RPG Player Survey

[erik]

For me:
1. D&D 3e
2. Hollow Earth Expedition
3. Deadlands

[Prak]

I considered putting Tome, but thinking of this primarily as market research figured it'd be better to stick to published games, so my three were D&D, Mutants and Masterminds and FATE. Though the last is almost purely because of aspects.

[AndreiChekov]

I put 3.tome
3.0
3.5

[Count Arioch the 28th]

I put Pathfinder in the top spot. Because fuck you guys, I do what I want!

[Sakuya Izayoi]

Tenra Bansho Zero, BASH!, and FATE myself. Like Prak, went with FATE mostly for mechanic cannibalization.

[silva]

I'm curious whether anyone but me will put but D&D 3.5 and Apocalypse World in their top 3.

I would if the question was about games I find well designed. As its about "favorite" games (which I interpret as favorite to play), then only AW checks for me.

[zugschef]

Done.

[Aryxbez]

I also contributed to the survey. I also should give this game a more in-depth look in the future, an RPG company from the Den deserves to succeed and more!

I think, Part of the problem has me glossing over it, not really advertising what's amazing about it. What's appealing that it draws people to want to try the game, what stories it tells and so forth.

[vagrant]

Done.

Shadowrun 4th, DnD 3.5 (Tome, really, but I was sticking to published material), and FATE to finish it off. I was thinking about putting a Bearworld game, but then I remember that the only time I ever played that was in one of my nightmares.

[icyshadowlord]

I got sick last week, but got this done.

[Mask_De_H]

Taking that survey made me realize I don't buy that many RPGs. That digital/print publishing strategy is pretty smart. I'd like to see what you put out and I promise I won't pirate it if it gets big enough to be pirated. Scout's honor.

FATE, 3.X (Tome), PF (because I don't have to acquire shit to play)

[Concise Locket]

Done. GURPS, Traveller and I flipped a coin on Burning Wheel vs. FATE. BW won.

[Meikle641]

TEST ONE

1) Age
- 18-24: 19% (19)
- 25-34: 52% (52)
- 35-44: 28 (28)
- 45-54" 1% (1)

2) WHAT ARE YOU
- Male: 91.92% (91)
- Female: 3.03% (3)
- Other: 5.05% (5)

3) WHAT RPGS DO YOU PLAY
This was a "choose all that apply" question, so percentages are wonky.

- Tabletop RPG 99% (99)
- RPG video video games 90% (90)
- MMORPG 43% (43)
- LARP 5% (5)
- JRPGs 58% (58)
- MUDs 19% (19)
- Visual Novels 21% (21)

4) WHAT ARE YOUR FAVE RPG SYSTEMS

4a) FIRST FAVOURITE

Game	Percentage	Votes
3.x	57.81	37
"D&D"	18.75	12
Pathfinder	10.94	7
Tome	6.25	4
A&D 1e	3.13	2
4e	1.56	1
13th Age	1.56	1

64 votes

Game	Percentage	Votes
After Sundown	6.66	2
Apocalypse World	3.33	1
Ars Magica	6.66	2
Burning Wheel	3.33	1
Dungeonslayers	3.33	1
Fantasy Craft	6.66	2
FATE	13.33	4
GURPS	10	3
Hero	3.33	1
Homebrew	6.66	2
M&M	10	3
SAME	3.33	1
Shadowrun	16.66	5
Tenra Bansho Zero	3.33	1
Vampire	3.33	1

30 votes

Game	Percentage	Votes
Mana Khemia	33.33	1
Final Fantasy	33.33	1
Warhammer 2nd ed	33.33	1

3 confused voters

4b) SECOND FAVOURITE
Not tallying this right now.

4c) THIRD FAVOURITE
Not tallying this right now.


5) HOW MANY HOURS PLAYING
- 1-3: 25% (25)
- 3-6: 36% (36)
- 6-9: 24% (24)
- Other: 15% (15)


6) WHAT ASPECTS OF TABLETOP RPGS APPEAL TO YOU
This was a "choose all that apply" question, so percentages are wonky.

- Building the most powerful character (gameplay optimization): 61% (61)
– Creating a unique character (concept and description): 80% (80)
- Overcoming challenging obstacles/predicaments: 82% (82)
– Exploring an immersive world: 64% (64)
– Roleplay and interaction with others: 79% (79)
– Strategic combat, defeating different monsters: 71% (71)
– Quests and modules Intriguing plots: 52% (52)
- Other (please specify) 12% (12)

Playability is now my most important aspect, a game must actually be able to play the game it thinks it is without me rewirtting it.
3/4/2015 5:28 PM View respondent's answers

Using a character as a lens to explore ideas and situations from a different PoV. Escapism helps too.
3/2/2015 11:27 AM View respondent's answers

Building rules
3/1/2015 5:12 AM View respondent's answers

Foam weapon fighting, character growth, character death
3/1/2015 4:24 AM View respondent's answers

The social element as well, for ttrpgs with real humans
3/1/2015 1:32 AM View respondent's answers

Most important: hanging out with friends.
2/28/2015 6:15 PM View respondent's answers

Being the GM / Instilling these joys in others
2/28/2015 5:36 PM View respondent's answers

Collaborative creation
2/28/2015 12:09 PM View respondent's answers

Hanging out with my friends
2/28/2015 8:36 AM View respondent's answers

gainig status in the world, Logistics & Dragons
2/28/2015 6:03 AM View respondent's answers

The option to at least try to do pretty much anything
2/28/2015 12:09 AM View respondent's answers

Good artwork, companies that respect artists get my attention. Dark Sun IS Brom. Final Fantasy IS Yoshitaka Amano, Nomura, Yoshida, and so on.

7) HOW MANY GAMES DO YOU HAVE
-1-3: 9% (9)
- 4-6: 14% (14)
- 5+: 69% (69)
- Other: 8% (8)

Over 30
3/4/2015 5:46 AM View respondent's answers

7, including the DBZ RPG
3/3/2015 3:37 AM View respondent's answers

85+
3/2/2015 12:47 PM View respondent's answers

I literally have 3 ceiling-height bookshelves crammed with sourcebooks. I'd guess perhaps 40-50 systems.
3/2/2015 11:27 AM View respondent's answers

15 or more that I've played; more on PDF from Humble Bundles
2/28/2015 7:45 PM View respondent's answers

Certainly at least 40 different RPGs, maybe 100
2/28/2015 6:03 PM View respondent's answers

None. I just use freely available online stuff. I'd consider spending money on them if I knew more people in meatspace who're actually interested in TRPGs.
2/28/2015 12:09 AM View respondent's answers

I'd conservatively put it at 20 we're counting video games
2/27/2015 10:03 PM View respondent's answers

[Meikle641]

TEST 2 RESULTS:

1) What genre do you prefer to adventure in?
- Medieval/Dark Ages: 77.00% (77)
– Steampunk: 32.00% (32)
– Modern: 28.00% (28)
– Post-Apocalyptic: 34.00% (34)
– Futuristic/Space: 49.00% (49)
– Other (please specify) 16% (16)

Superheros and WoD
3/7/2015 12:30 AM View respondent's answers

As long as the rules are built around the premise anything works. Medieval is easiest to make work.
3/4/2015 5:30 PM View respondent's answers

Horror, Meta
3/4/2015 12:11 PM View respondent's answers

JRPG style psuedo-modern kitchen sink
3/3/2015 11:30 PM View respondent's answers

No preference
3/3/2015 4:02 PM View respondent's answers

High-magic/high-fantasy
3/3/2015 1:16 PM View respondent's answers

Alternate Reality
3/1/2015 4:29 AM View respondent's answers

Asian Fantasy, Supers
3/1/2015 12:13 AM View respondent's answers

D&D-style fantasy. One appeal to power structures of RealMedievalHistory(tm) in a high-fantasy game and I'm out like negaverse Flynn.
2/28/2015 6:23 AM View respondent's answers

Fantasy
2/28/2015 5:18 AM View respondent's answers

I'll try pretty much anything
2/28/2015 12:17 AM View respondent's answers

Fantasy
2/27/2015 11:07 PM View respondent's answers

Anything with good, consistent artwork and art direction.
2/27/2015 10:38 PM View respondent's answers

Cyberpunk
2/27/2015 9:23 PM View respondent's answers

High Fantasy
2/27/2015 9:23 PM View respondent's answers

High Fantasy
2/27/2015 9:19 PM View respondent's answers

2) What kind of campaigns do you prefer playing? (check all that apply)

- One-shot adventures: 30.30% (30)
– Smaller, fast paced quests: 37% (37)
– Long, in-depth campaigns: 76.77% (76)
– Continuous, interconnected chronicles, different quests connected end to end: 53.54% (53)


3) Do you like quest modules to be setting specific?

- Specific to a campaign setting: 21.00% (21)
– Universal to many campaign settings: 15.00% (15)
– No preference: 57.00% (57)
– Other (please specify): 7.00% 7

Specific only to the extent the setting needs it to be. Spaceships can crash any old place.
3/5/2015 1:35 AM View respondent's answers

In general, setting specific is much more memorable as long as important setting elements are used and actually allowed to change. No status quo is god in RPGs
3/4/2015 5:30 PM View respondent's answers

Don't ususally use modules, all of us prefer to do our own material - however, we tend most towards the 'Universal' option above.
3/2/2015 11:30 AM View respondent's answers

I don't use modules
2/28/2015 8:30 PM View respondent's answers

A module doesn't have to rely on a campaign settings particuar specifics, but if so, the one running the module should make sure the module is an interesting part of the world, and not obvious boring princess rescue.
2/28/2015 11:30 AM View respondent's answers

"Universal" is itself a concept specific to D&D and fantasy heartbreak gaming. In practice, specific adventures are vastly preferrable, because the authors aren't cockblocked by editorial oversight from making adventures interesting and high-stakes. The actual setting is unimportant.
2/28/2015 6:23 AM View respondent's answers

I mostly look at them for interesting dungeon crawling
2/27/2015 10:38 PM View respondent's answers

4) Do you prefer one-shot adventures or interconnected adventure paths?
- One-shot: 14.29% (14)
– Adventure paths: 38.78% (38)
– Both: 40.82% (40)
– Other (please specify): 6.12% (6)

Modular is good. Where you can fit them together in various ways.
3/5/2015 1:35 AM View respondent's answers

Short arcs with elements referencing a larger world/story
3/3/2015 9:12 AM View respondent's answers

Emergent as described in Mythic: Game Master Emulator
3/2/2015 10:35 PM View respondent's answers

I don't use modules
2/28/2015 8:30 PM View respondent's answers

I like APs conceptually, but most published ones are awful
2/28/2015 7:46 PM View respondent's answers

Buying or playing? One-shot modules are a better investment, but I'm not excited to play a game without the possibility of a sequel.

5) In a typical year, about how much money, in US/Canadian dollars, do you spend on roleplaying games?

$17,846.5 in "hard" numbers after parsing responses.
$18.546.5 in "estimated" numbers after parsing responses.

98 responses
Averages to to $189.25 per response in a year.

120
3/7/2015 12:30 AM View respondent's answers

$100
3/5/2015 6:53 PM View respondent's answers

$20
3/5/2015 1:35 AM View respondent's answers

A few hundred dollars
3/4/2015 8:43 PM View respondent's answers

200
3/4/2015 6:35 PM View respondent's answers

300-500
3/4/2015 5:30 PM View respondent's answers

300
3/4/2015 4:34 PM View respondent's answers

20 USD
3/4/2015 2:46 PM View respondent's answers

$100 USD
3/4/2015 12:54 PM View respondent's answers

$400
3/4/2015 12:45 PM View respondent's answers

350
3/4/2015 12:11 PM View respondent's answers

300+
3/4/2015 5:47 AM View respondent's answers

I pirate PDFs...
3/3/2015 11:30 PM View respondent's answers

$50
3/3/2015 4:02 PM View respondent's answers

Several hundred dollars.
3/3/2015 2:21 PM View respondent's answers

Back when D&D 3.5e and Shadowrun 4e were current, ~$400 per year. Now, much less.
3/3/2015 1:16 PM View respondent's answers

No clue
3/3/2015 1:11 PM View respondent's answers

$50
3/3/2015 12:22 PM View respondent's answers

Highly variable. There's a lot of free, and other people in the group also buy. Not to mention that we have libraries of our own and homebrews. No reasonable answer to give.
3/3/2015 9:12 AM View respondent's answers

Varies too much to specify
3/3/2015 8:10 AM View respondent's answers

300
3/3/2015 7:54 AM View respondent's answers

$15-30 if that.
3/3/2015 4:46 AM View respondent's answers

150
3/2/2015 11:08 PM View respondent's answers

Less then $100.00.
3/2/2015 10:35 PM View respondent's answers

$200
3/2/2015 6:50 PM View respondent's answers

$100
3/2/2015 4:48 PM View respondent's answers

500
3/2/2015 12:37 PM View respondent's answers

P&P - virtually nothing, since 3.5 and homebrew don't have new releases. Bought D&D Next core set. Probably blow £15 monthly on PC RPGs.
3/2/2015 11:30 AM View respondent's answers

$300
3/2/2015 9:31 AM View respondent's answers

300
3/2/2015 8:33 AM View respondent's answers

100-200 dollars
3/2/2015 12:00 AM View respondent's answers

100
3/1/2015 7:50 PM View respondent's answers

More than $0, but it varies a lot.
3/1/2015 10:07 AM View respondent's answers

50
3/1/2015 5:13 AM View respondent's answers

~$30 not including LARP. Over 1k if you do.
3/1/2015 4:29 AM View respondent's answers

$250
3/1/2015 1:38 AM View respondent's answers

30 dollars
3/1/2015 1:33 AM View respondent's answers

100 usd
3/1/2015 1:24 AM View respondent's answers

500,00
3/1/2015 12:50 AM View respondent's answers

20-30 USD
3/1/2015 12:41 AM View respondent's answers

$50
3/1/2015 12:13 AM View respondent's answers

500
3/1/2015 12:08 AM View respondent's answers

$20
3/1/2015 12:03 AM View respondent's answers

100.00
3/1/2015 12:00 AM View respondent's answers

50.00 usd
2/28/2015 9:27 PM View respondent's answers

50
2/28/2015 8:50 PM View respondent's answers

$200
2/28/2015 8:30 PM View respondent's answers

30
2/28/2015 8:22 PM View respondent's answers

$500
2/28/2015 7:46 PM View respondent's answers

0
2/28/2015 6:16 PM View respondent's answers

250
2/28/2015 6:05 PM View respondent's answers

$100
2/28/2015 5:37 PM View respondent's answers

$150
2/28/2015 5:26 PM View respondent's answers

No idea
2/28/2015 1:32 PM View respondent's answers

120
2/28/2015 1:24 PM View respondent's answers

200ish
2/28/2015 1:05 PM View respondent's answers

200 (US)
2/28/2015 12:39 PM View respondent's answers

$50
2/28/2015 12:21 PM View respondent's answers

100
2/28/2015 12:11 PM View respondent's answers

$500
2/28/2015 11:59 AM View respondent's answers

Don't know
2/28/2015 11:30 AM View respondent's answers

$50
2/28/2015 8:45 AM View respondent's answers

120
2/28/2015 8:38 AM View respondent's answers

$30
2/28/2015 7:58 AM View respondent's answers

$150
2/28/2015 7:54 AM View respondent's answers

500
2/28/2015 6:23 AM View respondent's answers

$400.00
2/28/2015 6:01 AM View respondent's answers

$100-$120
2/28/2015 5:18 AM View respondent's answers

$60
2/28/2015 3:34 AM View respondent's answers

$300
2/28/2015 2:41 AM View respondent's answers

$300 USD
2/28/2015 2:09 AM View respondent's answers

20
2/28/2015 1:57 AM View respondent's answers

$100
2/28/2015 1:45 AM View respondent's answers

not a clue, But it's a lot.
2/28/2015 1:33 AM View respondent's answers

100-200
2/28/2015 1:24 AM View respondent's answers

$120
2/28/2015 12:37 AM View respondent's answers

0
2/28/2015 12:17 AM View respondent's answers

40
2/27/2015 11:45 PM View respondent's answers

0
2/27/2015 11:42 PM View respondent's answers

200$ us
2/27/2015 11:24 PM View respondent's answers

Not much, I tend to use free products
2/27/2015 11:22 PM View respondent's answers

150
2/27/2015 11:18 PM View respondent's answers

varies
2/27/2015 11:07 PM View respondent's answers

120
2/27/2015 10:54 PM View respondent's answers

100
2/27/2015 10:54 PM View respondent's answers

200
2/27/2015 10:54 PM View respondent's answers

$0 as of past several years (since having kids). $40-200 back when editions I cared about were in print.
2/27/2015 10:49 PM View respondent's answers

150-200
2/27/2015 10:41 PM View respondent's answers

$60
2/27/2015 10:38 PM View respondent's answers

100
2/27/2015 10:35 PM View respondent's answers

400
2/27/2015 10:03 PM View respondent's answers

200
2/27/2015 9:58 PM View respondent's answers

10
2/27/2015 9:55 PM View respondent's answers

30
2/27/2015 9:33 PM View respondent's answers

500
2/27/2015 9:23 PM View respondent's answers

0
2/27/2015 9:23 PM View respondent's answers

$0
2/27/2015 9:19 PM View respondent's answers

100
2/26/2015 10:20 PM View respondent's answers

6) Heartbreaker Press plans to give digital copies to customers that bought print copies of their products for free, and discounts on print copies if digital copies were bought first. Would such a policy make you more likely to purchase from Heartbreaker Press in future?

- Yes: 68.69% (68)
– No: 6.06% (6)
– Maybe: 15.15% (15)
– Other (please specify): 10.10% (10)

Not likely anyway, but that sort of thing is a requirment these days.
3/5/2015 1:35 AM View respondent's answers

It would not affect my decision in the slightest. I would decide based on the actual games and content. That policy would increase my opinion of Heartbreaker, as it would add to convenience, but it still needs to be something that I actually want in the first place.
3/3/2015 9:12 AM View respondent's answers

My purchases are exclusively digital.
3/2/2015 10:35 PM View respondent's answers

Yes, but I live in the UK, so don't know how much use this particular answer is going to be for you!
3/2/2015 11:30 AM View respondent's answers

I don't know anything about Heartbreaker Press. The proposed offer is a good deal, and if I liked the product, it would encourage me to pick it up during that time, as early as I could.
3/1/2015 4:29 AM View respondent's answers

Only if the net cost was equal regardless of the order of purchase. Otherwise, analysis paralysis would make me less likely to purchase.
2/28/2015 8:30 PM View respondent's answers

Support your local game store!
2/28/2015 6:05 PM View respondent's answers

I buy products entirely on their individual merits. It's a nice policy, but I don't think it would affect my shopping habits.
2/28/2015 11:30 AM View respondent's answers

A THOUSAND TIMES YES. S&H costs a lot for me, so free digital copies without a vice-versa discount only serve to discourage me from buying a product at all. No watermarks please. Watermarks are of the devil.
2/28/2015 6:23 AM View respondent's answers

Maybe. It would make me more likely to purchase a hardcover copy if I was interested in the pdf. I have never heard of Heartbreaker Press, so can't say I am actually interested in any of the material to begin with.
2/27/2015 10:41 PM View respondent's answers