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Just turned 65 last Friday. I am both a GM and a Player. Although I am far from the oldest on the boards. There was a thread asking who was the oldest. The Title was "Methuselah - Who is the oldest Gamer on the Boards".
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I knew a woman who was gaming up until just before she died, somewhere in her 90s, back on one of the Neverwinter Nights servers I played on. There's still a small memorial for her on the server itself, in one of the OOC areas.
From what I knew of her from her offline friends who also played, she was active in PnP as well as NWN.
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Wow, reading this thread I feel like a wee baby... At 21 years old, I'm actually one of the older gamers in my country - gaming arrived to this part of the world with a significant delay, and the generation just didn't have time to age yet! Of course I do know one gamer who's 41 years old, and another 5 or 6 at their early to mid 30's - one of them even has 2 (!) little kids.
So, seriously, kudos for keeping the hobby, or picking it up again. I plan to game on as much as I can, and it always gives me a good feeling when someone older than me is still playing.
OP, if you lived in Israel, you would have been, like, a local celebrity for still playing, perhaps even somewhat of a hero. I'm sure you can still enjoy the game, and I'm sure the community will welcome you with open arms.
Nearly a twenty year gap between the first time I GM'd and taking up Pathfinder last year.
You're fine, OP.
Happy gaming.
Is 45 too old to play?
I am 42. It's fine.
Locally we have someone who is 60. He is fine.
The age diversity is quite cool, except for the gossipy, b#*&~y, backstabbing teenagers who think they're still in their high school.
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One little caveat based on personal experience... Be wary of the open games at your Friendly Local Game Store. It's been my experience that the folks who play there tend to be kids-- mostly middle- and high-school students. Both times I've shown up to open gaming sessions, I received the "hairy eyeball" from a number of parents. While I never interacted directly with them, I immediately recognized their concerns of why a middle-aged man would want to play games with other people's children.
Totally disagree. This is very different depending on what game store you play at, when they meet, etc.
The store where I play PFS on Monday nights plays from 7-11 pm. We usually have 5-6 tables every week, and we have no kids, because we run so late on school nights. I'd say the majority of players there are probably between 25 and 45, though we have a variety from the late teens to over 70.
Another store that's about an hour drive from me does Sunday afternoon PFS, with usually 3-4 tables per week, and they're about half middle and high school kids, while the other half are adults.
So it definitely depends on the location, timing, etc. I definitely wouldn't tell someone to avoid game stores for fear of it being all kids. Show up once and find out what the local crowd at that particular store looks like.
Remember, per the Pathfinder rules, you get a +1 increase to your Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores when you reach middle age. So not only should it be easier to learn the game, but you'll have an easier time convincing others to play.
Vin Diesel taught Dame Judy Dench to play D&D. She's 78, and has played it with her grandchildren.
There's no "too old" in roleplaying.
I'm 54. My brother is 59. Add a year to that for both of us in the next couple of months. The young whippersnappers in the group are in their low 30s. As every one else has said, you're never too old.
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I am 41, and will stop playing when they pry my dice from my cold dead hands.
Age has nothing to do with the ability to play RPGs. It's about intelligence, imagination, passion, and having fun.Nope. Intelligence isn't necessary. :)
Well, no, but I require it at my table. Your experiences may vary.
Never too old. Me and my best bud hope we are still doing this in a old folks home if need be :P
Never, ever too old for gaming.
I am too old to stop gaming.
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Thanks for all the replies!! (This messageboard needs emoticons!)
I was really more concerned with coming back after 25 years and basically starting again!
I will have to get in touch with the local PFS group. Which I've discovered isn't that far from home. :)
Thanks again to all who responded.
Cheers!
I'm in the same boat as you my friend, just turned 46 and was at the local game store a few weeks ago. Of all things, my wife is what got me thinking of playing again. She was checking out the games that were going on and we chatted about it and I said I'd have to bring her out to try one time, as we'd both be starting as newbies since I've not played in about 25 years myself. She actually thought it would be a good idea, imagine how shocked I was! lol
So I went and got the BB and core rulebook and have started to check them out but time lately has been a bit short. I've reached out to my local gaming group and will be dropping in with them towards the end of the month, had to give them a heads up they were getting some new players that were really factory fresh new. :)
Everyone's been supportive, as this hobby should be, we're here to escape reality and have some fun. Welcoming people only helps build the community and make everyone new friends, so I'm confident you'll have a great time as I'm confident I will as well. Best of luck to you in your adventures!
Way back when, I started out with the original D&D, I continued on with gaming in Highschool and then on into College. I stopped for a few years because I couldn't find anyone. Then I met the current group. I met them at their college and I played different games. Eventually we moved on to 3.0, 3.5 and then later to Pathfinder. I'm 46 and most of my friends are about 10 years younger than me.
I say never give up on gaming if that is your thing. I remember going to a Con one time and remember seeing a pair of "old guys" (I must have been in my 20's at the time) and they were playing some game. It goes to show you that RPGs know no age limits.
I once roleplayed an ancient wizard. Just think, in 30 years or so, I won't have to roleplay! :D
I will still be gaming when I am in the old farm. We'll be sitting there, trying to adjust our hearing aids to understand what the GM is saying, discussing how our respective tummies are doing lately, why our ungrateful little whiny brat kids don't visit more often. It will be even better once memory starts going spotty. Just think, reliving the old modules afresh!
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I'm 40. One of the regular games I've been running is with my wife (who is older than me, but the exact amount shall remain unsaid 8^) and HER DAD.
So, no, you're not too old. 8^)
My wife and I joke that, at least with our roleplaying games, we'll have something to do in the retirement home when we get that old. Probably confuse the heck out of some of the other residents, but... 8^)
In the good old days, orcs still had pig snouts!
... It took me a year to get myself confident enough to play again, but am I too late?
Is 45 too old to play?
I am 46 and still playing. I got back into it about 3 years ago since I have more time now that the kids are out of the house.
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In the good old days, orcs still had pig snouts!
And they were ugly snot-green, not shiny digital green!
Now, I'm barely 28, which seems pretty young for some of the ages of other posters here (which makes it all the cooler. I always like to think there are lot of old wizards roleplaying somewhere), but I learned to play among people much older than myself, so old people roleplaying is something I'm pretty used to seeing since, well, ever.
Back when I started playing in 96', I used to frequent some FLGSs where you could find people of pretty old age; I distinctly remember a long-bearded guy with very googly eyes DMing AD&D Dragonlance who rumours had it was over 50 years old. A lot of my roleplaying friends are well over their 40's and some over their 50's, most of them teaching their own kids how to play.
If anything, old roleplayers get that sort of expert aura of having been around for a while that's very interesting for youngsters. Though you will probably automatically be asumed to be the DM in most circumstances, this is one of those timeless hobbies you never get too old to play.
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I'm 28, and this thread warms my cold black heart.
Now, I'm barely 28, which seems pretty young for some of the ages of other posters here
*28 fistbump x2 combo*
It seems my group of 36 to 38 year old players are still young!
I think most of them started almost 25 years ago (AD&D 2nd ed).
Hagor
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It seems my group of 36 to 38 year old players are still young!
I think most of them started almost 25 years ago (AD&D 2nd ed).Hagor
2nd edition? Noobs!
I actually remember my group in high school making the decision not to check out 2nd edition when it came out, because we already had all the 1st edition books and didn't want to have to spend the money to start over.
Just turned 65 last Friday. I am both a GM and a Player. Although I am far from the oldest on the boards. There was a thread asking who was the oldest. The Title was "Methuselah - Who is the oldest Gamer on the Boards".
Looks like the winning contenders in that thread at least were 66/67 at the time, 2-3 years ago.
See you guys in retirement!
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I am 46, and so is the wife. We both started gaming in '77 (not together).
So I may not be the oldest, but I have a great gaming related story.
I moved into a new area looking for a Champions game - and most everyone was playing D&D (2nd edition) which I was not a huge fan of. When I got into the Champions game, the woman who became my wife was the GM. We were 20.
So I can actually say that if gaming didn't exist I never would have met my wife. :D
I am 46, and so is the wife. We both started gaming in '77 (not together).
So I may not be the oldest, but I have a great gaming related story.
I moved into a new area looking for a Champions game - and most everyone was playing D&D (2nd edition) which I was not a huge fan of. When I got into the Champions game, the woman who became my wife was the GM. We were 20.
So I can actually say that if gaming didn't exist I never would have met my wife. :D
One of my fellow gamers married a gamer girl who we invited to a game on gaming convention and she got so hooked to our campaign that she started to visit our city regularly just to participate in our campaign... And their characters became lovers before they even started dating.
Another pair of friends started dating after her character betrayed our party and was killed by his character... That was a great finale of a campaign arc.
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I am 60, been playing since 1974. You kids get offa my lawn!
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I am 46, and so is the wife. We both started gaming in '77 (not together).
So I may not be the oldest, but I have a great gaming related story.
I moved into a new area looking for a Champions game - and most everyone was playing D&D (2nd edition) which I was not a huge fan of. When I got into the Champions game, the woman who became my wife was the GM. We were 20.
So I can actually say that if gaming didn't exist I never would have met my wife. :D
One of my fellow gamers married a gamer girl who we invited to a game on gaming convention and she got so hooked to our campaign that she started to visit our city regularly just to participate in our campaign... And their characters became lovers before they even started dating.
Another pair of friends started dating after her character betrayed our party and was killed by his character... That was a great finale of a campaign arc.
I love stories like that. I do know that male players marrying a female GM is less common.
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Not too old at all! Many of the people making your tabletop games are in their 40s or older.
They will have to pry my dice from my cold, dead hands, I say!
When the time comes, why not be buried with your dice?
:D
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When the time comes, why not be buried with your dice?:D
In a large death trap laden subterranean dungeon with animatronic monsters and rumors planted of vast wealth lying therein. :)
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Or at least a complete Planescape set, held in vacuum.
On Tombstone
"Here lies a dungeon master.
I am not saying there is treasure below, but there might be treasure below. If there is, it is guaranteed to be trapped. Now I can assure you, there is at least one trap."
Buried with your dice, fantasy coins and a tiny mousetrap.
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Whoever dies with the most RPG books wins.
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I will agree that you can game at any age. It’s never too late to start or restart. All it takes is desire and imagination.
That last bit is where I struggle. I am in my late 30s, starting RPGs at the age of 10 with the Moldvay/Mentzer Basic D&D game. Since my start, I have been primarily GMing. After 25+ years of being a GM with dozens of systems/genres, it is getting difficult for me to want to GM anymore. But no one else wants to GM; that’s pretty clear. If I don’t run something, my friends don’t play. So I am burned out. But it has nothing to do with age, just lack of ideas and desire. Add time to that list; being a full-time worker, husband and father really cuts into time to prep games.
I am looking forward to a local gaming convention, where I can hopefully play a lot and GM very little. Hopefully that will recharge my batteries.
... it is getting difficult for me to want to GM anymore. But no one else wants to GM; that’s pretty clear. If I don’t run something, my friends don’t play. So I am burned out...
Question, do you think it is just them unwilling to take a fair turn or do they not feel like they can do a good job at it?
The first is much harder. I saw a group once was just about ready to fall apart because it before I joined. I didn’t GM as well or as often, but he needed a break sometimes and no one else was willing to step-up. I don't know what happened after I moved, but it wouldn't surprise me if they eventually stopped gaming.
The second is much easier to help with. My recommendation is PFS. Have everyone make a PFS legal PC. You run PFS First Steps Part I (if you guys haven't done PFS before). Then you tell them "Look I'm getting burned out. If I can't ever get any help, the gaming is on hold indefinitely." Then ask each player to take turns running a PFS scenario.
They are short, so a new GM doesn’t have to commit to such a huge project as running an AP (which can be pretty daunting when you are new at it). They are cheap (a few are even free). They are pretty easy and really don’t require a lot of GM expertise and re-design. The rotation helps them to not feel exclusively on-the-hot-seat for months on end. Everyone (including the rotating GM’s) advance every 3 sessions. And hey you have a character to run the next time there is a convention in your area.
Never too old!!!. For many people my age, early 40's, we played as kids and then stopped as families, children, jobs, etc. took up our time but now are looking to play again. For us role playing games will be our poker or bridge or bingo as we get older and have more time. I can easily see retirement homes in the 2030's full of old former 80's kids playing D&D or Pathfinder or Gurps, etc....I think I'm sensing the next Cocoon movie ...
My own group is myself at 25 as DM
Then a 28, 40, 46, and 65 year old there's nothing odd about it except when the 65 year old brings his 22 year old red head of a daughter around lol.
