Most Often Played Roleplaying Game (#RPGaDay2024.03)

Today’s #RPGaDay2024 prompt, "Most often played roleplaying game," could go in a few directions. Are we talking about recently, this year, or over a lifetime? Each gives a different answer and paints a different picture of my roleplaying journey.

Let's start with the recent past. For all of 2024, my roleplaying time has been dedicated to The Suspicion Engine, Raven & River, and Seven Valleys. These games have dominated my sessions as we've been busy playtesting and ironing out the kinks in the systems. It's been an intense period of roleplaying, but it's all part of the process to ensure these games are polished and ready for the world.

The Suspicion Engine is perfect for those who love modern intrigue and mystery. We've designed it to be flexible, allowing for deep roleplaying and strategic problem-solving. Raven & River offers a reflective journaling experience that can be both solo and collaborative, giving players a chance to explore their characters on a deeper level. Seven Valleys takes you on epic fantasy adventures, with a modular design that lets you mix elements from the other two games. It’s been a rewarding but relentless schedule, focusing on these three unique yet interconnected games.

However, if we look back over my entire lifetime, the answer shifts to something more familiar: Dungeons & Dragons. Now, don’t get me wrong—D&D isn't necessarily my favorite game. But it’s the one that everyone knows. It’s the name brand of roleplaying games, the default choice, the game you can always find players for. So, whether I was really into the idea of running another campaign in the Forgotten Realms or not, D&D was the go-to.

There was also a period where I was playtesting and reviewing different games almost every week. It was a whirlwind of new systems, mechanics, and worlds. Some of those games I absolutely loved and wished I could have had more than a one-shot. But such was the life of an RPG blogger—always moving on to the next game, the next review, without getting too attached.

And then there were times when I was deep into a single, long-running campaign. Sometimes it wasn’t the game I was itching to play, but I liked the people, or it was the only game in town. Any roleplaying was better than no roleplaying. It’s the social aspect, the camaraderie, that often kept me at the table, even if the game itself wasn’t my first choice.

Reflecting on this brings up a broader point about the roleplaying community and the games we play. D&D’s dominance isn’t just about the game itself but about the community and recognition it has built over decades. It’s the game that brings people together, the one with countless resources, support, and a massive player base. This makes it easy to jump into a campaign or find a new group, which is a significant factor in why it’s played so often.

Yet, there's so much more out there. The diversity of roleplaying games today is staggering, with something for every taste and style. From indie gems to robust new systems, there’s a game for everyone. The challenge is convincing players to step out of their comfort zones and try something new, something that isn't D&D.

For those of us working on games like The Suspicion Engine, Raven & River, and Seven Valleys, it’s about offering alternatives that are just as engaging and accessible. We want to show that there’s a whole world of roleplaying beyond the familiar dungeon crawls and dragon slaying. These games have been my focus this year, and they represent a shift toward more diverse and varied roleplaying experiences.

So, when you think about your "most often played roleplaying game," consider not just the game itself but the experiences and connections it brings. Whether it's the reliable comfort of D&D or the exciting new horizons of indie games, it’s all about the stories we create and the memories we build around the table.