Why are people not interested in RPG?

[Umbran]

And its not like we're seeing wholesale Luddite movements where everbody abandons technology and smart stuff.

The places where this is incorrect are, unfortunately, in the realm of politics, so I won't argue the point here. Suffice to say, I don't find the situation all that rosy.

 

[Ahnehnois]

- some people think that in a RPG most of what you do is drama-acting in character, making elaborate speeches in funny voices, and they find the idea incredibly lame
- some people are seriously scared by the complexity of the game, formulas and structures put them off, they think it is required to learn a lot of rules and they believe they will never be able to do so or that otherwise it will take a long time and lots of headaches ("it feels like school")
- some people just don't sync with the fantasy flavor, dragons and monsters are just not "cool" in their opinion
- some people have a very bad image of gamers in general, and they are scared by the idea that if they join the game they will have to spend the night with immature nerds in heavy metal t-shirts

Interesting points, and certainly valid ones. However, I think there is a more fundamental issue: people don't know what it is. I can't tell you how many nerdy, creative, intelligent, sociable people who have no idea what D&D is, or express some very basic misconceptions about it. It's a closet hobby with little media or pop culture presence. Most people don't understand that it's a creative medium and that you can do what you want with it, allowing misconceptions like the above to spread.

I think there are many people in this world who could have very enjoyable and fulfilling rpg experiences but simply aren't exposed to it, or who reject it out of hand due to the stigma surrounding it.

 

[Janx]

That condescending low point of a post is a reminder of why I rarely visit here now.

Mod Note: Ladies and gents, quoting a long hunk of post you don't like, only to add a one-line threadcrap, does not help to improve the quality of postings. If you don't like something, try leading by example, rather than by accusation. Thanks. ~Umbran

Wow. I am honestly surprised. I meant no insult in my post. I did not call you names. I merely pointed out that I disagreed with your statement and example and the reasons for it.

I apologize for my post where no insult was intended and no insult is visible to my eye.

 

[Janx]

The places where this is incorrect are, unfortunately, in the realm of politics, so I won't argue the point here. Suffice to say, I don't find the situation all that rosy.

Given Nedjer's reaction, I am now truly puzzled.

My post prior where I mention GAS is a direct reference to a current political party's strategy. Hence why I referred to them as the New Robot Order, rather than give them a name. to my eye, that comment leads to crossing the line.

Oddly, instead, my point about Luddites has come up twice now. Is there a different movement going on or connotation to Luddite that I am unaware of?

I just checked our friend Master Wikipedius: Luddite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My usage of the term refers to the modern usage, which is those who are opposed to technology in general. However, the historical reference seems to tie into opposition the industrial revolution due to the manual skills jobs it was destroying. I can see THAT concept leading to job protectionism, Unions, and some current politics.

Without alluding to specific politics, is there anything else I'm missing?

 

[nedjer]

Wow. I am honestly surprised. I meant no insult in my post. I did not call you names. I merely pointed out that I disagreed with your statement and example and the reasons for it.

I apologize for my post where no insult was intended and no insult is visible to my eye.

Thanks for your sincere reply. I prefer to iron such things out where possible, but I received a warning email at breakfast and would be banned for raising the topic again.

I prefer not to depart the forum through a ban. I'm skipping on ENWorld as ENWorld rather than ENWorld visitors have, cumulatively, managed to make it sufficiently clear to me that I'm unwelcome here.

I have no melodramic tirade to offer and - while I wish to avoid half-chewed views expressed earlier in this thread remaining part of a discussion that appears to be labeling tabletop RPGs as some kind of special snowflake - I shall not be doing a Raven Crowking round past threads. Cheers

 

[The Red King]

I know that having both of my sons (and soon my daughter I'm sure) play have given them not only a game, a thing to teach them things they might never have thought to find on their own. I picked up the original D and D red box basic set and it got me thinking about the different medieval armor. I spent weeks in the library looking up how such things were made, what weapons were made to defeat what armore, and how the armor was then upgraded to stop that type of weapons.

It is also a social game. Not like an MMO. You can freak out or scream at an MMO buddy, and just make more. Thats the point of an MMO, right? That there will always be someone on to play with.

But with an actual RPG you have to not only play by the rules of the game, but you need to be social. You need to be a person, not just an internet troll.

Thats one of the biggest things you learn when playing an RPG in my opinion.


Well, that, and always bring snacks if the game isnt at your house. If it is at your house, be a good host.

 

[ggroy]

Of the "ex-gamers" I've come across in my local social circles, the number one reason they don't like to play rpg games these days, is their dislike of dealing with the "spoiled brat" type behavior of numerous dysfunctional gamers they encountered in past games.

As far as these ex-gamer friends are concerned, no game is a lot better than playing rpg games with a group of 40-year-olds with "spoiled brat" mentalities.

This is the number one reason as to why I have been highly unsuccessful in recruiting these "ex-gamer" friends and acquaintances, to my own D&D games.

 

[Elf Witch]

There have been a lot of valid points made here. I would like to add that the fact so many gamers still feel the need to hide the game from their girlfriends, wives and non gaming friends is not helping bring new people into the game.

I sometimes think some people would be more open about porn then about gaming.

I think it would help if we were just open about it. You don't see football fans or rock climbers hiding their hobby.

Over the years I have had several hobbies that some people find weird. I belonged to the SCA and I used to cons all the time and at Trek cons I dressed like a Klingon. I never hid it and found that most people giving the chance are okay with it. I was working in the NICU unit and I had brought some garb I was working on to work on in during my breaks and my lunch break. One of the nurses who also sewed became fascinated with what I was doing and we stated talking about it. She ended up getting involved in the SCA doing sewing for those who could not and got a nice little side business going on.

I am the same way with gaming. My books are not hidden away in the garage. I will work openly on my game in public places like the book store or the library.

I don't dress like a stereotypical gamer. I wear make up and kind of conservative soccer mom clothes I don't give off that weird vibe. Most of my fellow gamers have real jobs, spouses and you rarely see any kind of T shirt.

Overcoming the gamer stereotype would be one way of getting people to want to play.

 

[Umbran]

Oddly, instead, my point about Luddites has come up twice now. Is there a different movement going on or connotation to Luddite that I am unaware of?

More like, there's more going on in the sentence you wrote than the word "Luddite". You expanded upon the term, opening us to somewhat broader interpretation than a specific strict definition.

 

[Umbran]

You don't see football fans or rock climbers hiding their hobby.

Yes, well, you don't see people have issues in their workplace of being a football fan, either.