RPG Gaming - Still Growing & Going Strong

After the first 35+ years of the P&P RPG Industry (Pen & Paper Role Playing Game Industry) it is good to see it's still going strong after 35+ years. Born out of an adaption to original table top war gaming, an added fantasy element emerged for the burgeoning 'role playing' game. A much more elaborate set of rules (Games Master running a game as referee, NPC characters and everything else within a 'realm') and a grand over arching theme (Dungeons, Dragons, Damsels in distress, knights to save the day, and an exploration of typical arch-types (Arthur the knight=fighter, Conan= barbarian type, Gandalf=mage). Most likely a game like Dungeons and Dragons, the granddaddy of most modern role play games would have received a major influence from books, novels, ancient historical mythology and to an extent, films.

Dungeons and Dragons has survived 35 years of media hype and not so good stories over the years, rival games , even rival industries (in the case of this game if you can't beat them, buy them). Yet it is now since 2008 in it's 4th iteration. So many other 'games' have been created as an off shoot of this original game, like Pokemon and Magic:The Gathering Collectible Card Games. Some similar, some so remotely different that they do not call themselves an role playing game anymore. The game needed a lick of new paint and of course the veterans cried out that their game was being changed and destroyed and none for the better (this is commonly a reoccurring theme with sequels for console and computer games, and frankly rather boring).

One of the best aspects I always found when I played was the choice for us to follow the rules as close or as little as we wished. Once we had as a whole, an understanding of the 'engine', the chassis and body kit would model onto what we chose it to be. A rule made a particular weapon too small for damage? We always found +5 versions. Charisma as a major stat we broke down into: Appearance, Personal Charm & Social Aptitude and these became far more primary for us for some of our 'role playing' aspects requiring charisma.

So what, don't like a rule, change it or don't use it. After 35 years, all of these books you bought are just 'guides' anyway. So when this type of game, the 'role playing game' is in decline, look out, new players will come on board to source out an adventure that no other media can provide better, than this great art form of entertainment.

Long Live The Game!