Why are people not interested in RPG?

[[OMENRPG]Ben]

Hiya.

Engaging "crotchety-old-grognard" mode...again...*sigh*

I blame the education system and technology.

I've had a LOT of success getting 30 and 40 somethings to try it...and pretty much NO success getting anyone in their teens or 20's. For the younger crowd, as soon as you hand them a book and explain that they should give it at least a light skimming they look at you like you're crazy. Read a book? A *paper* book? ...too much work... Mention that actual writing and math will be involved and they pretty much stare blankly, totally confused the the concept that reading, writing and arithmatic could lead in any way to "a fun game". If it's not on Playstation or X-Box, it's not "a read game" or "any game worth trying". If they DO get past that, the first session is probably their last...as not accessing the internet or their cell phones to check Facebook or text message every three minutes will start to have them suffer from withdrawl symtoms (go ahead...search the 'net for young people cell phone addiction...I dare ya...).

Basically, the young whippersnappers nowadays have no idea how to relax and take their time with anything. If they can't have it now, or it's not explained to them via video or audio...they just can't do it. Even the ones who express interest "give up" because they don't have time to do the reading...they're too busy filling their day up with text messaging and answering their phone.

Anyway, maybe when we get a big comet or super solar flare and it wipes out all our cell phone towers we'll have a better chance.

^_^

Paul L. Ming

This runs entirely against my experience. Perhaps it is the setting or the way in which you are approaching younger gamers, but as a 20-something game designer and publisher, my customer base and playtesters thus far are all under 30. All of them.

Shows like Adventure Time, which are basically a silly kid's version of D&D, are hugely popular. Every one of the "young whippersnappers" I've gotten to play has absolutely loved the game, even people who felt hesitant initially.

I went in to a comic book shop (albeit a nerdy place, although more mainstream than an RPG shop) and just politely asked some of the people if they wanted to try out a product.

After three hours, I had three tables running with seven people, and all of them thoroughly enjoyed it (other than a few hiccups simply involving new tester-GMs) and had either placed pre-orders or still keep in touch with me at future playtest events.

My older brother's generation, all in the thirties, have no time and no interest. Even "as a favor" to my brother, none of them will even get it a try, and some of them are familiar with/enjoy RPGs in video games.

I'm not concerned for the future of the hobby, as social technology is getting more and more seamless, and TTRPGs fall right in line with that trend.

 

[kitsune9]

You do realize there's an anti-intellectual current in some segments of our society, yes? Using your brain is nerdy. Actively using your imagination is immature. RPGs do both of those things, and do so without a veneer of something otherwise socially acceptable to hide behind.

Unless using your brain and imagination nets you an IPO, I agree that there's little respect in our society for such endeavors.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Unless using your brain and imagination nets you an IPO, I agree that there's little respect in our society for such endeavors.

And sometimes where you least expect it- I got stares for reading novels while I was in law school.

This wasn't merely because you do a metric ton of reading in law school, so people wonder why you're doing it for fun*, but also because so many read ONLY newspapers & news magazines. The concept of reading for enjoyment, self-improvement or expanding O'Neal cultural awareness was virtually alien to many of my classmates.







* fellow students actually asked me about that

 

[The Red King]

Advertise (on the little boards) at your locak college. Thats where all the new players are.

 

[The Red King]

This runs entirely against my experience. Perhaps it is the setting or the way in which you are approaching younger gamers, but as a 20-something game designer and publisher, my customer base and playtesters thus far are all under 30. All of them.

Shows like Adventure Time, which are basically a silly kid's version of D&D, are hugely popular. Every one of the "young whippersnappers" I've gotten to play has absolutely loved the game, even people who felt hesitant initially.

I went in to a comic book shop (albeit a nerdy place, although more mainstream than an RPG shop) and just politely asked some of the people if they wanted to try out a product.

After three hours, I had three tables running with seven people, and all of them thoroughly enjoyed it (other than a few hiccups simply involving new tester-GMs) and had either placed pre-orders or still keep in touch with me at future playtest events.

My older brother's generation, all in the thirties, have no time and no interest. Even "as a favor" to my brother, none of them will even get it a try, and some of them are familiar with/enjoy RPGs in video games.

I'm not concerned for the future of the hobby, as social technology is getting more and more seamless, and TTRPGs fall right in line with that trend.

Weird. The only groups I have played with in the last 10+ years have been adults (30's to 40's) or adults with their children. I have a group I play with now where we have 3 males and 2 females in the 35-45 year old bracket and 5 boys aged 16 to as young as 6.

My experience with people of the 20 -30 year old group has been that they have too many other things to do, or else would rather play something online.

 

[gamerprinter]

Weird. The only groups I have played with in the last 10+ years have been adults (30's to 40's) or adults with their children. I have a group I play with now where we have 3 males and 2 females in the 35-45 year old bracket and 5 boys aged 16 to as young as 6.

My experience with people of the 20 -30 year old group has been that they have too many other things to do, or else would rather play something online.

Same here. I've got 2 females at 30 years old, and one male at 28, while everyone else is 45 - 50 years old (the younger ones include a child of one of our old players).

In my experience, if I mention D&D to a 18 -25 year old, they all think I'm talking about an MMO. When I describe the game: tabletop, pen and paper, dice, mini's - they look at me ludricrously. As if, what the hell am I talking about - they have no idea. And this is dozens and dozens of examples of this happening.

 

[The Red King]

This runs entirely against my experience. Perhaps it is the setting or the way in which you are approaching younger gamers, but as a 20-something game designer and publisher, my customer base and playtesters thus far are all under 30. All of them.

Shows like Adventure Time, which are basically a silly kid's version of D&D, are hugely popular. Every one of the "young whippersnappers" I've gotten to play has absolutely loved the game, even people who felt hesitant initially.

I went in to a comic book shop (albeit a nerdy place, although more mainstream than an RPG shop) and just politely asked some of the people if they wanted to try out a product.

After three hours, I had three tables running with seven people, and all of them thoroughly enjoyed it (other than a few hiccups simply involving new tester-GMs) and had either placed pre-orders or still keep in touch with me at future playtest events.

My older brother's generation, all in the thirties, have no time and no interest. Even "as a favor" to my brother, none of them will even get it a try, and some of them are familiar with/enjoy RPGs in video games.

I'm not concerned for the future of the hobby, as social technology is getting more and more seamless, and TTRPGs fall right in line with that trend.

Same here. I've got 2 females at 30 years old, and one male at 28, while everyone else is 45 - 50 years old (the younger ones include a child of one of our old players).

In my experience, if I mention D&D to a 18 -25 year old, they all think I'm talking about an MMO. When I describe the game: tabletop, pen and paper, dice, mini's - they look at me ludricrously. As if, what the hell am I talking about - they have no idea. And this is dozens and dozens of examples of this happening.

Thats exactly what I meant!

ME: "Want to play D&D?"

Some 18-20 year old: "Sure, will you be online later? What server?"

Me: "I meant the table top game."

Some 18-20 year old: "You mean a lan game at home?"

Me: "Can I talk to your parrents?"

 

[Evenglare]

Interesting replies. A couple of responses coming my experience. (I just skimmed over the topic sorry of many of these topics have been put to rest.)

First most people dont know what RPGs ARE. I know a LOT of people who play magic, and play SKYRIM and other console RPGs but they simply dont KNOW what pathfinder or D&D is. Or what they HAVE heard of it is vastly different to the actual game. You may or may not believe it but that who satanic belief thing is still floating around. I have taken it upon myself to invite these potential gamers to play a session from the pathfinder beginner box. Hopefully it will pan out.

Another couple of things I have seen scrolling through is a reply that says something akin to "Think of a hobby , and then think of why you arent interested in it. That's what they are like in relation to RPGs." This just isnt true because the majority of people dont know what RPGs are, what exactly they are , or entail. I bet most people would love to play them if they actually were educated on them. People love board games, people love movies, people love reading ( at least some), people love art, and stretching their imagination. D&D can be all of these things, but no one realizes it.

Another comment is that it is a large commitment to the person with an active life. Most people who actually would play this DO have enough time for it, most of them are simply lazy or apathetic about it. Putting down the controller from a console game and spending an hour on this isnt a far stretch. How many hours do people spend on youtube and facebook looking up worthless nonsense? I'm not saying they SHOULD sacrifice hobbies for this, but seriously, im sure most people could easily fit the time in for the game.

As for the comment on it's a weird thing to do with your time , playing make belief. I'm sure the vast amounts of writers and people that read fantasy or watch fantastic movies, could easily point out the huge flaw in this statement. Even with all of that though, I believe rpgs are beneficial to a person in more ways than percieved. It helps with math, with logical choice making, it helps with learning about the human (or humanoid) emotions and reactions. It exercises the brain more than just "playing make belief". It enhances your reading skills as well.

Honestly there are few if any drawbacks to RPGs, people simply dont understand what they are, and I believe it's our job to change that.

 

[Mallus]

I bet most people would love to play them if they actually were educated on them.

I bet the opposite.

D&D can be all of these things, but no one realizes it.

Some don't realize it, true. Other simply aren't interested. Quite a lot of them, giving the declining number of active tabletop gamers.

Don't lose sight of that fact. Some folks just aren't interested, no matter how simple and accessible you make the rules, no matter how much you cheerfully advocate for RPGs.

It's a given they are some people out there who don't currently play but would love it. There is no reason to believe that number is a large one, and ample evidence it is not.

[Most people who actually would play this DO have enough time for it, most of them are simply lazy or apathetic about it.

Or they just don't like RPGs.

Also, my Grandmother used to say "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar." Leaving aide the question of why you'd want to catch flies in the first place, I'll note calling non-gamers "lazy" and "apathetic" is a pretty vinegary approach...

How many hours do people spend on youtube and facebook looking up worthless nonsense?

Unlike the ennobling, life-affirming, and consciousness-expanding practice of pretending to be an elf.

I believe rpgs are beneficial to a person in more ways than percieved.

Oh certainly, for some people. For others, they're just nonsense.

 

[WhimsyTheFae]

Another couple of things I have seen scrolling through is a reply that says something akin to "Think of a hobby , and then think of why you arent interested in it. That's what they are like in relation to RPGs." This just isnt true because the majority of people dont know what RPGs are, what exactly they are , or entail. I bet most people would love to play them if they actually were educated on them. People love board games, people love movies, people love reading ( at least some), people love art, and stretching their imagination. D&D can be all of these things, but no one realizes it.

Seeing as neither of us have done comprehensive studies to prove this one way or the other, I'm going to assume the neither of us can convince the other. I will say that I can point to no fewer than 50 people at my prior three jobs who have had RPGs explained to them in a very favorable light, yet simply have no interest. That number is vastly larger than the number of people who were interested.

Anecdotal or not, I put more weight in my experience than your opinion.