Last time, I offered a few observations on Gen Con 2008. Today, I want to continue that theme, but focus in a bit on the RPG side of things. I want to tell you what Gen Con did for me, in terms of my approach to gaming.
Back in March, I wrote about The 4E Malaise, and how things have changed for our group, gaming-wise, over the last year or two. I also wrote about my Thoughts on D&D 4E, and offered some thoughts from our group’s other DM on the topic, as well.
I’ve been at a crossroads, for a while, in terms of my game, and what my next campaign would be. That’s been due, in part, to the 4E announcement. Or so I thought.
My assumption going into Gen Con was that I’d come out with a clearer picture of where I wanted to go, in terms of our group’s game. Would I stay with D&D, or would I go backwards to 3.5? Would I cave to peer pressure and go with Pathfinder?
I discovered, however, that there are no easy answers. I was looking for something that I’ll never find. I was looking for an experience to define who I am as a gamer these days. Gen Con can’t do that for me.
In fact, no one else can do that for me.
You see, I’m having a gamer mid-life crisis. I haven’t run a regular campaign in a year and a half. And many of our local gaming group are in the same funk. Not all of it can be blamed on 4E, either. We’ve had folks move away, we’ve had career changes, we’ve had all sorts of lifestyle disruptions. Whatever the reasons, it’s happening to all of us.
I want to play an RPG, to be sure. I want to play something that is more than hack-and-slash. I wan an immersive game where my players get majorly geeked about playing. I want something that’s role-play intensive, with rich character histories and plenty of intrigue.
I’m not sure if that can happen in D&D anymore.
Now, I’m not blaming the system. I’ve always said that rules can do very little to encourage roleplaying, and I still believe that. But our group dynamic has gone all screwy. One of my players is so anti-4E that he actually told the guys at Paizo “I hope Pathfinder puts WotC out of business.” That’s hatred, plain and simple. And, while he’s entitled to his opinion, it creates this cloud over any discussion of a 4E game.
Even if I were to stay with the outdated 3.5 system, there are problems. We are all creatures of habit. I believe a 3.5 game would lead us into old patterns, where players are min-maxing and finding infinte combos, and I’m struggling to keep up and find anything that’s a real challenge.
Add this to the mix: I asked a couple of my local guys who were at the con this question: “What game would you play if it were up to you?” One answered, “probably something by White Wolf.” The other said, “I don’t know. Maybe Vampire.”
- So, what to do? I’ve had to ask myself the tough questions. Here are some of them, in no particular order:
- Am I willing to give up gaming altogether?
- Am I willing to run another system?
- Is there a better game than D&D?
- Can I pull off something big, like a new Mind’s Eye Theater troupe?
- Am I better off sticking with some flavor of D&D, because it’s comfortable to me and to my players?
Gen Con answered a couple of those questions for me. I’m not willing to give up gaming, I know that for certain now. I’m also willing to run something other than D&D. Based on my interest level and that of my players, it sounds like Vampire would be the way to go. I do have at least one player who won’t play anything that’s not D&D, but there’s no game right now that I can get everyone to agree to. I’m going to lose someone no matter what.
So, I guess the only question I really have left is this: do I do live action or do I do tabletop?
The more I think about it, it probably makes sense to start with a tabletop game. If that goes well over time, maybe we could expand it into a live action game. I’d say there’s about an 80% chance that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
Does this mean I’m giving up on D&D? Hell no.
Does this mean I’ll write less about D&D? Some, I’m sure. But part of the reason for the name change a few months back was just that – to open up possibilities.
I’m still very interested in D&D and what happens to the game. My suspicion is that, after a couple of years, the dust will settle. These violent emotional responses to 4E will wane, and our group might actually consider playing the thing.
I’m sure I’ll continue to buy D&D books. I want to be ready for when we come back. On top of that, I just enjoy reading them.
Will it be too late? Maybe. It could be that edition wars have splintered our group so severely as to put us off D&D forever. I hope not. The fact of the matter is that D&D is likely to be around for a long time, and I’m not ready to give it up forever.
Heck, I’m not entirely sure that the next game will be Vampire.
Ask me again in 2 weeks 
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Ouch.
I found the biggest problem with converting to 4e was the player resistance. 3e was designed to be player friendly, especially if you add in all the splatbooks. There’s classes and races by the bucket-load, tonnes of cool Feats (foots?) and enough crunch that it’s like letting a bunch of kids into a ball-pool.
Then there’s 4e. There’s no doubting it’s a MUCH more GM-friendly game, but it also seems to take away all of the players’ toys away too. It’s no surprise they’re resistant. I guess the solution to that is to keep pushing the cool and show them just how customizable 4e really is. They don’t need no steenking splatbooks
That said, it sounds like moving away from D&D (at least for a while, maybe) sounds like the Right Thing to do for your group. Change = rest and all that.
Keep on gaming
greywulfs last blog post..Character du Jour: Borys
That sounds similar to the boat I’m in at the moment. 4th Ed, I’ve enjoyed when I’ve played but I really can’t find much enthusiasm for the game at the moment. The 3.5 campaign I’ve been running is still going, so I’ll carry on holding that torch for a while yet myself.
But when I’m trying to get enthused about 4th… well I find myself looking at Pathfinder, Aces & Eights, Traveller, Call of Cthulu and others. With Gencon UK coming up (a much smaller, poorer imitation of Gencon Indy, I know, but an excuse for some random gaming), I’m treating myself to the opportunity to play lots of new games and new systems and see what I’m most excited about at the end of that.
Try something close, like one of the other d20 variants. Last time I had a funk, I played a d20 future Elysium nebula game (www.elysiumnebula.com) all the fluff was free too!
WoD is a good game, but it is NOT D&D in the traditional sense at all.
4E isn’ the devil either. It is simply a different game. You’re “friend” needs to take a step back and breathe! I highly recommend the “try it” angle – it made a believer out of me. Despite it’s flaws it IS a fun game, though it probably isn’t for everyone.
Just don’t give up! We need you!
Donny_the_DMs last blog post..A dark covenant…founded in earnest. It’s only goal: To roll the dice!
@ Greywulf – I have no doubt that 4E will eventually have plenty of prestige paths, epic destinies and extra player stuff to be appealing. After all, 3E didn’t start out quite so crunchy. It’s the natural development of things.
And, no. We don’t need no steenking splatbooks. Hear hear!
Change can be good, for a season. I also have no doubt that we’ll wind up back with D&D, although it may take quite a while!
@ Will – Thanks for your comment! I hope you enjoy Gen Con UK. Maybe you’ll find something you like, or rediscover some enthusiasm about 4E.
@ Donny – I’ve thought about that, as well. I’ve played nWoD before, so I’m plenty familiar with the differences. In fact, I’m counting on them
Like I said, D&D will still be on my radar. I’ll be just down the street, so to speak.
And, for the record, I’m not going anywhere, folks. In fact, I feel newly invigorated, and already have 2 weeks of posts scheduled and in the hopper!
Roleplaying games are very rarely better than other rpgs. They just are better with certain styles of play, for certain groups.
When searching for “the perfect game”, it is useful first to be able to tell others how one plays, or would like to play, and then ask for suitable games (or design one, better yet).
Well, I don’t believe that, but it kinda depends on what roleplaying means in that particular sentence.