Comments on The Dice of Life: Editorial: Tough Times and Tougher Budgets

I have found as I have gotten older that I dont ha...

2009-08-22T18:25:23.115-04:00

I have found as I have gotten older that I dont have the time to play every game under the sun, nor the disposable income to buy every supplement for the games I am playing.

I have become more conservative on what games I am going to buy, asking myself if I have the time to run it. For the games that I do choose, I am very careful about what supplements I want/need.

As it turns out, buying less games and less supplements, turns out not to reduce any enjoyment of playing. I can get just as much out of a game with the core rules and a single supplement now, than when I was younger and bought every book under the sun.

Thanks for commenting, Everyone. brown-ant/Foo D...

2009-08-20T07:52:37.496-04:00

Thanks for commenting, Everyone.

brown-ant/Foo Dog, I'm acctually trying to sell my own D&D v3.5 library now. Know anyone who might be interested? I have about 40 D&D v3.5 non-setting books to get rid of. They're all in great condition with the exception of 2-3 having slightly worn covers. I'm asking for half the cover price, but I'll take what I can get for them. :)

You're right, Anonymous. There are dozens of ways to get free material for gaming. Even Savage Worlds has options with the free, fan-made conversions at the Savage Heroes site. Not to mention that I already have tons of material that I can already game with as do most gamers.

When purse strings have to be tightened, we realize as adults that when it comes down to it we don't need to buy that shiny, new product and can make do with what we have available.

In essence, you highlighted one of the points of this blog. As our other responsibilities increase and as our income becomes less disposable, we find creative ways to make it work.

Still, it's a little frustrating to feel conflicted about things like going to that convention or buying that $20 RPG supplement. As cool as Day After Ragnarok and Hellfrost are, my existing library of material will do just fine for now.

Hi, A very interesting blog posting. But I think...

2009-08-20T01:17:40.858-04:00

Hi,

A very interesting blog posting.

But I think you are not aware of the many really open games that are out there now.

So, you do not need to sink any more money into games. Only your time and your creativity.

You can begin with the so called Simulacrum : OSRIC, Labyrinth Lord and Basic Fantasy RPG.
(Just google for these names and you will be get directly to the home pages of these games.)

Then you can use the OpenD6 - you know the D6 Star Wars system from back of the 90s?- books which have five or six books out now for the free download and use.

You can dive into big star system creation - not only world building, which means mostly one planet - with the Traveller open rules from Mongoose.

With all these open and free to use books and rules, you ask yourself maybe how you can bring something back - until now you payed someone and did your thing in your home for yourself and your group - :
Go into the communities and help with rule interpretation and also post your ideas and settings and adventures (and now important piece !->) in a manner so that others can also freely use and build upon your ideas.
(Look for Open Source and how it does work.)

In the end do not fear that you cannot participate without money: Open Source/Games brings your hobby back to you.

(A homeless reader without employment writing here.)

The economy is wreaking havoc on my gaming spendin...

2009-08-19T18:18:53.308-04:00

The economy is wreaking havoc on my gaming spending. My disposable income is evaporating as I have more financial responsibilities and the economy is starting to bite.

Unlike the good ole days of bachelorhood and early marriage, I can't afford to buy any game, no matter how good or bad, that strikes my fancy. Nowadays, it has to be narrowed down to games that I actively play, which are: Savage Worlds and D&D 4E. And it typically means that I have to choose a book from either game system. Ok. Ok. I will make the occassional buy for Dark Heresy (and in the future) Rogue Trader. I don't play Dark Heresy but I have a soft spot for it and I really plan to play soon. I promise!

And as much as I would like to support the local game stores, the discounts from online retailers such as Amazon are too good to ignore. I will make the occassional purchase at the LGS though.

In order to drum up some funds for my game pool, I'm starting to sell or trade books from my gaming library.

- Foo Dog from the RPTools forums

The economy is definitely cutting into my gaming. ...

2009-08-19T17:26:49.760-04:00

The economy is definitely cutting into my gaming. I would love to drop some cash on the New pathfinder rules and the Eberron books from WotC, along with the MM2 and PHB 2.

Oh well, at least I am still working and at least the economy seems to be on the upswing.

It'll get better.