Hey there! I've been out of the gaming loop for around a decade due to kids and some health issues. My oldest has gotten to the age of interest in roleplaying now, and I decided to pick back up where I left off with my publishing.

After finishing one project and getting it out there I started noticing that gaming seems to have changed a bit. It looks like a lot of modern gamers aren't that into the traditional styles anymore and are looking for more games that put more control of the narrative into the hands of the players. That is an awesome thing, but now I feel the need to reconstruct some of my ideas to follow along. Or do i?

Should I worry about trying to keep up with the Jones' or just make the games I would enjoy playing? Or should I just go back to sleep?

What's the last RPG you played?

Always make the game you want to play. I picked up all sorts of games but the ones that matter are from people who are passionate about what they're doing. Ignore bullshit arguments about what type of game is right or wrong.

Just make what you enjoy playing, anything else is a mistake.

In any case, yes there are lots of new "styles" of RPG out there but the "oldies" are still very much alive and well. If you write something enticing and filled with passion and creativity, there will be an audience out there for it.

Quote from: Jamfke;1117072It looks like a lot of modern gamers aren't that into the traditional styles anymore and are looking for more games that put more control of the narrative into the hands of the players.

As with most topics, the loudest "modern gamers" aren't necessarily the best representatives of what people want!

Quote from: Ratman_tf;1117074What's the last RPG you played?

I picked up the core of D&D 5E because my boy wanted to play, and I wanted to check it out. We haven't used it a lot yet. Been using him and his buddies as guinnea pigs using my own stuff.

Quote from: Jamfke;1117072Should I worry about trying to keep up with the Jones' or just make the games I would enjoy playing? Or should I just go back to sleep?

I guess it depends on how big you want your audience to be.  The biggest segment at the moment would be to focus on people playing 5e DnD.

Quote from: Jamfke;1117072Should I worry about trying to keep up with the Jones' or just make the games I would enjoy playing? Or should I just go back to sleep?

1) Make games you enjoy playing.
2) Play games you enjoy playing, whether new or old, popular or obscure.
3) Ignore all the online wankery about how you should play or what you should enjoy.

Quote from: Spinachcat;11171201) Make games you enjoy playing.
2) Play games you enjoy playing, whether new or old, popular or obscure.
3) Ignore all the online wankery about how you should play or what you should enjoy.

4) Ignore all the online wankery, period.

Go play.

Quote from: Jamfke;1117093I picked up the core of D&D 5E because my boy wanted to play, and I wanted to check it out. We haven't used it a lot yet. Been using him and his buddies as guinnea pigs using my own stuff.

Guinea pigging is great. If you're running something you love it'll make the game better for the players, too.

Quote from: RandyB;11171434) Ignore all the online wankery, period.

Go play.

Hell yeah!!!

Around a decade?  So, since around 2009?

That was just past the end of D&D 3.5, and just after the launch of D&D 4th Edition.  Pathfinder was launching its Playtest then, as well.

Quote from: Jamfke;1117072Hey there! I've been out of the gaming loop for around a decade due to kids and some health issues. My oldest has gotten to the age of interest in roleplaying now, and I decided to pick back up where I left off with my publishing.

After finishing one project and getting it out there I started noticing that gaming seems to have changed a bit. It looks like a lot of modern gamers aren't that into the traditional styles anymore and are looking for more games that put more control of the narrative into the hands of the players. That is an awesome thing, but now I feel the need to reconstruct some of my ideas to follow along. Or do i?

Should I worry about trying to keep up with the Jones' or just make the games I would enjoy playing? Or should I just go back to sleep?

You should check out the OSR.

Narrative control and story games are a very vocal minority. One of the leading companies in this movement, Evil Hat, couldn't sustain paying one of it's founders $400 a month. D&D 5 is a good game, IMO, but the OSR is pretty darn cool. OSR stuff is for earlier editions of D&D. Play what you want and don't worry about being hip.

There's a broad spectrum of players out there. Some of them want more narrative control of their games. Some of them want a return to old-school gaming, which is why the OSR (old school revival) is a thing. But I'll echo what others have said: Make the games you want to play.