Thanks - all interesting stuff. I imagine your games are a hoot - I envy your Players.
> Frankly, one of the reasons I play HQ is because I can do it with
no prep at all. . . So the idea that it's not a "pick-up-and-run"
game seems completely incorrect to me.
I would guess that your GMing style/ability permits this. Mine doesn't (or does but only to a lesser degree). I'd also guess that a lot of HQ GMs have this ability, to a fair degree.
My interest in these discussions is based on the fact that I'd love more people to play RPGs, in some form or another - basically because I enjoy them so why not spread the word. I don't really know the demographic any more, but I'm 34, started and interest at 10 (Fighting Fantasy), that grew (D&D at 11, AD&D at 12) until by about 17-18 I started to be interested a bit more in story, than system. By College (21-22?) I was happy with more story-based gaming, but I've remained happy with quite clunky system-based games (e.g. Rolemaster) where dice and system constraint and complex structure feels like sometimes it gets in the way of the story.
I perceive, based on nothing other than my opinion and watching my local UK games stores shut, that RPGs have been in decline in terms of number of players, for a decade or more. I also perceive that older players in particular have moved towards story-based games. I have this notion that to turn decline into growth, we need more youngsters, and that they will initially like simple systems, structures, plug-and-play scenarios, and will in due course learn how to tell stories through RPGs.
Watching the HQ lists, I have in my mind's eye a group of 30+ year old story telling fans, who largely want background, history, ambience etc. Which brings me back to my original thought that I think HQers want campaign packs and background, rather than scenarios. And. . .this is one reason there's not racks of scenarios on the shelves. I wonder if designers would be able to attract fresh blood if there were more structured scenarios available? I wonder if established HQers really want more background, preferably authorised if not actually authored by Greg. Anyway, thanks for indulging my ramble.
Nam
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