Living Greyhawk: A Community of “Gamers”

What is Living Greyhawk (LG) ? Worldwide Shared Dungeons and Dragons™ Campaign administered by the Role Playing Gamers’ Association (RPGA) Worldwide Shared Dungeons and Dragons™ Campaign administered by the Role Playing Gamers’ Association (RPGA) Set in the ‘original’ Dungeons and Dragons™ campaign world of Greyhawk™ Set in the ‘original’ Dungeons and Dragons™ campaign world of Greyhawk™ Started in August 2000 at GenCon™ with the release of the 3 rd Edition of Dungeons and Dragons™, currently using edition 3.5 (released in 2003) Started in August 2000 at GenCon™ with the release of the 3 rd Edition of Dungeons and Dragons™, currently using edition 3.5 (released in 2003)

What is the LG Community? Currently (July 2006) estimated at over 30,000 players worldwide. Currently (July 2006) estimated at over 30,000 players worldwide. Concentrated in the United States and Canada, but with a strong presence in Western Europe and Australia/New Zealand. Games have been reported played on every continent. Concentrated in the United States and Canada, but with a strong presence in Western Europe and Australia/New Zealand. Games have been reported played on every continent. Growing at about 5-7% (net) annually. Growing at about 5-7% (net) annually.

Who is a member of the LG Community? The 30,000 players. The 30,000 players. –This number includes judges, event organizers and campaign administration (There is significant overlap) Players? Players? –Any individual who attends an event and plays a session of Living Greyhawk with an anticipated return to the game. Judges? Judges? –The first tier of volunteers, who serve as Dungeon Masters for individual events.

Who is a member of the LG Community? Event Organizers? Event Organizers? –Volunteers who coordinate “game days” and conventions where Living Greyhawk games are offered and played. Campaign Administrators? Campaign Administrators? –Very senior volunteers who are responsible for the smooth running of the campaign and the production of campaign materials (including rules changes and scenarios)

Who are the Campaign Administrators? –1 Professional staff member on the paid staff of RPGA and Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro (WotC). –6 Senior Volunteers known as the “Circle of Six”. Collectively responsible for the day to day administration of the campaign as a whole and individually responsible for a certain geographical region. –Regional Triads. Volunteer teams of 3 members, responsible for the administration of smaller geographical regions. Answer to one of the members of the Circle of Six.

Demographics There is limited demographical information available for the community, however… There is limited demographical information available for the community, however… –A typical gamer: Male Male Between years old Between years old Highly educated/intellectually talented Highly educated/intellectually talented –This stereotype doesn’t completely fit the Living Greyhawk community. From observations and interviews with volunteers and players: There are a substantial number of female players and volunteers (as much as 10-15%) There are a substantial number of female players and volunteers (as much as 10-15%) Living Greyhawk players and volunteers tend to be older. A significant percentage are in the age category. Living Greyhawk players and volunteers tend to be older. A significant percentage are in the age category.

Methods Observations: Observations: –Conventions and Game days (Mostly Utah and Western U.S. Interviews with volunteers (face to face and ) Interviews with volunteers (face to face and ) –RPGA/WotC Staff Member –Current Member of Circle of Six / Former Circle of Six Member –Several current and former members of regional triads (Western U.S. and Australian regions) –Event organizers Informal interviews and discussions Informal interviews and discussions –Utah players

Problems Much of the data is anecdotal. Much of the data is anecdotal. No real way to gather official data except data mining through records controlled by RPGA/WotC/Hasbro and governed by corporate policy No real way to gather official data except data mining through records controlled by RPGA/WotC/Hasbro and governed by corporate policy –Even this data will be incomplete and contain significant errors. Other methods of gathering better data will skew results; it has been attempted by RPGA and results were discounted as there was significant deviation from database entries. Other methods of gathering better data will skew results; it has been attempted by RPGA and results were discounted as there was significant deviation from database entries.

Information Services in the Community Living Greyhawk uses the internet almost exclusively for official information distribution. Living Greyhawk uses the internet almost exclusively for official information distribution. –Websites – list-serves –Internet forums Have also used several “official magazines” but this practice has been discontinued Have also used several “official magazines” but this practice has been discontinued –Living Greyhawk Journal –Polyhedron Magazine –Dungeon™ / Dragon™ Magazines

Websites: Official RPGA Campaign website. Official RPGA Campaign website. – –Hard to remember the URL –Corporate Run (WotC/Hasbro) –Large amount of Wizards of the Coast Advertising and Branding –Difficult to navigate –Cluttered

Websites: Regional Websites Regional Websites – ; ; –Easy to remember URLs –Fan/volunteer run –Varies, but tend to be easy to navigate –Tend to be uncluttered and well organized –One region even runs its own “wiki”

List-serves None that are “OFFICIAL” run by RPGA/WotC. None that are “OFFICIAL” run by RPGA/WotC. Too many to count. Most initially sponsored by players or low-level volunteers, have been adopted as official. Too many to count. Most initially sponsored by players or low-level volunteers, have been adopted as official. Most run on Yahoogroups. Most run on Yahoogroups. Most of the 32 regions have one or more Most of the 32 regions have one or more Two or three claiming to be campaign wide Two or three claiming to be campaign wide Membership varies massively. From 5-10 members into the thousands (2775 as of 7/28/06 for Living_greyhawk) Membership varies massively. From 5-10 members into the thousands (2775 as of 7/28/06 for Living_greyhawk)

Internet Forums Were really strong early on (2000) have been in decline as free list-serves have become more popular. Were really strong early on (2000) have been in decline as free list-serves have become more popular. Still one on the WotC website. Traffic varies, most new discussions are off- topic. Still one on the WotC website. Traffic varies, most new discussions are off- topic. Some regions still have them on their websites. Some regions still have them on their websites.

Magazines: Living Greyhawk Journal Living Greyhawk Journal –Ran in 2000/2001, produced 7-8 issues –very irregular print schedule –problems obtaining content –Expensive to print Polyhedron Polyhedron –Official Magazine of RPGA –Was independent publication until 2002 –Briefly was printed as part Dungeon™ Magazine –Now on “hiatus”

Magazines Dungeon Magazine Dungeon Magazine –Printed Polyhedron for a time –Included Living Greyhawk content, but discontinued in part due to complaints from LG Players (who didn’t want to purchase a magazine for content that they had earlier received for free) and from subscribers (many of whom had little interest in LG) –Occasionally will have a special LG Feature, but with application to the D&D™ Community as a whole Dragon Magazine Dragon Magazine –Still occasionally prints LG materials. Mostly announcements that there are changes coming, please watch the website. –Occasionally LG will adopt parts of articles printed in Dragon™ Magazine.

My Theory: Despite well publicized information online, there are many players who are less invested in the community and rely on others for their information. Despite well publicized information online, there are many players who are less invested in the community and rely on others for their information. This is difficult to prove with the current information and would require other methods of triangulation This is difficult to prove with the current information and would require other methods of triangulation

Other alternatives Survey: Survey: –Difficult, large number of players, very diverse –Distribution will skew results. By use of internet distribution, will only get the players who regularly check the online sources. Distribution at major conventions may well result in similar problems.

More alternatives Extensive Observation Extensive Observation –Expensive. Games happening all over the world. Conducting a representative observations would require observations all over (I would love to do this however!) –Access. Many games occur in small private groups in homes or other private locations.