I used to play a lot of AD&D back in the old days. Then I didn't for a long time. Now I'm trying to get back into it in a rather hardcore way, and I'm finding it a challenge.
Why is that?
Age might be an answer, along with its associated distractions and responsibilities. Yes, age, but not so much because I'm older, but rather, because I'm coming back to something that was a huge part of my life once, and finding it changed almost beyond recognition. Now I spend my time sifting through the sands for similarities, rather than absorbing it all as a new experience.
There's a sense of my own growing inadequacy as I investigate modern gaming. The gulf between what I used to know, and what there is to know now, is mighty. It's true that I've forgotten more about gaming than newer players will ever know; old school gaming. But aside from an historical perspective, who cares? They know more about modern RPGs than I'll ever know. It's the way of these things.
I'm sure there's a place for an early player's perspective, but what's the best way to overcome the feeling that I'm so far behind? Well, I think it's time I found a group. Only actually playing with other gamers on a regular basis can remedy this situation. I mean, it's really just the rules that are throwing me, right? I can role-play all day long, while the details can be picked up on the go -- which is how I learned them the first time around.
Now, where do I find the time to play...?
Image: Time, watch, vintage and pocket watch, by Andrik Langfield. Released under the Unsplash License Modified by David in Inkscape.