Origins and Trajectory of RPG
Folks should definitely take a look at this article by Ron Edwards on the emergence of the hobby and D&D's relationship to it. I am not always a fan of his work but this is a smart piece with meaningful implications for our hobby if we take it seriously.
One: RPG's emerged from a complex network that pre-existed D&D. D&D's success depended on that pre-existent network and would not have been successful without it. Like a fire that burns through the root system of a forest to erupt elsewhere, D&D spread through that pre-existent network. An obvious reason for this is simply the excitement people had to see their (private) hobby find a commercial expression and the hope that this expression would give them a common language with which they could converse with others.
Two: There are always dangers with a common language. It's easier to invest it with authority than the minor languages and, once so invested, it can be used as a weapon to silence other voices.
Three: There is also an opportunity with a common language. D&D exploited real networks and gave them the tools to interact with each other even further. I wonder if the modern diversity of RPG's would have been possible had not some major force (like TSR, if not actually TSR) hadn't woven together some of those networks.
Four (a reorientation modeled on 1-3): Do not strive to determine the one path towards RPG bliss. Beyond realizing that people have different sorts of fun, we can realize that it's good to cultivate others in their pursuit of 'different' fun. Keep in touch with the diversity and not just the component that appeals to you--even if you don't accept the principles underlying the 'other' brands of fun, that fun may produce material that can be used in having 'your' brand of fun.
One: RPG's emerged from a complex network that pre-existed D&D. D&D's success depended on that pre-existent network and would not have been successful without it. Like a fire that burns through the root system of a forest to erupt elsewhere, D&D spread through that pre-existent network. An obvious reason for this is simply the excitement people had to see their (private) hobby find a commercial expression and the hope that this expression would give them a common language with which they could converse with others.
Two: There are always dangers with a common language. It's easier to invest it with authority than the minor languages and, once so invested, it can be used as a weapon to silence other voices.
Three: There is also an opportunity with a common language. D&D exploited real networks and gave them the tools to interact with each other even further. I wonder if the modern diversity of RPG's would have been possible had not some major force (like TSR, if not actually TSR) hadn't woven together some of those networks.
Four (a reorientation modeled on 1-3): Do not strive to determine the one path towards RPG bliss. Beyond realizing that people have different sorts of fun, we can realize that it's good to cultivate others in their pursuit of 'different' fun. Keep in touch with the diversity and not just the component that appeals to you--even if you don't accept the principles underlying the 'other' brands of fun, that fun may produce material that can be used in having 'your' brand of fun.
posted by Ian | 9:21 AM
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