Bridging Troubled Waters

It is the time of year, as the days grow shorter (in terms of daylight hours) and the holiday season approaches with all its associated buying and gift-giving - it's a time of looking backward and a time of looking forward and above all, a time of hope and promise - that my thoughts once again turn to the future of our hobby and my participation in said hobby. 

To say that 2023 has been "uneventful" would seem to completely ignore the reality of our past year, but rather than rehash the past year's "drama", and in so doing risk adding to exactly the sort of negative divisiveness I would like to avoid, I will instead look forward - with the hope of joy to come - and write about the future.

We currently enjoy a wealth of tabletop role-playing game choices availably today. There are (I believe) more good games than anyone can ever find the time to play, or the funds to purchase. We have excellent games that are free for the download, and excellent games that are beautifully printed, bound, boxed and widely available at what I consider to be very reasonable prices. Much of what was once in print, is available again, at least on the secondary market if not in digital or print-on-demand. Creativity in game design has never been more evident, and there are titles available that address nearly any play-style, setting preference, or game design philosophy imaginable. Dungeon crawlers, story telling games, combat simulators, romance themes, licensed products, and original way-out-there imaginings are all just an electronic transfer away. 

And yet many of us find it difficult to find a group that is keen to play the game we desperately want to play. To be sure, online play has made this task easier, but for those who are fortunate enough to have a group of friends with whom to game, deciding on what system to play can present a challenge. Do we play the "giant in the room" or an independent somewhat niche game system? Do we go "old school" or avoid that label entirely?

Contentiousness and the Pursuit of Fun in our hobby seems antithetical - at least to this peace-loving old gamer. 

I will end this reflection with a favorite quote:

"My role in society, or any artist's or poet's role, is to try and express what we all feel. Not to tell people how to feel. Not as a preacher, not as a leader, but as a reflection of us all." - John Lennon

(Images are of three new TTRPGs that all interest me, Dragonbane, Swords & Wizardry revised, and Pathfinder remastered.)