RPG Stuff You Buy Without Intending to Play

zircher · February 05, 2023, 01:24:11 PM

One of the reasons that I have jumped on the solo bandwagon is to play games in my library that I could not find a group for.

Cathode Ray · February 05, 2023, 02:02:14 PM

I have a lot of combat games that I intend to play, but don't have the time.

Mishihari · February 05, 2023, 03:59:12 PM

Looking at my gaming bookshelf, I only see a few there that I bought with no intent of playing. Blue Planet has an intriguing very well developed setting. Ars Magic, has a great magic system, if you have players that are willing to put a ton of time into it. Sadly, I don't. Shadowrun is just fun to read. I quite like the setting and the shadowtalk sidebars on the early book were very entertaining. There was a gear book with a selective sound canceller in it, for listening to a target's conversation amid construction noise and the like. One of the quotes there was from a biker gang looking guy: "I set these babies to filter my old lady's nagging while I watched the game. Two heartfelt thumbs up!" LOL

Bruwulf · February 05, 2023, 04:08:32 PM

I suppose I could include Ars Magica. But it's not that I don't intend to run it... I just know there's zero chance I'll ever find a group to.

~ · February 05, 2023, 06:09:11 PM

DungeonWorld; I'd mine the setting moves for out of frame world developments, and maybe a few other concepts like "failing forward" and the 2d6 outcome system for skill attempts or wild magic effects

Everthing else so far is way more plausible

Skullking · February 05, 2023, 07:59:53 PM

I pretty much buy any thing sword and sorcery, which has lead to a hard copy of Blade of the Iron Throne sat on my shelf and a hard copy Swords and Sorcery on its way, neither of which I'll get to play.

Grognard GM · February 05, 2023, 08:49:46 PM

Quote from: Bruwulf on February 05, 2023, 04:08:32 PM
I suppose I could include Ars Magica. But it's not that I don't intend to run it... I just know there's zero chance I'll ever find a group to.

I was fortunate enough to play a few times at the beginning of the 2000's, sadly nothing before or since. It's a game of real quality.

Jam The MF · February 05, 2023, 09:43:20 PM

Quote from: Grognard GM on February 05, 2023, 08:49:46 PM
Quote from: Bruwulf on February 05, 2023, 04:08:32 PM
I suppose I could include Ars Magica. But it's not that I don't intend to run it... I just know there's zero chance I'll ever find a group to.

I was fortunate enough to play a few times at the beginning of the 2000's, sadly nothing before or since. It's a game of real quality.

It's a shame, you don't have a neighbor running a 3 hour weekly game. I've heard it's an interesting system?

Jam The MF · February 05, 2023, 10:04:35 PM

My honest answer, is that I know full well I will never truly run most of what I've purchased; by the book. I try to take inspiration from stuff, and spin something off of it. I was falling asleep in my recliner last night, with 3 monster manuals in my lap. Now I'm trying to remember, what I was reading in all 3? It was Tritons, in Volo's Guide; the Steel Predators, in Mordenkainen's Tome; and something else, in the Monster Manual? Hmm.... I wonder what the hell i was thinking about doing with those?

Bruwulf · February 05, 2023, 10:15:32 PM

Ars Magica has always been a game that has been quasi-mythical to me. More a theoretical game than an actual game. I adore it, I just can't imagine ever finding enough similarly completely broken-in-the-brain-enough-to-find-Ars-Magica-fun people to play a game, and I've always had this secret inner suspicion that nobody actually plays it.

I know that's not true, but I can't help but feel that way sometimes.

Ratman_tf · February 06, 2023, 01:38:19 AM

Quote from: Persimmon on February 04, 2023, 08:12:18 PM
So I've generally tried to avoid purchasing RPG games or supplements I don't intend to play or run, but I still find myself intrigued at times by games, supplements, or systems I know I'll likely never run or play. Sometimes I'm interested in certain mechanics or setting info that I can crib for games I do play. I also just like reading games sometimes for fun. Right now I'm seriously considering forking over some serious cash for the behemoth Guide to Glorantha because the setting and details sound fascinating even though I'm not too keen on what I've seen of the Runequest system. But I think it might just be fun to read for inspiration.

I have the sense that I'm far from alone in this. So how much RPG stuff do you buy even though you don't intend to play or run it and why?

Not too much, but some.
I bought the POD version of Heavy Gear 1st edition to replace the one I lost over the years. While I don't think the system is very good, the setting and art are superb.
I read many of the RIFTS books simply to read them.
I bought Cyberpunk Red and the reprints of the WEG d6 Star Wars books in the hopes that I might get to run/play them someday, but the odds were slim. (Ran Star Wars once a few years ago, haven't gotten to run Red yet.)

I have a stack of gaming books near my bed that I read before going to sleep. I like to have hardcopies for that purpose.

Opaopajr · February 06, 2023, 06:22:03 AM

Someone said In Nomine?

Wanna talk about it?

Philotomy Jurament · February 06, 2023, 09:03:41 AM

Quote from: Persimmon on February 04, 2023, 08:12:18 PM
...how much RPG stuff do you buy even though you don't intend to play or run it and why?

I only buy RPG material that I intend to use.

~ · February 06, 2023, 09:43:04 AM

Quote from: Opaopajr on February 06, 2023, 06:22:03 AM
Someone said In Nomine? Wanna talk about it?

I'd like to know more!

Edit:
Just saw the summary, looks like an epic campaign.
Djinis would be an interesting option to add, a faction that plays both sides to win (whenever one of them feels invested enough) or whatever.

Grognard GM · February 06, 2023, 10:32:08 AM

Quote from: Opaopajr on February 06, 2023, 06:22:03 AM
Someone said In Nomine? Wanna talk about it?