has dice and rules and numbers. But the core of what a RPG is, is what prevents it being a popular pastime in the scheme of things. There is no getting around that.
But other niche hobbies survive. I'm sure this one can too. The internet is perhaps the main thing holding it all together: finding group members for tabletop play, and starting or joining online play. Also, discovering games that might better suit, reading reviews, discussing systems and campaigns and more...
I find it amusing that some people post about how whole sections of the internet are - in effect - bad for the hobby, and where do they choose to air such views, along with (sometimes) advice on how to fix everything? Ah yes, the very places they are criticising! These places where newcomers are almost universally welcomed and assisted with impressive promptness and courtesy, where "veterans" can talk about anything they want to, where - as is common throughout the internet - there's nearly always someone on hand willing and wanting to answer questions on anything they're familiar with. Then there are the myriad other sites (blogs, information centres, etc.) with everything you could hope for, and more
, freely available to peruse, download, do with as you see fit.It occurs to me that, at times, we don't know how lucky we are.
Lwaxy
Cute but dangerous
I found this to be totally untrue. There were many reasons, but this one I have hardly encountered.
Mileage is what it is.
I'm glad you've not found that to be the case. All (other) GMs I have talked to have, as have I.
Honestly, I think most people are "too straight" by far for such "childish", frivolous activities (without some way to make it mundane, cynical, sexual, or otherwise "normal"), and if they bend significantly, it'll be in entirely other ways!
Lwaxy
Cute but dangerous
Maybe it is a cultural thing. Some people frown at anything gamey, even board or card games (unless it is Las Vegas style). But those get rarer and rarer. We have neighbors holding a weekly board game group, something that would have been hard to do in the 80s.
RPGs are more seen as too complicated or people think they can't do it, are no good actors etc. And I find that the few laughing at RPGs outright are usually the people who have the most issues with acting and pretending. So it is more that they dismiss it because they believe they suck at it.
RPGs are more seen as too complicated or people think they can't do it, are no good actors etc. And I find that the few laughing at RPGs outright are usually the people who have the most issues with acting and pretending. So it is more that they dismiss it because they believe they suck at it.
WhimsyTheFae
Explorer
As surprising as it is for me every time it happens, I will admit to running across many people who just don't have an interest. They have their hobbies, they like their hobbies, they have no interest (aside from humoring me in some cases) of getting into my hobby.
Stacie GmrGrl
Adventurer
It also doesn't help that there are a few gamers, not many and probably not as bad as it once was, that looked down on nongamers. I have witnessed a few times a person who have never played, but was curious, sit down at games to watch, and players would say or do something to drive them away.
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