Re: Changing demographic?

From: madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)

Date: Fri, 15 Nov 2002 01:39:39 +0000

>>My first point is that the really 'big' games (in terms of player
numbers) are now exclusively comp-mod, whereas at one time they were
hand-mod. I'm thinking of Beyond the Stellar Empire, Saturnalia and
Tribes of Crane, etc as opposed to DungeonWorld, SuperNova III etc.<<

There are still a fair few sizeable mixed-moderation games (including two
DungeonWorld modules, Frontier and Land of the Dead.)  BSE is still running
mixed-mod in the States too.

>>Obviously this was before my time, but I've heard the opinion
expressed that these games made it easier to roleplay and attracted
many players who were quite roleplaying-oriented.<<

Most mixed-mod games were populated by power gamers, not roleplayers. Hand Mod
were obviously roleplayers, but there are still many hand-mod PBMs out there,
including hundreds of free ones on the web.

>> So most players in open-ended games are playing comp-mods.<<

This was true since the day Computer Mod appeared.  its not new.  Computer Mods
were able to handle more players, more easily, for better profit and so had
more players.  I dont believe theres been any change in the demographic at all.

>> Therefore I would advance the idea that many
players who favour roleplaying have left the hobby.<<

Dont agree.  The vast majority of our players are what I would term as
"roleplay" over "power" or "war" play.

>> Perhaps this is,
in part, because there are so many other ways to roleplay, and that
these players were only interested in PBM because of this.<<

Nope.  Dont think you have a valid point here at all.

>>On a related note, it seems that big hand-mods are no longer viable.
Were they ever so?<<

Some were viable, but there werent AS viable as computer mods.  They could be
run at a profit, but the hourly rate and gains werent as high.  Night of the
Things is pretty well known as being a game that promoted a way for hand-mods
to make money, and has been much copied since.

Steve T.

References

Re: Changing demographic?
keenuward@hotmail.com (Rob Alexander)
Wed, 13 Nov 2002 11:10:40 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Changing demographic?
keenuward@hotmail.com (Rob Alexander)
Wed, 13 Nov 2002 11:10:40 +0000