"New Edition" gaming culture, what do you think of it? Options Track this topic Email this topic Print this topic Download this topic Subscribe to this forum Display Modes Outline Switch to: Standard Switch to: Linear+

[sunnyside]

When I first got into RPGs the general feeling (and that espoused by some of the game store people selling them) was that here was a thing where you could buy it and you'd be using it indefinitly. Unlike, say, a video game where you play it and then it's time to buy the next in the series.

D&D had a second edition out and maybe some others. But usually that was viewed as upgrading from the neonatal garage production quality of the origional rules (i.e. stuff that looked like the white box).

However now in everything from RPGs to Wargames new editions is just part of the business model. While you could of course play old rules indefinitly in maybe an average between the various systems of five years there will be a new edition and your pile of books is going to need replacing.

I'm not sure what to think of that. On one hand in theory the new editions should be "better". And also new editions coming out seems to charge the game community. I believe there was a role playing surge that came along with D&D 3rd edition at least and their promotion blitz. But on the other it kinda sucks having a pile of books nearly invalidated.

I know it's made me rather more finiky since I look at books as temporary investments. I've also found myself evaluating things based on how old the current edition is. Especially crunch type books. I'll almost always get a crunch book released in the first year or two of a new edition, but I become more reluctant as it gets closer to when I now expect a new edition to drop and invalidate them.

[shadowfire]

I think another thing that we are missing on this point is has to do with the American gaming culture or even just American culture in general. We like to find fault and complain about everything if its not personal perfect for each and everyone of us- everyday, every moment, and through every real life revealing emotion. We seek out the easy path but want the same fulfillments that the hard path would offer; we want the simplistic ease of the rules with the realistic feel to match the world as we and TV know it. i think that is part of the reason that Euro-rpgs don't get new editions as often as American run RPGs.
Plus, as a culture, we gamers (at all of us a course) have a problem of letting go of... well, i don't know what to call it. But many people in this country, for instance, play D&D still- no matter what edition- because it was the first (this is often a unconscious desirer). Where as in places like Germany they say, "hey this sucks", and play the Dark eye instead. I have no idea off hand what the japanese play instead or i would put that up as an example as well.