RPGs No One Is Playing

Daztur · August 08, 2022, 12:48:26 AM

For a lot of Story Games I expect more than you expect are played in any given year since a lot are played in convention one-shots (have played some reaaaaaaaaally obscure games in convention one-shots) even if nobody plays them in their home campaign.

For the general category of games that aren't played at all I'd expect a very broad swathe of pre-OSR "I Can't Believe It's Not D&D" games.

Effete · August 08, 2022, 04:19:36 AM

Quote from: ForgottenF on August 06, 2022, 06:03:06 PM
Modiphius games in general seem to have a public profile out of proportion to the number of people playing them. I'm not saying no one plays their Conan or Fallout RPGs, but the books for the Dune RPG are in every game store in my state, and I've never heard anyone talk about actually playing it.

Pretty sure stores were banking on the hype of the new films to sell the Dune rpg. That tends to be the way of things. For example, my local B&N typically kept 1-2 copies of each Dune book on the shelf at any given time. That jumped to 3-4 copies around the time the new film dropped.

Jaeger · August 08, 2022, 12:44:21 PM

Quote from: ForgottenF on August 06, 2022, 06:03:06 PM
Black Void by Modiphius springs to mind. I remember a certain amount of buzz when it came out a few years ago, but I never hear anyone talk about it anymore, and support for the line dried up shortly after release.

Modiphius games in general seem to have a public profile out of proportion to the number of people playing them. I'm not saying no one plays their Conan or Fallout RPGs, but the books for the Dune RPG are in every game store in my state, and I've never heard anyone talk about actually playing it.

Because modiphius doesn't really do original IP games. (Yes, yes, I know they have some..)

They are essentially catering to the RPG collectors market. i.e. Acquire well known marquee IP then add: Art+Lore = sales.

It's the basis for their entire Conan line. Good luck finding anyone that actually plays the thing.

HappyDaze · August 08, 2022, 12:57:57 PM

Quote from: Jaeger on August 08, 2022, 12:44:21 PM
Quote from: ForgottenF on August 06, 2022, 06:03:06 PM
Black Void by Modiphius springs to mind. I remember a certain amount of buzz when it came out a few years ago, but I never hear anyone talk about it anymore, and support for the line dried up shortly after release.

Modiphius games in general seem to have a public profile out of proportion to the number of people playing them. I'm not saying no one plays their Conan or Fallout RPGs, but the books for the Dune RPG are in every game store in my state, and I've never heard anyone talk about actually playing it.

Because modiphius doesn't really do original IP games. (Yes, yes, I know they have some..)

They are essentially catering to the RPG collectors market. i.e. Acquire well known marquee IP then add: Art+Lore = sales.

It's the basis for their entire Conan line. Good luck finding anyone that actually plays the thing.

I offered to GM a Conan game for a player that really likes Conan Exiles, but he just wasn't interested. Apparently CE differs considerably from most of REH's baseline. I figure he just doesn't want a game where backviews of your character's asscrack and scrotum aren't the highpoint.

King Tyranno · August 08, 2022, 02:28:38 PM

Quote from: HappyDaze on August 08, 2022, 12:57:57 PM
Quote from: Jaeger on August 08, 2022, 12:44:21 PM
Quote from: ForgottenF on August 06, 2022, 06:03:06 PM
Black Void by Modiphius springs to mind. I remember a certain amount of buzz when it came out a few years ago, but I never hear anyone talk about it anymore, and support for the line dried up shortly after release.

Modiphius games in general seem to have a public profile out of proportion to the number of people playing them. I'm not saying no one plays their Conan or Fallout RPGs, but the books for the Dune RPG are in every game store in my state, and I've never heard anyone talk about actually playing it.

Because modiphius doesn't really do original IP games. (Yes, yes, I know they have some..)

They are essentially catering to the RPG collectors market. i.e. Acquire well known marquee IP then add: Art+Lore = sales.

It's the basis for their entire Conan line. Good luck finding anyone that actually plays the thing.
I offered to GM a Conan game for a player that really likes Conan Exiles, but he just wasn't interested. Apparently CE differs considerably from most of REH's baseline. I figure he just doesn't want a game where backviews of your character's asscrack and scrotum aren't the highpoint.

Ah, it's the same with Critical Role and DnD in my experience. People just want something like the thing they are familiar with and don't like it when you tell them their assumptions are wrong. Those people never wanted to actually engage with the tabletop hobby to begin with. And that's okay. It's not for everyone. But don't waste time trying to get these people interested when they just want more of the thing that wears the thing you like's skin.

Also The Secret World > Conan Exiles

HappyDaze · August 08, 2022, 03:56:30 PM

Quote from: King Tyranno on August 08, 2022, 02:28:38 PM
Quote from: HappyDaze on August 08, 2022, 12:57:57 PM
Quote from: Jaeger on August 08, 2022, 12:44:21 PM
Quote from: ForgottenF on August 06, 2022, 06:03:06 PM
Black Void by Modiphius springs to mind. I remember a certain amount of buzz when it came out a few years ago, but I never hear anyone talk about it anymore, and support for the line dried up shortly after release.

Modiphius games in general seem to have a public profile out of proportion to the number of people playing them. I'm not saying no one plays their Conan or Fallout RPGs, but the books for the Dune RPG are in every game store in my state, and I've never heard anyone talk about actually playing it.

Because modiphius doesn't really do original IP games. (Yes, yes, I know they have some..)

They are essentially catering to the RPG collectors market. i.e. Acquire well known marquee IP then add: Art+Lore = sales.

It's the basis for their entire Conan line. Good luck finding anyone that actually plays the thing.
I offered to GM a Conan game for a player that really likes Conan Exiles, but he just wasn't interested. Apparently CE differs considerably from most of REH's baseline. I figure he just doesn't want a game where backviews of your character's asscrack and scrotum aren't the highpoint.

Ah, it's the same with Critical Role and DnD in my experience. People just want something like the thing they are familiar with and don't like it when you tell them their assumptions are wrong. Those people never wanted to actually engage with the tabletop hobby to begin with. And that's okay. It's not for everyone. But don't waste time trying to get these people interested when they just want more of the thing that wears the thing you like's skin.

Also The Secret World > Conan Exiles

I should point out that the player that likes Conan Exiles is a roleplayer, and a good one. He just doesn't want to roleplay in the Hyborean Age of REH's Conan.

rytrasmi · August 08, 2022, 04:25:34 PM

I like Conan Exiles AND REH's writing. Why not both!

Hit me up if you're in the Toronto area and you wanna play Hyperborea 3E.

HappyDaze · August 08, 2022, 04:38:24 PM

Quote from: rytrasmi on August 08, 2022, 04:25:34 PM
I like Conan Exiles AND REH's writing. Why not both!

Hit me up if you're in the Toronto area and you wanna play Hyperborea 3E.

I live in central Florida. That would be a bit more of a journey than I'm up for for a typical game (and I have zero interest in online gaming at thr moment). OTOH, let me know if you're heading for the House of Mouse for a week of vacationing, and we might work out a session of high adventure!

hedgehobbit · August 08, 2022, 04:47:05 PM

Quote from: HappyDaze on August 08, 2022, 12:57:57 PMI offered to GM a Conan game for a player that really likes Conan Exiles, but he just wasn't interested. Apparently CE differs considerably from most of REH's baseline.

I understand the sentiment. I generally don't want to play an RPG in a licensed setting when I like or care about that setting. I' would rather play in a game that is different but shares the same feel. This is one area where a knock-off is superior to the real thing.

rytrasmi · August 08, 2022, 04:49:59 PM

Quote from: HappyDaze on August 08, 2022, 04:38:24 PM
Quote from: rytrasmi on August 08, 2022, 04:25:34 PM
I like Conan Exiles AND REH's writing. Why not both!

Hit me up if you're in the Toronto area and you wanna play Hyperborea 3E.
I live in central Florida. That would be a bit more of a journey than I'm up for for a typical game (and I have zero interest in online gaming at thr moment). OTOH, let me know if you're heading for the House of Mouse for a week of vacationing, and we might work out a session of high adventure!

Hehe....that day might come, my friend!

HappyDaze · August 08, 2022, 11:32:09 PM

Quote from: hedgehobbit on August 08, 2022, 04:47:05 PM
Quote from: HappyDaze on August 08, 2022, 12:57:57 PMI offered to GM a Conan game for a player that really likes Conan Exiles, but he just wasn't interested. Apparently CE differs considerably from most of REH's baseline.

I understand the sentiment. I generally don't want to play an RPG in a licensed setting when I like or care about that setting. I' would rather play in a game that is different but shares the same feel. This is one area where a knock-off is superior to the real thing.

I chose not to play in a Wheel of Time or Dune setting because I didn't find them all that interesting for RPing OTOH, I would rather play In a Star Wars game than In a Star Wars knock-off (I think; I'll let tou know after the Twilight Imperium setting for Gensys come out).

Eric Diaz · August 09, 2022, 01:11:54 PM

Le's see... I have print versions of Legends of Anglerre, World Tree, and Eoris Essence.

I doubt anyone is playing any of those - not sure I ever heard of anyone playing these TBH.

Persimmon · August 09, 2022, 06:09:08 PM

Quote from: Akrasia on December 12, 2009, 03:03:36 PM
Quote from: BedrockBrendan;348311I haven't seen anyone play Middle Earth Role Playing in a while...

I'm pretty sure that MERP is seeing some play. At the very least, people are still using the supplements (and, judging by their prices on ebay, there remains a very high demand for them). I continue to use material from ICE's Middle-Earth campaign books today, albeit primarily for non-ME games (and I haven't run MERP since 1999).

MERP's close cousin (nephew?), Rolemaster Express (essentially a 'stripped down' version of Rolemaster 2e/Classic, similar in many respects to a 'generic MERP') is being sold by ICE.

More immediately, the new game "Against the Darkmaster" is basically an updated MERP homage and judging from their Discord server, lots of folks are using it to revive MERP and/or mix the systems, including me.

HappyDaze · August 09, 2022, 10:42:05 PM

Quote from: Persimmon on August 09, 2022, 06:09:08 PM
Quote from: Akrasia on December 12, 2009, 03:03:36 PM
Quote from: BedrockBrendan;348311I haven't seen anyone play Middle Earth Role Playing in a while...

I'm pretty sure that MERP is seeing some play. At the very least, people are still using the supplements (and, judging by their prices on ebay, there remains a very high demand for them). I continue to use material from ICE's Middle-Earth campaign books today, albeit primarily for non-ME games (and I haven't run MERP since 1999).

MERP's close cousin (nephew?), Rolemaster Express (essentially a 'stripped down' version of Rolemaster 2e/Classic, similar in many respects to a 'generic MERP') is being sold by ICE.

More immediately, the new game "Against the Darkmaster" is basically an updated MERP homage and judging from their Discord server, lots of folks are using it to revive MERP and/or mix the systems, including me.

Hey, I've actually played vDM! Friend from out of town is a playtester and proofreader for a company that works with them, and he ran it when he visited. He's since moved to the Land of Gators and Craziness, so I'll probably be playing it again.

Thornhammer · August 09, 2022, 11:23:49 PM

Quote from: HappyDaze on August 08, 2022, 12:57:57 PM
I offered to GM a Conan game for a player that really likes Conan Exiles, but he just wasn't interested. Apparently CE differs considerably from most of REH's baseline. I figure he just doesn't want a game where backviews of your character's asscrack and scrotum aren't the highpoint.

Can you elaborate a bit on the differences?