Whoa! I'm derping pretty hard here guys.. Is.. Is that Duck talking to me.. says his name is Howard... came from a different planet he said...
For example, during a recent discussion on cheating, I had several people assure me the other players in my game will very quickly figure out that our DM occasionally fudges dice rolls or monster stats in order to prolong fights and that it will cause problems in the game when they do. I really had no choice but to tell them that this has not happened yet in 20 years of playing with the DM. I didn't do it to negate their experience but, rather, to relate my own and to indicate that it is different--not better or more valid--than theirs.
I was one of those people, and I was cautioning that it can cause problems, and that I've seen it do so. So I suggested making sure that the players were OK with it, before going ahead.
I was told that it is universally a best practice, and that I should shut up, because you hadn't seen it in 20 years.
Depends on what one defines as OG I suppose, mine are typically the OG.
At first, however, the original print run wasn't that large, and to say 10's of thousands were playing it...I don't really think so.
Even with subsequent print runs, originally most knew everyone else or had a connection to others from what I gather.
For nicety sake, let's say with that we are extending it beyond the orginal group to those who bought and played with the first print run. YOu MIGHT have 5000 gamers there (though I think it was more like 3000-4000 as some just took the booklets and didn't actually game with a large group or sometimes no group).
Many were sold to those who were already with the majority group and it spread from there. Knowing how many have passed on or otherwise...when someone claims to be an OG from that original printing, it's possible, but alarm bells go off in my head. I've had MANY claim this, but most of the time they eventually slip up and say something that was absolutely untrue from that time period, or that doesn't match up with what actually happened back then. Normally, you catch some of these with their pants down.
It's been VERY rare for me to see those who actually WERE from back then (Note: most of those gamers would be in their 60s and 70s these days with a few in their 80s. As I said, it's basically those who were kids back then (and most of those from their early teens would still be in their early 50s today, and that's saying that somehow they just happened to be hardcore wargamers that were going to be able to buy the original booklet...IME most of those kids were able to play because their FATHERS were players and the DMs in many instances) that are still around in the RPG circles today.
Many of that original crowd is now dead...as well..a LOT of that original crowd...just as something else to consider).
What's more, is that I don't think many actually have transitioned to playing anything D20 period. You have many that never started with D20, others that were like Gygax that made nice with D20 but never really changed over to it (much less 3e, 3.5, or PF), and then a few that were like Arneson (who seemed to grab it by the reins and dive head first...at least from what I've seen).
I'm not putting down those that have gamed a LONG time, but I think if you've simply gamed a long time, that's enough in and of itself.
Saying one is one of the original gamers...to me...most of the time, my eyebrows raise and I grow suspicious.
They were varied, but in many ways they are VERY much products of their era...and due to that I've seen VERY FEW of them actually play anything 3.X or along the D20 lines.
Even the later ones I haven't seen that happen all that much. Deth is one, and there is a few others that I know that play modern games (or more specifically D20 and Pathfinder), but overall, most of the OG that I know of are actually known (At least what I consider an OG or at least complimentary into that group...which seems to be FAR more restrictive than what some are referring to here) haven't even played PF.
My first and foremost idea of an original gamer are those who were in Gygax's and/or Arneson's group(s) originally. These are specifically known.
Secondly, it can be extended to those who bought or played with those who bought the initial print run of D&D. I believe only around 1000 copies were printed in this, and it didn't completely sell out until around November (though there may have been a secondary print run that started selling around the middle of the year there).
Overall gamers at this point in my opinion were far below the 10000 mark.
Thirdly, those who made major contributions to the OD&D up through when it started getting consolidated by GG into what we now know as AD&D.
Those are the main three circles I accept for OG...with the first being the most obvious, the second being acceptable, and the third a necessity (as they made contributions to the original game itself!).
Outside that, you aren't an Original Gamer. Furthermore, I've seen all too often someone claim they are and it turns out...they aren't.
So, yes, I'm extremely skeptical about someone who claims OG status...or that they've been gaming since 1974...not that they ARE lying...but I typically have to see something more substantial than a claim as I've seen a LOT who claim it turn out to NOT be telling the truth.
YES...I am a skeptic in that manner...
You make some good points.
Our group, the Aero or Aurania group had about a dozen members to start, plus a few that gamed elsewhere. We had one of the original 1000 copies. (They actually published a history of our group= Designers & Dragons: The Platinum Appendix From Evil Hat Productions, LLC)
Of the original group you are right, most of us are in our early 60's or late 50's. So far (knock on wood) only one of us has passed on, Gary Switzer. On occasion, J. Eric Holmes and Dave Hargrave gamed with us, but both have passed.
Many of us still game, and afaik, none have stayed with OD&D. Yes, I still keep my AD&D characters, and would love to play again, but it's hard. Heck, I cant even find a Pathfinder Campaign here in Santa Clarita- just our weekly PFS games. (If anyone knows of one, let me know, OK?)
If you played OD&D when it was the only option, I'd count you as a OG. Even give you the secret Grognard handshake. ;-)
I dont call myself a "Original Gamer", however, I just use the term Grognard.
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Did I miss some postings or has anyone outside of DrDeth said anything about being an "OG"? I mean, I've seen people saying I've played since X years or Y box, but no one saying that they mowed Gygax's yard and was rewarded by him GMing a game for them, or having claimed to have written something for Chainmail.
I assumed "original gamer" was just another term for old timer myself. I started in 1974 but I wouldn't consider myself an "OG" in the sense of being in some kind of inner circle or being published, just an "old geezer" (I'm 56). OG in that sense would be a literal handful of people. We played Chainmail (both straight medieval and fantasy) and transitioned into D&D. No contact with GG and company other than buying the game from the FLGS...
Did I miss some postings or has anyone outside of DrDeth said anything about being an "OG"? I mean, I've seen people saying I've played since X years or Y box, but no one saying that they mowed Gygax's yard and was rewarded by him GMing a game for them, or having claimed to have written something for Chainmail.
I assumed "original gamer" was just another term for old timer myself. I started in 1974 but I wouldn't consider myself an "OG" in the sense of being in some kind of inner circle or being published, just an "old geezer" (I'm 56). OG in that sense would be a literal handful of people. We played Chainmail (both straight medieval and fantasy) and transitioned into D&D. No contact with GG and company other than buying the game from the FLGS...
Gives Secret Grognard handshake.
It's the Secret Handshake of the Mysterious Brotherhood of Trolls.
Hard to keep secret, but plenty mysterious.
I'm still a big fan of Wormy.
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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It really doesn't seem like anyone who might call themselves any permutation of original gamer is really arrogant enough to make a big deal about it.
At least, not in the thread where everyone's looking, with nothing to gain from it.
But the premise of this thread didn't pop out of thin air. The "played since 19XX therefore I'm right" card DOES get played, even on topics where it makes no sense for it to be relevant. There are even people in this very thread (acting quite amiable while here) who have been guilty of age/experience-based verbal abuse toward players they disagree with.
When you've got a thread full of people who are tired of X type of abuse, and nobody comes into that thread to declare "Abuser and proud of it!", that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
