I started looking through an old games catalog yesterday, and I was looking at all the games that have kinda' passed along the way. What do you think went wrong? Here's what I'm talking about:

Man o' War - To me, one of the greatest miniature games, EVER. It had GW backing it, and yet, even Fanatic isn't supporting it.

Warzone - This was supposedly the doombell for 40k. Inexpensive miniatures in pewter . . . low start-up cost . . . easy rules. What, lasted about 9 months?

Heroquest / Tailsman - These games actually made it big, but they fizzled. ??

Is it that people (general market) just aren't ready for a detailed "board" game, or are the games at fault?

Well the reason man o' war failed is they wanted to work on their epic line (IMHO) and no one was buying...so they simply discontinued...they didnt have anywhere to advance the product line... Heroquest became advanced hero quest...and again... no where to go

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Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting.
Alan Dean Foster, "To the Vanishing Point"

Couple of things:

1. Computer games have improved immensly over the last couple of years. Ever play any of the Baldur's Gate series? Very faithful to the AD&D rules, more eye/ear candy than a board game could offer, no having to coordinate peopel for a game, no cheating, no rules lawyers, no infighting about this and that, and you can play at your own convenience.

Plus, the game costs only $40 (Many tabletop rules and boardgames are going to cost WAY more than that by the time you get completely set up... then if you get into miniatures...) and will guarantee a couple of hundred hours worth of gameplay. How much actual gameplay do you get out of a tabletop game in most instances?

Honestly, I'm really surprised that the tabletop gaming industry has been able to hang on with the improvement in computer games.

2. Again, the money issue... getting involved in a new system requires alot of money, especially for miniatures rules. Warzone might have been an inexpensive way for new people to get into the hobby, but what about all the people already playing Warhammer 40k?

3. I think some of the games themselves are at fault. Sorry to say, but some systems are either way to complicated for most people, or they really weren't well thought out in the first place.

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Artist formerly known as Reindeer

Actually, I'd think the computer industry would have destroyed table top gaming by now, too . . . but it's flourishing. I see more gamers now than ever . . . and they're ALL young. It's no longer the small group of older guys, anymore.

And I love the new Baldur's Gate stuff, and the gameplay IS good. On the other hand, it's not something I want to play over and over because it's the same game once again.

My problem with computer RPGs...I have YET to play one that keeps me interested.

I played Baulders gate 1 and 2, and vampire redeption, and they all basically end up being read to find out where you must go to kill someone next.

One of the few games I truly enjoyed was Shanra (based on the novel series.) Kept be VERY interested, simple game play.

The reason I think RPGs are doing well is because people want some more interaction. I know after being on the comp all day at work, I don't want to go home and sit on the computer all night and during the weekend. It is common for me to not touch one on the weekends...

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Manu Narayan

Yes, the reason Tabletop gaming is still around (and larp....) is that their is this little thing called human interaction...and im not talking about that hot chick you met on the internet. There is something to be said for getting together and creating a story being spotaneous, using your imagination...no its not just for children boys and girls...and just having some sort of face to face social interaction...ohhh and you get to roll pretty dice too (haha).

CJ
Dorkus Maximus

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Hmmm... interesting you should say that David. TTRPGs seem to have pretty well died in this area. I have seen alot of shops go out of business since the mid-90's. Even some of the big gaming shops that I used to go to in the San Francisco Bay Area are just a shadow of what they used to be.

On the other hand, groups like the SCA are flourishing quite well out here. Weird, huh?

As far as the computer, that was mainly my opinion, but I know I don't stand alone. Quite a few of the people I used to game with just don't have the time/means/ability to get seriously involved with TTRPGs anymore. Seems to happen when one becomes married with children. http://discussanything.com/Ubb/smile.gif




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Artist formerly known as Reindeer

Turbo, I THINK what's bringing in the kids here is the fact that many of the "traditional" games have, well, simplified their rules quite a bit. I mean, 40k is REALLY easy to play, and I hear that Fantasy is the same way. Magic still sells A LOT, and there are two other CCG's that are picking up steam (7th Sea and some dice based DnD type of game).

The local game shop here has LOTS of 40k games going on in the shop, but he says he sells way more Fantasy minis because REALLY young kids are playing it and can't stay out late there. You NEVER see them, but you always see new stock on the shelves. Go figure.

Part of the reason I started playing was for the social interaction and the competition. I get on painting spells, too, so that is another aspect.

New gaming conventions seem to be popping up everywhere around here. I don't know . . . maybe it's just a local (Southern U.S.) thing.

Have you talked with any of the gamers there to find out what's going on?

David... In that case, I don't know... don't have an easy answer.

The public in general is fickle.

All I know is that TTRPGs have simply died out as a whole in the west, or Atlanta for that matter, since I didn't see or hear of much going on there either.

I do know that when i was going to school, once the students discovered they could connect their computers into a LAN network, tabletop gaming stopped cold.

As far as what happened to my group, well, many of them dropped out because they got married and/or or moved due to work. The rest simply lost interest. Unlike your area, there really hasn't been a rush of younger players to jump in and take their place.

As far as conventions go, the big one in N. California used to be Pacificon (used to be Pacific Origins). I haven't heard word about it in several years.

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Artist formerly known as Reindeer

Maybe it IS dying out . . . I don't know. Computers ARE big, but I think some people still like getting together somewhere to hash out a game. Regardless of WHAT you play online, though, there ARE limitations. In "real" games (did I actually SAY that?), you're free to do whatever.

Nashville seems to be rolling along pretty well. Jackson is, too. I don't know about anywhere else, but the people at Games Workshop seem to be cranking out the new products weekly. I'd be curious to see where that market is doing best . . .