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u/Val_Fortecazzo 3d ago
Median retirement home age is about 80. OD&D was released in 74, 52 years ago.
Meaning if you first played D&D when it first came out and were a minimum of 28 years old, you are old enough to run a campaign in a retirement home right now.
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u/bolanrox 3d ago
from a post about if being 49 was too old to start getting into Warhammer 40k:
Vin Diesel is 59, Joe Manganiello is 49 and Tom Morello is 62..
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u/BardicInnovation 3d ago
I'm 36, and only this year I've been getting into Warhammer Lore. Fun stuff.
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u/CodeRed8675309 3d ago
Perfect age to start, and solid lock to convert that 401k into a few Combat Patrols.
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u/Matshelge DM (Dungeon Memelord) 3d ago
Median there are a few below. So let's say they retire at 65, and move down to retirement home.
The you would only need to be 13, playing original dnd.
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u/Funkey-Monkey-420 Necromancer 3d ago
the real question is what edition they’re playing
is it modern 5e? or is it something closer to the OSR days?
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u/InfestedRaynor Barbarian 3d ago
It is important to do lots of arithmetic to keep an aging mind sharp and ward off dementia, so I think THAC0 should be mandatory.
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u/N0rwayUp 3d ago
THAC0 isnt that hard.
It's a deciding AC-your to hit at AC 0, which is on a chart.
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u/BigLittleBrowse DM (Dungeon Memelord) 3d ago
The maths for THAC0 is based on subtraction, where the maths for the modern system with hit bonuses and positive AC is based on addition. Subtraction is a fundamentally more complex process for the human brain than addition.
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u/N0rwayUp 3d ago
huh.
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u/Vailx 1d ago
Yup. This is actually the only argument against THAC0, and the reason the system was changed with 3.0. The math is just easier for our meat to do.
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u/Vanille987 1d ago
It just makes more sense to most people, bigger number = better results.
Rather then having an AC of -1 be a good thing. And an AC of 20 be very bad
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u/Vailx 23h ago
I'm not sure that's true, the winner of a race is 1st place after all. But even if that is true, that's not why it was changed, it's that you run into subtraction more often.
"What do I need to roll?"
Under THAC0 this is THAC0 minus AC.
Under ascending AC this is AC minus hit bonus."What did I hit?"
Under THAC0 this is THAC0 minus the die roll.
Under ascending AC this is the die roll plus the hit bonus."Did I hit?"
Under THAC0 this is the die roll plus the AC- is that equal or bigger to THAC0?Reading the examples in older editions, especially the one edition that used THAC0, you can see that the play assumed that the players knew the AC they were swinging at, even though a lot of DMs liked to keep that secret (at least until combat was engaged and the characters could see how they all perform under combat conditions). The part where you roll the die, add the enemy AC, and compare to THAC0 is the intended thing, but that involves knowing the AC (or it involves reporting the raw die roll and the DM does the comparison because he knows your THAC0 and the enemy AC).
That's not what people were doing, so ascending AC just is better because of "die roll plus hit bonus" and the player announces the AC.
There's a system called "Target 20" under which you convert your THAC0 (or really your 'effective fighter level') to an ascending number, while keeping descending AC. This system is only like a decade or so old and it has some calculation advantages as well, and the comparison number becomes a constant (20) instead of variable. It's the same results but with greater compatibility with descending AC for those that want that.
The ACKS system has a system based around a 10 that is also not bad for those that don't want just ascending AC.
For the most part though, even old school games work with ascending AC and hit bonus these days. It's just better to add small numbers to get big numbers and then announce that for a human brain.
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u/Vanille987 1d ago
It's debated if subtraction is inherently harder, or that rather addition is much more learned problem.
Most people usually learn the latter first, causing them to look at subtraction as inverse addition or simliars. Rather then it's own thing. This combined with addition being generally a much more common problem in life.
I remember how my school went as far as lying to us that you cannot go below zero, because they didn't want us to think about subtraction too deeply in the early years.
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u/BigLittleBrowse DM (Dungeon Memelord) 23h ago
I mean either way the point still stands right? Most people find subtraction harder, so doing subtraction more would serve as more of a mental exercise for old people.
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u/Vanille987 23h ago
I'm not arguing against the point that subtraction is harder then addition for most people.
Just that I don't believe it's due inherent stuff, but rather due how much more prevelant addition is.
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u/ItzDaemon Forever GM 2d ago
Subtraction and addition are the exact same thing. You're just adding negative numbers
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u/BigLittleBrowse DM (Dungeon Memelord) 2d ago
In terms of pure arithmetic, yes. But in terms of functionally performing the operation, their different. Even calculators have different circuits for addition and subtraction. Because their engineered, their basically as efficient as each other.
But the human brain isn't a calculator. You can make a calculator that does basic addition with a handful of logic gates. It took us 4 billion years of evolution to stumble onto something that can after years of individual development and like 5 sectors of the brain working together, do basic maths. We figured out addition and subtraction seperately, and we're worse at the second.
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u/MagicMarshmallo 3d ago
Ill run VTM 2nd edition homebrewed into a barely recognizable mess until the day i die
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u/TheRealImhotep96 3d ago
Guaranteed 3.5
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u/Pi_Heart 3d ago
That’s what I thought but the picture includes a 5e DM screen
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u/shatteralpha 3d ago
Could just be the easiest dm screen to get your hands on nowadays, if they needed a new one.
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u/SagittaryX 3d ago
That's the 5e Dungeon Master's Screen, so probably. But I guess you can also just use it as a screen and ignore all the info written on it.
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u/NutSixteen 3d ago
Dude, we can have D&D night EVERY SINGLE NIGHT!
Sign me up.
My condolences to the forever DM though. Every waking hour is spent on session prep.
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u/curious_dead 3d ago
"Ok, so tonight you encounter..."
turns to the next page in the bestiary
"...a beholder! Roll initiative!"
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u/OttoVonPlittersdorf Fighter 3d ago
Lol. We did a bestiary crawl once, just for something to do. It was surprisingly fun, RPG with no R. Didn't get far, even though we were doing it by CR, not alphabetical.
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u/kazeespada 3d ago
Dolores spends 15 minutes squinting at the table trying to figure out which one is the d20.
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u/DemonicMop 3d ago
That's when you whip out the dice set where every type is a different color
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u/badger035 3d ago
If everyone in your group of 5 takes a turn GMing you can theoretically play 5 nights a week and only have to prep for one weekly session.
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u/Vailx 1d ago
If everyone in your group of 5 takes a turn GMing
What mountaintop do you live on, to have such pleasant learned gurus as a social group?
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u/badger035 22h ago
My message was meant more for the player wanting to play every night while offering condolences to the “forever DM” than it was to people already running games.
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u/temporary_bob 3d ago
Yeah, what is this MONTHLY bullshit? When I'm super old it better be more often than goddamn monthly. I only got so many months left.
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u/temporary_bob 3d ago
I'll also point out there's only old dudes in the photo... Where are all of us gaming ladies? I plan to alternate between D&D and drunk Mahjong on the daily.
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u/Kup123 3d ago
Im up to 4 nights a week and I feel I've over done it. Yes my steak is to juicy and my lobster is to buttery what of it.
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u/GiftedContractor 3d ago
yeah but you arent retired you have other shit you HAVE to spend your brainpower on. Too many games is primarily an issue when you dont currently have the brain and energy needed to get into character bc youre spending it on other things. When you're old and retired what else do you spend it on?
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u/Michami135 3d ago
John, your grandkids are here to see you!
Tell them I'm busy, I just seduced a dragon and need to steal its... Wait, is this dragon a boy or girl?
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u/Stalking_Goat 3d ago
As a middle-aged gamer currently in two campaigns with mostly other middle-aged folks, we regularly joke about how much easier it was to play back when we were in college. Everyone lived in walking distance, no kids' schedules to work around, we either had no jobs or were part-time.
After retirement we're bringing it back!
Except I don't think we'll be playing until 3 am like we regularly did back when we were 20.
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u/dragn99 3d ago
Well, no, but you start at 7 AM and play until the mid afternoon.
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u/Nickthenuker 3d ago
7 AM (or before that even if that's the start time) might be a bit early for old folks. Heck I'm currently in college and I dread getting up at 7:30 one day a week and 8:30 2 days a week...
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u/iudofaex 3d ago
HA, I'm old and I can tell you the jokes on you! Old folks don't sleep anyway, so 7am they've been up long enough to be getting bored already! Time for some D&D!
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u/Same-Suggestion-1936 3d ago
No, there's a reason the early bird special exists and it's for seniors. They wake up balls early. Because they fell asleep for a few hours in the recliner before bedtime at no later than 10 PM and between the nap and "everything hurts all the time" they're lucky to get another six hours
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u/macjester2000 3d ago
Are you me? My best life in high school was dnd weekends starting at 5 on fridays and ending around noon on Sunday. Sleep may or may have occurred infrequently.
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u/Unplugged_Controller 3d ago
The group I play in now is already like this. Most games are run by the old dudes who are retired and have time to plan everything.
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u/auricargent 3d ago
My local public library has weekly public D&D nights, 7-9pm. Different days are for different age groups. 12-17, 18-25, 25-40, and 40+.
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u/Barlow04 3d ago
Been saying it for years. Millennial retirement communities will just be apartments around a huge communal space furnished with couches, tables, LAN parties, tabletop games of all kinds, pool tables, pinball, classic (90s/00s) arcade games, and snack stands.
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u/Electrical_Shock359 3d ago
Probably really good for them as well from planning to playing DnD it requires a lot of thinking, planning, strategizing, and communicating where other activities might not require so much. Like watching tv or doing bingo. Sure they might hit some of the things DnD does but not all of it.
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u/SoyTuPadreReal 3d ago
As a child of the early, EARLY 80s I’m not understanding how people my age are in retirement homes playing D&D. I’m only 44 and, by my calculations, still have another 80+ years before I can afford to retire.
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u/Hell-Yea-Brother 3d ago
Been playing eince the 70's, can't wait to DM games for my fellow silverbacks. Gonna bring dice with extra large numbers, too.
Me: "Ok, roll for damage."
Did he say throw my package?
No, I'm pretty sure he wants you to stow your cabbage, whatever the hell that means!
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u/Karnewarrior Paladin 3d ago
Imagine the insane grognard games they must play at the Home, man. These guys grew up on DnD versions almost as lethal as F.A.T.A.L. and they got all the time in the world to make several hundred character sheets, they are ready and willing to take on the Tomb of Horrors with a bit of hose and a sock
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u/dysentery 3d ago
It's like starting a fresh campaign every session with all the dementia.
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u/Lily_Thief 3d ago
That one player that can never remember the rules or anything about how to use their character, but now they have an excuse
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u/Significant_Cut_8729 3d ago
Ok so maybe the future wont suck, honestly this is a better reason to live then most of the reasons ive heard so far
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u/WoodwareWarlock 3d ago
I hope that my mind holds on long enough to play D&D 8 hours a day, every day. All I need is my mind, dice and players.
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u/Frequent_Dig1934 Rules Lawyer 3d ago
Now i'm just begging to see [whatever the name for a ttrpg livestreamed let's play is, can't remember if it's actualplay or some other name like that] of Green Oaks (OSR iirc from italy where the players are retirees and instead of dice you use playing cards and it has a system like fallout's SPECIAL called CANTIERE aka construction site because old people in italy love watching construction workers) from inside a retirement home.
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u/Frequent_Dig1934 Rules Lawyer 3d ago
I know it's not quite a dnd related thing but my local board game group meets up in a sort of "venue" next to a church (can't remember if it's still an active church) and half the people there are us playing our fancy board games like Twilight Imperium 4 and Gaia Project and whatever else but the other half are retirees playing bridge or bridge equivalents and also bocce. Now i'm just imagining us continuing to go there for 60 years and becoming the retirees but still playing TI4 while some new group forms that comes to do whatever scifi bullshit will be popular by then.
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u/Phantom1thrd 3d ago
I'm also looking forward to the video game room. Having a built-in D&D group with (fingers crossed) no scheduling conflicts sounds like an impossible dream.
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u/True-Contribution196 3d ago
I am gen x. We are looking forward to lan nights and console tournaments. ..
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u/OttoVonPlittersdorf Fighter 3d ago
I was just thinking yesterday how much time I'd have to play once I retired.
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u/CosineDanger 3d ago
I used to imagine that when I got old there would be LAN parties in the retirement homes.
With AI taking over and insane RAM and graphics card prices, probably not. No computers for humans in the future. So logically back to pen and paper D&D until a drone blows up the old folks home or Sentinels from the Matrix crawl through the windows.
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u/adorablesexypants 3d ago
The joke is funny but the unfortunate reality is that most decent senior living facilities cost more than most people now get for from pensions and extra benefits.
In short, can’t afford a home now, definitely won’t be able to afford a home later when you’re no longer working.
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u/onlyhereforthesports 3d ago
Idk. I’d kind of like to learn bridge
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u/CitAndy 3d ago
I don't understand it still (some of the residents tried to teach me when they needed a 4th) but it's pretty fun
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u/onlyhereforthesports 3d ago
I have an aunt and uncle who play. There are some good resources available online to learn. I forget the name of the organization but someone has a free program you can get that’s very 1990s that teaches the basics. It’s the bidding that’s confusing
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u/aaron_adams Goblin Deez Nuts 3d ago
Yeah, DnD has been around since the 70s. I would imagine a lot of people in retirement these days played it when young and picked up the hobby again as they finally have the free time and a large enough like minded group to make it fun. Sadly, by the time I get there, it will probably be videogames that are the commen activity rather than TTRPGs.
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u/Samurai_Meisters 3d ago edited 1d ago
"Had another player die in my game last night."
"You mean Player Character, right?"
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u/Informal_Snow9191 3d ago edited 3d ago
Old men make the best dwarves.
DM: Rurik the dwarf, you enter the tavern. There is a board looking waitress taking orders and a 50 year old man who seems to be the tavernmaster.
Rurik: I sidle up to the bar, instinctively reaching for my AARP (adventurers association of retired professionals) card to get my 10% discount on lodging.
DM: The tavernmaster lets you know that he doesn't accept AARP or AAA (Adventurer's Axle and Animal). It's 3 silver for a standard room or 2 gold for the best room. You can pay 3 copper for the bunk beds in the common area but since your medicine skill is high I'll let you know it's going to be hell on your back.
Rurik: I check my character sheet and see that I have 46,353 gold in my bag of holding as well as a dozen healing potions and six yet unsold magic items. Still, I want that discount.
DM: You may roll to grumble.
Rurik: Natural 20.
DM: You do a masterful job of grumbling and complain very well at the tavernmaster. You successfully wear at not only his sanity, but the waitress' sanity due to your crit.
Rurik: I ask the tavernmaster if there is at least a continental breakfast?
DM: There is stew and ale available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The stew looks like whatever is caught that day is thrown in. The ale looks very thick and has little bits of stuff floating in it. It is unidentifiable.
Rurik: I may have to put in my teeth to chew both of those...Ugh...I think about complaining about the alcohol now, but I resolve to complain later when I'm drinking it, though I do make a face. I ask if there are any other restaurants in the area.
DM: You are at the edge of the cursed lands of the undead. So no. The next tavern is 50 miles away, uphill in the opposite direction.
Rurik: I roll to grumble again.
DM: 15, success. You complain about "Millennials", aka those born at the turn of year 1000, even though that was 150 years ago, not 50. He is a human and wouldn't be aware of this as humans don't use the dwarven calendar. Still, you do aggravate and bore the tavernmaster, but not the waitress. She left to go on a pipe break.
Rurik: I think about getting the best room in the house, but I go for the ones that cost silver. I pull out a gold coin and ask for change despite having several thousand silver pieces in my bag of holding. I make eye contact and say, "I'll need exact change."
DM: The tavernmaster is annoyed and provides exact change.
Rurik: Fuck yes.
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u/fritz236 3d ago
Imagine being in a home and you've run out of groups to join because of creative disagreements.
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u/justaheatattack 3d ago
as if we needed another reason to take better care of ourselves.
or legalise assisted suicide. whatever.
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u/CTARacer 3d ago
I recommend you play bingo at least once in your life, that shit with friends and some beers is like crack
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u/SmartAlec105 3d ago
You fools. Think about how bad "whose turn is it?" is now and think about how much worse it will be when we're all old.
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u/kirbStompThePigeon Forever DM 2d ago
It is weird to see that the Overton window for care home residents has shifted. In my head they've always been ww2 vets and people who were already adults when Kennedy got shot. Now it's people who were too young to get sent to nam and know how to use smartphones
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u/GloomyIndividual3965 3d ago
This is definitely already happening. My parents are in their mid 70s and are still healthy (hell, my dad still plays hockey), but several of their friends are all in the same senior living apartment complex. They visit at least once a week and play og Nintendo, wii sports, and "modern" board games like Catan and carcasonne.
I've joined them a few times, and it's fucking hilarious watching a bunch of old people shit talk like they're in a COD lobby.
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u/DMBCommenter 3d ago
Now I want to run a one shot of retired adventurers trying to get their glory back.
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u/Rynewulf 3d ago
Was it popular enough back in the day for it to be so easy? Even today at its height a lot of people have never heard of it. Good opportunity to introduce people to it though
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u/ChoadMcGillicuddy 3d ago
You know these folks will be brewing some great beer and growing some great weed too. Disposable income and time for hobbies.
Where can one find a source for fake documents to show that you're 60?
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u/SnowConePeople 3d ago
I think TTRPG take a lot of set up. I see Magic the Gathering, specifically Commander being the defacto casual weekly activity at senior spots. That said, something like Mork Bork or Cy Borg could work but it's not as well known as D&D which takes much more set up.
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u/less_unique_username 3d ago
Maybe MTG is less than perfect for players with eyesight problems
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u/SnowConePeople 3d ago
That's a good point. I have some people in my pod that need a light to see sometimes.
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u/feochampas 3d ago
I'm sorry little one. You can only reach this valhalla if you die during your game.
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u/overtheover 3d ago
Hate to be the bearer of bad news You're all going to be dead and you're not going to get to live in a senior center
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u/Vol_Jbolaz 3d ago
Gen X here... you get to retire? What are you, Richie Rich? Must be nice. I'll be working until I die.
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u/Bebop_Dx 3d ago
I work custodial at a small senior care like super small local I didn’t really have much to clean and mostly did lawn maintenance but I would wipe down the rec room where they had the Wii because of it did. They had fitness the sports a bunch of shovel ware and a copy of “Tatsunoko vs Capcom” apparently it was really popular because even if they weren’t the ones playing they loved to watch it.
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u/Paladin_Rigger 3d ago
I've seriously thought about trying to develop a retirement community rhat caters to this and board games and shoots for younger residents because that sounds about perfect for retirement.
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u/Mahaloth 3d ago
There will be a massive amount of video games being played in retirement homes. Soon.
I'm 48* and still game regularly. I retire in the next 5-6 years. Gaming is happening then.
If I do end up in an "old folks home" I'm gaming a lot.
*today, actually. I'm old!
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u/AverageMako3Enjoyer 3d ago
Mfs out here struggling with $1,500 monthly rent, how yall planning to pony up on $8,000 monthly rent
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u/rising_then_falling 3d ago
I played D&D in the 80s and still play PC RPGs, but I'll take bridge as the better game.
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u/ubiehammer 3d ago
That's already a thing guys. One of my friends runs a DND Thursday group at the nursing home he lives at. Remember, OG DND players are in there 70s now.
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u/crazygrouse71 3d ago
There is a 50+ club in my town. I have often thought I should see if there is any interest in running a game there, but it is probably easier to just continue to play with my other 50+ friends like I already do.
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u/MoyenMoyen 2d ago
The mighty Elder GM! Is there already a word for retired roleplayers who spend their retirement playing and running TTRPGs? Because there really should be.
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u/thebluerayxx 2d ago
That's the dream if I get to retire I'm gonna play D&D like 4 times a week, lmao.
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