Gary from Fresno, NV writes: Are we having fun in the TTRPG space anymore?
That’s a great question, Gary. I think the answer depends entirely on the segment of TTRPG life you find yourself in. Regular players and collectors of TTRPG books/merch are probably just fine, status quo, no complaints. Game Mastering is normally a mixed bag, so probably okay. The TTRPG creator space on YouTube and social media is its usual cluttered hellscape self. I’d say the real surprise is the TTRPG celebrity/convention scene according to what we’re hearing.
I regularly file it under “Problems I’d Like to Have.” But according to at least one fairly well-known, beloved actual play entertainer; there is a good degree of clout chasing going on in the Actual Play and Convention Panel circuit. I can believe it. Back before the Internet became prevalent we only had conventions and the various magazines. Being “gamer famous” would have been if someone was a well-known writer/designer or fantasy artist.
I’ve said on many occasions I’d love to go speak on a panel. I’d love to get a full ride trip to a convention with all expenses paid. That’s been the dream for decades now. Right now I do not have the money to go to a major convention such as PAX Unplugged or Gen Con.
I hear that people are socially vying for invites for the sake of being invited, so not “for fun.” See, I’m kind of strange when it comes to conventions because I go for the whole spectacle. Yes, I go to meet various publishers, attend panels and workshops, and watch a stage show. I would love to do some “networking” by getting my resume’ out there to a couple of companies. But I also go to run lots of games. I love running games. Sometimes I even stop to play in someone else’s game.
I never truly get tired of gaming. I will stay up until they push me out the doors of a late-night coffee shop just talking about campaign building, characters, industry stuff, Game Mastering, or whatever. I have lots of opinions. I love coming up with locations, monsters, characters, magic items, etc. I have game design brain that way. I’ll talk about TTRPGs all day.
But this Actual Play business got out of hand long before today.
I think we all know who is to blame for making Actual Plays a big stinking deal, so I’m not going to call them out by name for once. It’s not the “games” themselves, because there’s actually very little of that in actual play action from what I’ve seen. It’s more of the idea that TTRPGs, our beloved hobby, has turned into the new Hollywood. Specifically TV if I had to compare it directly to anything.
Once upon a time we would turn on the television and eagerly await the next episode of whatever. Now the only major difference is people tune into their favorite streaming platform and watch an Actual Play for two-to-four hours. The performers on such Actual Play series are the new TV actors of our world.
I think the whole thing really went bonkers during the 2020-2021 season when there were tons of AP shows starting up and the preexisting ones got a huge influx of weekly viewers because we were all cooped up at home for the most part. I wasn’t really into AP viewing. I’m still not.
AP series are like walking by an ongoing game in a FLGS game room. I might ask if I can sit quietly and observe for a few minutes to see if I can pick up on the action, but I’m not going to ask to make a character and jump in or anything. Sometimes, odd though it may sound, I just like listening to people enjoying the hobby. I’m a little strange that way, I guess. But I never stick around long.
Somewhere along the way, because the “big” AP was being run by a nerdy voice actor for his voice actor friends, I think people got the impression that’s what we should all be doing. Because Wizards of the Coast had their hands in the whole thing, people got the idea that all TTRPGs are Dungeons & Dragons and we must all be aspiring actors/voice actors. And we’re not.
However, people started casting for games as if it were Hollywood. People started trying out for parts in upcoming D&D games at conventions and online. I still find the whole idea distressing that it got that far. Back in my day one of your friends might put up a note on the college community bulletin board or just ask if you wanted to jump into their Saturday night game. Some people were lucky enough to have a FLGS to run pick-up games in. The Internet just made it easier to find people until online play took off.
Now it seems lots of people in the hobby want to do big online production Actual Play series. Admittedly we’re talking about a much younger demographic. I’m not sure there is such a thing as a true OSR Actual Play. None that I’m aware of, anyway. But I think there might be a wee bit of a trend when it comes to this Actual Play casting. A lot of them are likely younger (probably 18-30-ish) and likely started with D&D 5E. I would also wager most of them have fewer than 10 years in the hobby.
We won’t get into my demographics or repeat that old line about how “guys like me… can’t leave fast enough for this hobby.” I love how the group that pushes for equity and inclusivity seems to have a blind spot for literally guys like me and then turn around and accuse me of never allowing certain people into my games back in the day.
Shit. Back then we would literally take anyone! Do you know how hard it was to find people?
From what I have observed, more and more people are going solo than ever before.
Truly I think that’s where the real fun of the TTRPG hobby is now. Just in the last year or so more and more solo roleplaying channels, videos and online discussions have popped up. My educated guess is that there is a growing number of people just burned out on all the shenanigans and divisiveness in the hobby sphere. I know that’s my motivation right now.
I’m frustrated with several things right now. The least of which is the damned AI debate. A lot of people hate AI period, much less in the TTRPG space. AI art in your gaming product? Mention that in some spaces and you’d best have your hypothetical track shoes on. There is almost no middle ground on the subject. You’re either 100% anti-AI or you’re very quiet about your AI usage except where disclosure is necessary.
So, yeah. Yet another reason to enjoy solo/journaling games. Nobody to yell at you. Nobody to tell you that you’re doing it wrong. No Old School or 5E kids bickering back and forth. No loud overly dramatic theatre kids jumping up on the table during the video. No video in most cases. (Although there are some on YouTube.) No idiot DungeonTubers trying to tell us what to think or buy, either.
Tons of resources and free content on the subject out there for solo games. Hours of judgement free analog gaming to be had. Plus it’s actually fun. So yes, I’m having fun away from social media and all the utter nonsense. I haven’t had this much fun since high school. I highly recommend solo gaming these days. It’s probably more stress-free fun than any Actual Play series will ever be.
So thank you Gary (totally fictional person) from Fresno, NV (totally fictional place.) I appreciate the comment. Say hi to the Blue Scorpion if you run into him for me. We go way back. (My solo Outgunned Supers character.)
Heck yeah we’re having fun here!
Update: Where was I last week?
You know how I mentioned the AI art debate earlier? I’ve had enough. I was so freakin depressed. No joke. I had the doctor’s office calling to make sure I was safe.
The article has been up, down, revised, back up, back down. Ben Franklin said, “You can’t please all of the people all of the time.”
There is no middle ground on AI as far as I can tell. It sucks for me because I’m very much in favor of ethical, responsible AI use. But I’ll be damned if saying so doesn’t get me chased off of at least three social media platforms again. I guess people in the TTRPG space just aren’t ready for a mature discussion about generative AI despite the fact it has been widely adopted in other businesses and industries with almost no backlash.
Oh, and as a friendly reminder—Chris Cocks, Hasbro CEO, is a major proponent of AI. Ya know? Hasbro, company that owns Wizards of the Coast. They’re the company that makes everyone’s favorite, world famous, overly promoted roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons. Feel free to hate AI and then hand them money.
But I’m the bad guy for pointing it out. And it’s really depressing. It’s depressing knowing there are people who I’d love to be friends with, but they absolutely hate me because of that one point of contention. It’s depressing knowing that just my demographic and my opinion on one subject can get me chased off of TTRPG social media. All that convention talk earlier? Well, we know how well that’s going to go for me. FML.
Anyway, with a little luck the new meds will be helping and maybe I’ll find a human therapist soon. I’ll be back to making positive game content in a week or two barring complications. I’ll try to behave in the meantime.
Normally I’d put my yearly positivity block here. Regardless of what you do, where are you, or what you believe: just have fun doing what you enjoy the most. Thanks for being here.
