The Consumerist Game Model

AI Art by @nightcafestudio

This is what a tabletop RPG looks like these days. Shelves full of low-content, high-page count books designed to keep you engaged in a content stream.

I remember a term in the 1990s used regarding venture capitalists called "vampire capitalism." This is the dominant publishing model used for tabletop RPGs these days. This is the curse of modern shopping, shipping, distribution, and environmentally damaging overseas NIMBY production methods (and often, worker exploitation) globally.

I remember when a 64-page rulebook could keep you engaged and playing for years. The original AD&D, Top Secret, Star Frontiers, Gangbusters, and Gamma World lasted us 20 years. The Aftermath game lasted 15 years, and we did not need one expansion. The original Traveller game lasted us 30 years. Basic D&D even longer. All of these only needed the core rulebooks, and most were just one book.

I could go on and on.

The largest collection of gaming material (in book count) we had for years was the Traveller books. Most of the others we were lucky to have 2-5 books, and we didn't need any more.

This is why I love the OSR, not for some years gone by, beliefs, traditionalism, or any other feeling - it is that not much more is needed than one book for a game. Most of everything else you make up yourself.

And I am sick of wasting money on consumerist games designed to hook you into a content stream.