I'm 48. Between my two groups of 10 people the ages of the players ranges from 19-50. 

My dad played until he died at 73. 

Just cause the vintage players aren't streaming doesn't mean we're not represented. 

I'll be 45 this month, and I just started playing this year.

Welcome, bienvenue, vilcommen!!

Quote from LeviRocks >>

Wow, you're all so old.

(Just kidding. I'm 18, but I have a ton of respect for DMs over twice my age. You guys made this hobby survive long enough to make its way to my generation, so thank you)

And I have tons of respect for those who want to learn to play and want to DM in this amazing game of fantasy. You're 18. So what! Doesn't matter how old we all are. All that matters is that we have fun playing a game we enjoy with each other. 

Quote from Avohei >>

Quote from LeviRocks >>

Wow, you're all so old.

(Just kidding. I'm 18, but I have a ton of respect for DMs over twice my age. You guys made this hobby survive long enough to make its way to my generation, so thank you)

 

And I have tons of respect for those who want to learn to play and want to DM in this amazing game of fantasy. You're 18. So what! Doesn't matter how old we all are. All that matters is that we have fun playing a game we enjoy with each other. 

 

 Yeah, D&D is a game for anyone. Gatekeeping is bad. 

I an only 18, but I like D&D more than is normal, and I have spent many many hours learning lore about the D&D worlds, reading the books, playing the game, and making content for it. It doesn't matter how old we are (though it is kind of weird when someone my age or younger plays with someone in you generation, because of the maturity differences, and D&D experiences.).

It doesn't matter the age, I think the reason why younger generations are steaming more is because we grew up with more technology than the older guys, and are more comfortable having thousands of strangers be so ingrained into our content. There are exceptions, like Matt Colville, but generally, the younger generations are more likely to create Youtube and Twitch channels with D&D content. 

Quote from Skybosia >>

THANK YOU GUYS for your sweet replies!
I am looking some of these up right now!
I really appreciate your input!
I was starting to feel like I should HANG UP MY DICE! 
<3

 Never ever hang up your dice. Never.

 I think the reason why younger generations are steaming more is because we grew up with more technology than the older guys, and are more comfortable having thousands of strangers be so ingrained into our content. There are exceptions, like Matt Colville, but generally, the younger generations are more likely to create Youtube and Twitch channels with D&D content. 

 

 I'm 48 and a software engineer/developer/consultant b ut I ain't ever gonna stream :-)

It is very pleasing to hear new teens getting into D&D because I think it is much more social and exciting once you get into it fully than any MMORPG or MOBA that you play with friends.  A lot does fall on the shoulders of the DM and its a lot of work. 

18-22 I played 1st into 2nd edition and those were the best years and memories of my life with my friends as I created a FR campaign and took them from level 1 to level 30 with only a scattering of deaths.

Being an OGG (Old Guy Gamer) myself at 52 puts me in your league. If you are feeling your age a bit more than is reasonable then pick up the mantle of teacher. 

Get involved with the youth and teach them how to do it right. Contact the local youth group, middle or high school, or other kid/young adult venue to see if they will allow you to start a group to train.

I have been running the high school group since 2007. The graduates of the first group have moved onto careers and families. I still get together with some of them to game. The excitement of the game runs strong through them and I reap the benefit of being energized myself. I get to learn newer tech stuff with them at a low pressure level. They are all good folks and will take the hobby into the future with them.

I'm glad I was there near the start and am able to help shape the present and future of the game in some small way.

Veteran gamers have a lot to teach.

[REDACTED] I'm 61 and started playing in January 1975. But a lot of us resisted gaming on line for awhile. Before Covid I'd have never considered gaming on line, and frankly, the tools got a lot better during Covid. I rarely read boards, and even more rarely post. But on-line gaming allowed me to reconnect with friends who've moved away, so I've embraced the concept. 

Sadly, it's still no substitute for sitting around a table with friends, rolling dice, and enjoying the group.

I agree that the stream density is much higher because the stream audience is a younger demographic than most of us.  I play with my kids (21 and 24, about to be 25) and my daughter's boyfriend (21? I think) and their friend (23 maybe?)  So at 49 I am MUCH older than my entire table, which is maybe why I am the "dad" of the group in game as well, lol.  Everyone comes to my character with their issues, just like at home.  

I wouldn't mind finding a way to set us up to stream.  They turned me on to the Critical Role stuff and I have been watching Campaign 2, for both ideas for RP and ideas for DMing.  From my perspective, my son does as good a job of DMing as Matt, and I am on episode 63 or so, which indicates I have a fair bit of comparison.  We, his players, are lacking, compared to the professional actors, oddly enough.  I think the foolishness and insanity that ensues at our table might draw views, though, so maybe one day I will invest in some cameras to start recording our sessions.

Super informative.  Thanks for asking...

https://www.famousbirthdays.com/webseries/critical-role.html

Critical Role members are all either 40+ or just approaching it. 

I run the gamut. My players are 55, 32, 25, and 10. And I'm 51.

9-50 in my groups; and I stopped counting my age because I'm part of that destined for immortality demographic mentioned in another thread and I wield that privilege irresponsibly so I no longer keep track of time on the plebeian solar cycle approximating calendars anymore.  My presence on this forum is in fact a luxury of my de facto access to infinity.

Quote from BigLizard >>

 

I wonder how much of that cycle will continue going forward because if history is repeating itself, the next conversation we are going to have is that D&D isn't realistic enough.

 We have that conversation every quarter. I'd like to think they lead players to experience other game systems in addition to D&D. There is more to RPGs than D&D.

Quote from Wysperra >>

Quote from BigLizard >>

 

I wonder how much of that cycle will continue going forward because if history is repeating itself, the next conversation we are going to have is that D&D isn't realistic enough.

 We have that conversation every quarter. I'd like to think they lead players to experience other game systems in addition to D&D. There is more to RPGs than D&D.

 Same goes for "D&D is too fighty, I like less challenge and more storytelling." There are a number of amazing narrative-focused RPGs out there whose designers deserve more attention! A lot of them do roleplay-heavy games much better than D&D.

Quote from Wysperra >>

Quote from BigLizard >>

 

I wonder how much of that cycle will continue going forward because if history is repeating itself, the next conversation we are going to have is that D&D isn't realistic enough.

 We have that conversation every quarter. I'd like to think they lead players to experience other game systems in addition to D&D. There is more to RPGs than D&D.

The realism/simulationist debate has popped up in every edition I know (which only discounts anything 1e, and I recall articles and interviews that strongly suggest it was a theme at the time too), I'm not sure it really turns along with the edition cycle. My money's on the notion that 5E as a ruleset, mechanically, is too shallow (which it both is and isn't, but if anyone wants to have that discussion with me I suggest private messages or a dedicated thread).  

Quote from Beardsinger >>

Quote from Third_Sundering >>

Wow, you're all so old.

(Just kidding. I'm 18, but I have a ton of respect for DMs over twice my age. You guys made this hobby survive long enough to make its way to my generation, so thank you)

 My youngest child is older than you. I would hazard a guess that most gamers my age simply aren’t interested in streaming. I don’t play online games, I don’t twitch or whatever it’s called. The only reason I started playing dnd online is because of the Covid lockdown. Now that it is pretty much over and people are returning to work, I find I have less and less time to play and have dropped out of many. The 2 games I ran per week have run their course and I have gone from 5 game sessions total per week to 1 game every other.  I wouldn’t dream of recording and putting them up on line.

(I'm turning 20 in about a week, it was awhile ago when I made that post.)

I definitely wouldn't be comfortable streaming my D&D games. I'm too awkward and socially anxious to do something like that, and I know no one would want to watch a bunch of teenagers awkwardly stream their games. I'm not sure if the generation difference actually makes much of a difference towards someone's feelings towards streaming their games, and if it does, it's almost definitely due to people who were brought into the hobby by Critical Role. 

Quote from Third_Sundering >>

Quote from Beardsinger >>

Quote from Third_Sundering >>

Wow, you're all so old.

(Just kidding. I'm 18, but I have a ton of respect for DMs over twice my age. You guys made this hobby survive long enough to make its way to my generation, so thank you)

 My youngest child is older than you. I would hazard a guess that most gamers my age simply aren’t interested in streaming. I don’t play online games, I don’t twitch or whatever it’s called. The only reason I started playing dnd online is because of the Covid lockdown. Now that it is pretty much over and people are returning to work, I find I have less and less time to play and have dropped out of many. The 2 games I ran per week have run their course and I have gone from 5 game sessions total per week to 1 game every other.  I wouldn’t dream of recording and putting them up on line.

(I'm turning 20 in about a week, it was awhile ago when I made that post.)

I definitely wouldn't be comfortable streaming my D&D games. I'm too awkward and socially anxious to do something like that, and I know no one would want to watch a bunch of teenagers awkwardly stream their games. I'm not sure if the generation difference actually makes much of a difference towards someone's feelings towards streaming their games, and if it does, it's almost definitely due to people who were brought into the hobby by Critical Role. 

 I'm 20 and feel similarly. My group and I play D&D that, at this point, is pretty close to what you see on Critical Role (but with a lot more combat and intensity). But streaming would take our game from personal and fun to...I don't know. Work? And I don't even know who in their right mind would want to routinely watch D&D, even if it's a really exemplary game. Streamers just make me cringe a bit.