Car News

Thanks to Mike for assuring us (with documented evidence that CAR-PGa
likes) that D&D is the same old egotistical operation it always was.

Other RPG systems are "squabbling factions" and those who prefer them
to D&D "have lost faith". If the attempt to "unify players under one
brand" fails, then RPG dies and it's "on the gaming community's
shoulders."

D&D based its marketing strategy on the transpubescent boy. They have
documented that on Ryan Scott Dancey's survey of gamers a decade ago,
which would not survey anyone over 35 years old. The average age of
CAR-PGa members is 45.3 years old. The average age of respondents to
Bill Walton's "Tell us about your favorite character" is around 37,
and that is calculated from the time they answered; presumably most
are still playing and one can add up to a decade to get their age
now. The transpubescent boy today is only interested in games that
require electricity (battery or plug) and not some activity that
requires thinking rather than reacting and doesn't deliver instant
gratification, but a more measured and longer lasting one. Thus D&D's
natural audience - those originally enchanted by the new game concept
of a generation ago - are left out of D&D's return to a past which no
longer exists.

As for RPG dying, it is obvious that its share of the market has
shrunk relative to the electronic puzzles (there is only one or a few
"correct" answers contrasted to the infinity in tabletop or LARP)
sometimes claiming to be RPG. However as Sam Clemens remarked about
his own obit, its "death is greatly exaggerated." I will wait for
further results from Hawke Robinson's survey of game store awareness
of table-top RPG (which you all need to participate in collecting the
raw data) before writing any obit.

I am reminded of President Eisenhower's Farewell Address regarding
"the undue influence, whether sought or unsought, of the military/
industrial complex." Both those institutions, like D&D, require
instant and unquestioning obedience. At least we can ignore D&D's
orders and play whatever RPG we want to - even D&D.

Paul

On Jan 9, 10:57 am, "Mike \"Talien\" Tresca" <tal...@toast.net> wrote:
> Way back when Monte Cook rejoined the Wizards of the Coast development
> team and took over the Legends & Lore column, I sent an inquiry asking
> for an interview.  The response I got back was: "No Wizards staff will
> be conducting interviews until early 2012, but look to our Legends &
> Lore column for updates."  I correctly guessed that it was code for:
> "We're announcing 5th Edition D&D in that column in early 2012."
>
> http://www.examiner.com/rpg-in-national/5th-edition-dungeons-dragons-...

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