Community is very important to the RPG community. To survive, the strictest forms of business competition have to be re-evaluated and brought into the light of a sharing and rather open environment. But what does that mean? It means that RPG developers, publishers, game designers, writers, and artists need to be happy to see others succeed because success in the industry will likely mean success for the business. In this industry we don’t approach things with the aim of putting the other guy out of business. I’m sure I’ll get a lot of criticism from business experts and analysts who would tell me I am being foolish for not wanting any competitors to close their doors (if there any of that type who read this blog, I really don’t mind if you do), but that’s not what this industry is about.

I do not mean to devolve into a business discussion, as I am sure I would soon be exposed for the amateur businessman that I am. What I want to stress is that the RPG and tabletop gaming community is a group that pulls for each other. We cheer the success of others as much as we want others to cheer our success, and I believe that the environment found at most of the hobby’s major, regional, and local level conventions bears that out.

Last week one such company was kind enough to turn a comment I made on their blog into a little bit of a spotlight on Tabletop Armory. My exposure to this company and the people who run it has thus far served to strengthen not only my own resolve in my chosen path for Tabletop Armory, but it has also greatly encouraged me to continue thinking the best of the RPG community as a whole.

apathygamesApathy Games is a game design studio based in Seattle, WA with a goal and vision for strong, community based discussed and development of roleplaying games. One similarity that Apathy shares with Tabletop Armory is that we are both avid supporters of Savage Worlds, and in an exclusive e-mail interview with one of the top guys at Apathy Games (sounds awesome when I say it like that, eh Tyson?) I learned that they are pursuing an Official Savage Worlds License as well. Tyson Hayes was unable to share any details about the game they are developing except that it is science fiction and asks “What if?” about a major historical event.

Apart from their game design, Apathy Games has a strong desire to involve community in their gaming and in gaming in general. Tyson went on to share that Apathy is, “trying to engage the community and drive conversation about GMing and Savage Worlds.  We’re looking to get people out of the forums and on to places where the general public can engage them.  We’re also one of the few GMing blogs that is Savage Worlds focused.  We want to organize the Savage Worlds information that’s out there in a more approachable way.”

I am very appreciative for Apathy’s view towards the community and what they want to do with and in it. Tyson summed up what I would consider to be Apathy’s mission, saying, “What we’re really looking for right now is for people to talk to us and engage us.  Our audience hears a lot from us, but we want to hear from them.  We want to know what their story is and why they started roleplaying.” Companies like Apathy Games are a good thing. Starting with both ears firmly planted in the community of gamers is the first and best place to start. I look forward to seeing what the gamers have to say.

I am very much looking forward to seeing what such a passionate group of gamers can produce, and I know I will be keeping my eye on Apathy Games from here on out. (And yes Tyson, I will make sure to get you AFRP stuff, too!)

For those wishing to follow Apathy Games, I included a link to their website above, and they can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Let’s build the community.

- “Armory” Dave Martin