|
|
Post by hengest on Jan 24, 2018 23:07:36 GMT -5
I find the social changes a real downer. Seems like no one gets together anymore, people don't know what to say.
I remember when it really felt like you were with your friends when you were with them. For better or for worse...
I'm lucky to have a few friends like that, but I rarely see them now and none of them is into gaming.
With the kid and my wife not being into this stuff, it's just a memory now. Not that that's the worst thing. But sometimes a read a campaign report and I miss that feeling. A lot.
|
|
|
|
Post by mao on Jan 25, 2018 11:48:18 GMT -5
I find the social changes a real downer. Seems like no one gets together anymore, people don't know what to say. I remember when it really felt like you were with your friends when you were with them. For better or for worse... I'm lucky to have a few friends like that, but I rarely see them now and none of them is into gaming. With the kid and my wife not being into this stuff, it's just a memory now. Not that that's the worst thing. But sometimes a read a campaign report and I miss that feeling. A lot. I am very fortunate to have 4 players who have been with me for decads, they make up for all their shortcomings with loyalty. |
|
|
|
Post by Robert the Black on Feb 8, 2018 15:18:58 GMT -5
hengest, I know what you mean. People sit touching and sit there texting each other instead of talking. It is really hard to find people who will commit to anything these days. When I was younger you could always get a group to go do things, but now it is like pulling teeth. People have gotten unsocial. I think it is part of the reason that things can get so contentious on the internet and on forums is because people have forgotten or never learned the skills that we learned face to face with our friends growing up.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 8, 2018 18:00:22 GMT -5
Robert the Black, so true. In my last campaign we had players routinely get onto their smart phones when their turn was over. One of the guys bowed out without saying anything - a heads up would be nice & a hint why (I found out he hated 5e - which I'll no longer run again) but leaving everyone up in the air. The same player has been anything but helpful in our current planned campaign; he agreed to host but it is like pulling teeth to get him to help schedule the game. It is part of the reason I am looking for a new group with a Old School mindset, preferably local instead of across town. Life gets in the way but it is also a mentality thing; a lot of younger & newer gamers want instant gratification - be super heroes right from the start (5e) & have a ton of so-called options (feats, skills & powers - healing surges) & want to control everything & shunt the referee/GM out of the equation. You see it in the design philosophies of games like Powered by the Apocalypse who take out mechanisms of chance (rolls) from the referee's tool box & turn narrative focus nearly solely drive by the players. Sure the referee still has a role & to some referees a enjoyable one. To me I prefer being more active & crafting adventures or setting for my players to adventure in. If I want to do verbal improv - I'd join a drama club or LARP. I like to referee - sure I enjoy being a player from time to time but I prefer to be a referee, one who composes worlds & rolls dice. It is what I enjoy, I don't knock other styles of play. I just prefer Old School role playing.
|
|
|
|
Post by Irish Warrior on Feb 8, 2018 18:09:24 GMT -5
Robert the Black , so true. In my last campaign we had players routinely get onto their smart phones when their turn was over. One of the guys bowed out without saying anything - a heads up would be nice & a hint why (I found out he hated 5e - which I'll no longer run again) but leaving everyone up in the air. The same player has been anything but helpful in our current planned campaign; he agreed to host but it is like pulling teeth to get him to help schedule the game. It is part of the reason I am looking for a new group with a Old School mindset, preferably local instead of across town. Life gets in the way but it is also a mentality thing; a lot of younger & newer gamers want instant gratification - be super heroes right from the start (5e) & have a ton of so-called options (feats, skills & powers - healing surges) & want to control everything & shunt the referee/GM out of the equation. You see it in the design philosophies of games like Powered by the Apocalypse who take out mechanisms of chance (rolls) from the referee's tool box & turn narrative focus nearly solely drive by the players. Sure the referee still has a role & to some referees a enjoyable one. To me I prefer being more active & crafting adventures or setting for my players to adventure in. If I want to do verbal improv - I'd join a drama club or LARP. I like to referee - sure I enjoy being a player from time to time but I prefer to be a referee, one who composes worlds & rolls dice. It is what I enjoy, I don't knock other styles of play. I just prefer Old School role playing. That says it for me, I love to referee and for me it is more fun than playing. |
|
|
|
Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 8, 2018 18:15:51 GMT -5
Irish Warrior, I agree - I love creating characters & worlds; so Refereeing is great for me. I am not stuck with just one character - the only issues is if you have reoccurring NPCs, keeping their personalities straight & consistent.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bandersnatch on Feb 8, 2018 18:18:43 GMT -5
I require everyone to put their cell phones in the basket during the game, the young ones complain about it, but so far they keep coming back.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bandersnatch on Feb 8, 2018 18:20:19 GMT -5
Irish Warrior , I agree - I love creating characters & worlds; so Refereeing is great for me. I am not stuck with just one character - the only issues is if you have reoccurring NPCs, keeping their personalities straight & consistent. "Cough" Notes, the secret is brief notes"  |
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Feb 8, 2018 18:26:45 GMT -5
hengest, I know what you mean. People sit touching and sit there texting each other instead of talking. It is really hard to find people who will commit to anything these days. When I was younger you could always get a group to go do things, but now it is like pulling teeth. People have gotten unsocial. I think it is part of the reason that things can get so contentious on the internet and on forums is because people have forgotten or never learned the skills that we learned face to face with our friends growing up. The phones are a useful piech of tech when they're not in the way. If someone pulls out a phone on a break to let their partner know they'll be gaming late, big deal. Not that I think that's what you meant. I only played with one group like that for one session and I got the feeling it was a combination of phone-staring culture and the effect of computer RPGs. Declare your actions and watch the numbers happens. Then wait. Depressing. I'm in a major metropolitan area and I bet there are little clusters of people here playing games that I would really like. It doesn't have to be LBBs, which I've never actually played with. Just any game where you don't start out as superheroes and you can do (try) anything and the ref's the ref. Okay, right now I have a young kid and stuff so I'm not going to be Mr. Available anyway. But a couple years ago I looked and looked and I found nothing I was interested in. I suspect that changes in education are a factor, too. Students are conditioned to be so much more passive. Even when I was in high school (which I hated, so I don't imagine it was some golden age), classes were somewhat moee freewheeling. Now it's all these railroad plots - but the students don't develop technical skills, either. Very odd - don't know a thing about the principal parts of an English verb, but are super-sensitive to detecting what the teacher wants to hear. And I say this not to blame teachers (in whose number I can at times be found). But it all seems part of the same motion in our (anglo-US for me) culture. Away from everything that made people able to play these awesome games. |
|
|
|
Post by Bartholmew Quarrels on Feb 8, 2018 19:52:01 GMT -5
I think are onto something, when I was a kid we were very active, outdoors a lot, played a lot of sports, no TV or any other couch potato thing was around then. Well TV was after a while but we didn't have one until I was in my 40's.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 8, 2018 20:28:16 GMT -5
I require everyone to put their cell phones in the basket during the game, the young ones complain about it, but so far they keep coming back. I am thinking of instituting that rule in my future campaigns - no phones for you while we game. |
|
|
|
Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 8, 2018 20:33:53 GMT -5
Irish Warrior , I agree - I love creating characters & worlds; so Refereeing is great for me. I am not stuck with just one character - the only issues is if you have reoccurring NPCs, keeping their personalities straight & consistent. "Cough" Notes, the secret is brief notes" Yeah, but when the npcs are created on a whim during a segment of role-play it is harder if combat or other things occur before I can jot down notes. Some of those on the whim characters make sense to bring back but I occasionally forget to do brief write ups in the chaos of the game or as we are packing up. But it is something I will be working on harder. |
|
|
|
Post by Old Timer on Feb 8, 2018 22:45:00 GMT -5
I require everyone to put their cell phones in the basket during the game, the young ones complain about it, but so far they keep coming back. I am thinking of instituting that rule in my future campaigns - no phones for you while we game. Sounds like a good rule to me. |
|
|
|
Post by Mighty Darci on Feb 9, 2018 10:15:12 GMT -5
Great rule for all family meals too!
|
|
|
|
Post by ripx187 on Feb 9, 2018 20:51:34 GMT -5
Cell phones are nefarious devices, nobody is paying attention anymore. You look at the Grand Canyon, that place is now killing more tourist than ever before because they are so damned busy taking selfies than minding their surroundings. They are reprogramming the way that we think and interact with others. Who remembers small talk? Talking to your kid's friends when they call the house until the child comes down to the phone. That is a dying art. Talking to strangers out in public, nothing important, just chit-chat. It isn't just cell phones either, but we have discovered a way to automate our lives to the point where it is really bad for us. In my hometown, we had this German lady who didn't speak a lick of English. People came over and mowed her lawn, all of her bills were automatically deducted from her bank account, the woman never left her house! Eventually, the money ran out and the guy who came to shut off her gas found her. The coroner said that she had been dead for at least two years and not one person had bothered to check up on her. Not one! It makes me sad to see that somebody allowed themselves to be so unimportant that nobody in the entire world realized that they were gone. It disturbed enough people that we buried her. She isn't the only person that this has happened to either. Most of the original Internet gurus are gone; not dead, they saw where their invention was taking us and backed out. They have nothing to do with it. A bunch of them stuck around long enough to give warnings, making claims that this thing will steal your life and your mind and they were right! I know that I am happier without the internet, but I've never managed to completely kick the habit. I made it a couple of years!!!! On game day, we do everything low-tech. I keep notebooks, draw maps on paper. No technology is allowed! I heard that playing Table Top games is now an underground counter-culture keeping the old ways alive. I kind of like it! Let's go with that  |
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Feb 9, 2018 22:38:33 GMT -5
I heard that playing Table Top games is now an underground counter-culture keeping the old ways alive. I kind of like it! Let's go with that Yeah, not only RPGs! But anything where you just play the game. And YOU have to play and understand the game to make it happen. I remember when I backed away from video games. I was a kid and no one made me. I could have gone on and didn't. Maybe (for once) I had a good hunch. Now I see kids and adults playing "games" on their phones and they're hardly games at all. Here's hoping I can teach my kid some card games and board games and a little D&D! |
|
|
|
Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 10, 2018 2:08:24 GMT -5
Cell phones are nefarious devices, nobody is paying attention anymore. You look at the Grand Canyon, that place is now killing more tourist than ever before because they are so damned busy taking selfies than minding their surroundings. They are reprogramming the way that we think and interact with others. Who remembers small talk? Talking to your kid's friends when they call the house until the child comes down to the phone. That is a dying art. Talking to strangers out in public, nothing important, just chit-chat. It isn't just cell phones either, but we have discovered a way to automate our lives to the point where it is really bad for us. In my hometown, we had this German lady who didn't speak a lick of English. People came over and mowed her lawn, all of her bills were automatically deducted from her bank account, the woman never left her house! Eventually, the money ran out and the guy who came to shut off her gas found her. The coroner said that she had been dead for at least two years and not one person had bothered to check up on her. Not one! It makes me sad to see that somebody allowed themselves to be so unimportant that nobody in the entire world realized that they were gone. It disturbed enough people that we buried her. She isn't the only person that this has happened to either. Most of the original Internet gurus are gone; not dead, they saw where their invention was taking us and backed out. They have nothing to do with it. A bunch of them stuck around long enough to give warnings, making claims that this thing will steal your life and your mind and they were right! I know that I am happier without the internet, but I've never managed to completely kick the habit. I made it a couple of years!!!! On game day, we do everything low-tech. I keep notebooks, draw maps on paper. No technology is allowed! I heard that playing Table Top games is now an underground counter-culture keeping the old ways alive. I kind of like it! Let's go with that ripx187, you are correct it isn't just the kids either - my sister when not nose deep in a book or at work, she is attached to her smart phone. Her kids are slaves to their tech devices, only one is more interested in sports & hanging out with friends but even she isn't far from her phone. I know that I've gotten hooked too, I am trying to reverse it myself. I am going to start keeping notebooks of creative content & RPG campaign notes, get back to drawing my maps & insist on low-tech gaming again. |
|
|
|
Post by Dartanian on Feb 10, 2018 23:22:57 GMT -5
Cell phones are nefarious devices, nobody is paying attention anymore. You look at the Grand Canyon, that place is now killing more tourist than ever before because they are so damned busy taking selfies than minding their surroundings. They are reprogramming the way that we think and interact with others. Who remembers small talk? Talking to your kid's friends when they call the house until the child comes down to the phone. That is a dying art. Talking to strangers out in public, nothing important, just chit-chat. It isn't just cell phones either, but we have discovered a way to automate our lives to the point where it is really bad for us. In my hometown, we had this German lady who didn't speak a lick of English. People came over and mowed her lawn, all of her bills were automatically deducted from her bank account, the woman never left her house! Eventually, the money ran out and the guy who came to shut off her gas found her. The coroner said that she had been dead for at least two years and not one person had bothered to check up on her. Not one! It makes me sad to see that somebody allowed themselves to be so unimportant that nobody in the entire world realized that they were gone. It disturbed enough people that we buried her. She isn't the only person that this has happened to either. Most of the original Internet gurus are gone; not dead, they saw where their invention was taking us and backed out. They have nothing to do with it. A bunch of them stuck around long enough to give warnings, making claims that this thing will steal your life and your mind and they were right! I know that I am happier without the internet, but I've never managed to completely kick the habit. I made it a couple of years!!!! On game day, we do everything low-tech. I keep notebooks, draw maps on paper. No technology is allowed! I heard that playing Table Top games is now an underground counter-culture keeping the old ways alive. I kind of like it! Let's go with that , you are correct it isn't just the kids either - my sister when not nose deep in a book or at work, she is attached to her smart phone. Her kids are slaves to their tech devices, only one is more interested in sports & hanging out with friends but even she isn't far from her phone. I know that I've gotten hooked too, I am trying to reverse it myself. I am going to start keeping notebooks of creative content & RPG campaign notes, get back to drawing my maps & insist on low-tech gaming again. I use the phone the minimum possible amount and most of the time I am on the computer once or twice a week. Some people have to be connected 24/7, I just don't get it. There are so many other things to do, that are a lot more fun. |
|
|
|
Post by The Master on Feb 11, 2018 21:28:01 GMT -5
I like the basket idea, I think I will implement that anytime we have visitors, the regulars are not a problem.
|
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 13, 2021 0:54:16 GMT -5
Cell phones are nefarious devices, nobody is paying attention anymore. You look at the Grand Canyon, that place is now killing more tourist than ever before because they are so damned busy taking selfies than minding their surroundings. They are reprogramming the way that we think and interact with others. Who remembers small talk? Talking to your kid's friends when they call the house until the child comes down to the phone. That is a dying art. Talking to strangers out in public, nothing important, just chit-chat. It isn't just cell phones either, but we have discovered a way to automate our lives to the point where it is really bad for us. In my hometown, we had this German lady who didn't speak a lick of English. People came over and mowed her lawn, all of her bills were automatically deducted from her bank account, the woman never left her house! Eventually, the money ran out and the guy who came to shut off her gas found her. The coroner said that she had been dead for at least two years and not one person had bothered to check up on her. Not one! It makes me sad to see that somebody allowed themselves to be so unimportant that nobody in the entire world realized that they were gone. It disturbed enough people that we buried her. She isn't the only person that this has happened to either. Most of the original Internet gurus are gone; not dead, they saw where their invention was taking us and backed out. They have nothing to do with it. A bunch of them stuck around long enough to give warnings, making claims that this thing will steal your life and your mind and they were right! I know that I am happier without the internet, but I've never managed to completely kick the habit. I made it a couple of years!!!! On game day, we do everything low-tech. I keep notebooks, draw maps on paper. No technology is allowed! I heard that playing Table Top games is now an underground counter-culture keeping the old ways alive. I kind of like it! Let's go with that Three years later and I almost look back on 2018 as a golden age of socializing. |
|
|
|
Post by simrion on Apr 13, 2021 18:28:18 GMT -5
Cell phones are nefarious devices, On game day, we do everything low-tech. I keep notebooks, draw maps on paper. No technology is allowed! Three years later and I almost look back on 2018 as a golden age of socializing. Hengest, Have an exalt for the thread necro! the Wife and I have been fortunate as we have a long time group we meet with at least once a week, oft times more. Even with the panedmic. I have to also agree with the pervasiveness of the mobile devices. I typically DM by default (no one else wants to) and I never have my mobile device handy. many of the players will stare at the devilish device constantly and forget it if there is any major sporting event on...sigh. At my table if you want send something privately you gotta write it on a post-it and fling it across the table, no texts! |
|
|
|
Post by hengest on Apr 13, 2021 23:26:40 GMT -5
Three years later and I almost look back on 2018 as a golden age of socializing. Hengest, Have an exalt for the thread necro! the Wife and I have been fortunate as we have a long time group we meet with at least once a week, oft times more. Even with the panedmic. I have to also agree with the pervasiveness of the mobile devices. I typically DM by default (no one else wants to) and I never have my mobile device handy. many of the players will stare at the devilish device constantly and forget it if there is any major sporting event on...sigh. At my table if you want send something privately you gotta write it on a post-it and fling it across the table, no texts! I have no game at the moment but what you describe sounds just perfect to me. In fact, maybe we should see some domain play take place by post if we really want to shake people up! I'm joking, but also not. |
|
|
|
Post by Admin Pete on Apr 23, 2021 18:28:44 GMT -5
Three years later and I almost look back on 2018 as a golden age of socializing. Wow, things are worse than I thought they are, if 2018 is viewed this way. I view the 1970s and before as the Golden Age of socializing. Right now we are in the clay age of socializing, as in almost none. |
|
|
|
Post by Admin Pete on Apr 23, 2021 18:31:01 GMT -5
Three years later and I almost look back on 2018 as a golden age of socializing. Hengest, Have an exalt for the thread necro! the Wife and I have been fortunate as we have a long time group we meet with at least once a week, oft times more. Even with the panedmic. I have to also agree with the pervasiveness of the mobile devices. I typically DM by default (no one else wants to) and I never have my mobile device handy. many of the players will stare at the devilish device constantly and forget it if there is any major sporting event on...sigh. At my table if you want send something privately you gotta write it on a post-it and fling it across the table, no texts! I wonder how many of us that DM all the time, do it because no one else wants to. Great that you have a still active group. Once a week, oft times more! You are living the dream! |
|
|
|
Post by Morton on Apr 24, 2021 23:51:30 GMT -5
I think that an EMP for the whole world would be a good thing. If we had to go back to candle and raising all of our own food, once things stabilized we might be better off in the long run. Ban all tech after that involves gunpowder, internal combustion engines or electricity.
|
|
