Why do you play games other than D&D?

[GothmogIV]

D&D is the big dog. I tried to get my middle school kids to play Shadowdark, and they had zero interest. D&D is the game with the largest cultural footprint, especially with the Stranger Things connection. It's the game the average person has heard of. It is Leviathan.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Tried most of the Warhammer RPGs. Planning to run an Old World Game in the new year.

 

[Bryan Sycamore]

Because, to not play other games is to not enjoy the hobby.

 

[cranberry]

Because I don't like the direction D&D is going with 5e 2024, and I found a system I like better.

As well as the OGL scandal and other antics. Never forget.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I misread the question, thought it said what other games are you checking other than D&D

 

[The Soloist]

My current RPG group is into mystery/investigation or sci-fi stories. Fantasy is not their bag and they do not like extended combat. D&D is off the table. We play Vaesen, CoC, Paranoia, Cypher Sytem with the Predation setting and Coriolis.

 

[dragoner]

I tried to play 5e when it came out, it wasn't very satisfying, I could chalk it up to an inexperienced GM, but it is what it is. Various stuff I have played recently is Traveller (classic) running a game mostly from the free starter set download on drive thru. Some Mythras, and some M-Space; I'd like to play a Call of Cthulhu or Delta Green game, that would be cool.

In the interim I have played both CoC, and DG; as well as releasing my own game, Solis People of the Sun/Kosmic a hard-ish sfrpg, like gritty solarpunk.

 

[Clint_L]

I like a different game system for a different genre.

If it's fantasy, I'm good with D&D. I've played other fantasy RPGs, but I don't find the system impacts the end result nearly as much as genre does. That being the case, I have enough invested in D&D that it just makes sense to use it. It works well enough for high fantasy. Basically, D&D has enough inertia that I would have to have a very good reason to swap it for something else in the same genre.

Then when I switch genres, I switch game systems.

But sometimes I like to mash them up.

 

[MNblockhead]

Tbh if that's your counterpoint to my first sentence then I'm not convinced they actually conflict at all. I'm not denying DnD can be massively effective as a gateway (although so many people seem to just stay with it which imo is a crying shame) I'm just saying for me personally, 5e pretty much sucks both as a setting and as a system. Very one dimensional and I find that people end up reaching for the most grating, corny fantasy stereotypes with it.

Or were you just disagreeing with me that it sucks in general and going on to make the point about it being a gateway? In which case I can't argue with that, different strokes and all...

I guess I'm not really disagreeing insofar that I'm not going to disagree with your person view of D&D. I personally enjoy D&D, even if I've not been playing it for over a year. Lots of people are obviously enjoying it and sticking with it because they enjoy it and are familiar with it. Do I think they are missing out on a lot of great games that can provide different experiences, sure. But some people like what they like and don't have an interest in branching out. As you said, different strokes and all that.

 

[GrimCo]

I play different games cause they provide better mechanical support for different play styles and genres out of the box.

For instance, urban fantasy, horror, anything set in modern day or near future, my go to is nWoD (WW one). For post apocalypse stuff, i go with All flesh must be eaten.

We played so little SF in general that i don't have go to system for it.

D&D is good for fantasy of almost every kind (except urban fantasy), including space opera stuff.