How Do the Japanese Play TRPG? (with Andy Kitkowski)

Andy Kitkowski discusses how the overworked Japanese lifestyle affects tabletop gaming habits in Japan.

Here are some links to the products he has translated & his website.

Playlists

Open the World Map:

Learn How to Play D&D 5E series:

Link to the D&D 5E Class Guide playlist:

How to Dungeon Master playlist:

[tedankhamenbonnah]

I went to an RPG convention 20 years ago. What struck me was 1) 90% were women players and 2) 4 different tables were running the same Gundam RPG scenario (Shar's Counterattack) simultaneously as a competition with prizes for the MVP. Very unique. Also at a kominkan (community centre) as people don't have house space for games.

[creepycharisma]

I lowkey want an anime centered around a game of D&D, not just the events of the campaign but also around the party in their real life. Maybe a slice of life with the content of the game bringing it into the fantasy genre.

[kallebroxvall]

This was pretty interesting. Good interview!

[stevetheduck]

The Japanese take on GURPS was interesting when I found it, the world of Yuell is a traditional fantasy game, and even has the mechanic of character classes / lenses driven by which god or path they are living in, but otherwise, the flavour is definitely the group against the environment, usually with few 'loner' characters.

The older 'Record of Lodoss Wars' manga / anime covers how traditional elves and dwarves fantasy campaigns similar to DnD goes with Japanese players.

[SmileyTrilobite]

As linguistically goofy as it is, "Delicious in Dungeon" abbreviates to DinD...DnD...D&D. I thought it was cute, at least.

[dmcdraws]

I think one reason we grognards favor old rules systems is simply that it's stored in long-term memory. As I've been learning (and DMing) 5e, it's been a struggle to learn/remember the rules, whereas if I were to run 2e, I could do it without even cracking a book most of the time. I will say CJ that your videos have helped tons, though!

[zakuguriin]

I wish someone would bring Sword World over here to the United States. After finding out that Ryou Mizuno created The Record of Lodoss War based off campaigns he ran in Sword World with his friends, I just want to play this even more.

I would pay good money to buy these books to be able to play this here with my friends.

[ehirdman]

I really like the smaller form factor of the Japanese TRPGs. Wonder if we could ever get an English release of Sword World 2.5? If anyone knows where I could find it, even just a fan translation, hit me up.

[Maehedrose]

"We don't just role dice and walk through the door, they roleplay" - I could never enjoy these games; I've been invited to a few over the years, but it's never a great experience even if the other players are cool people. I play rpgs to roleplay.

I am from that older generation, but I was introduced to Indi games when I found I hated 3E Dungeons and Dragons, and it opened my eyes to a much larger and more rewarding rpg world.

If I were to give advice to GMs, it's "read many game systems and settings", a well designed game system or setting can open your eyes to entirely new ways to play.

[FyreMagyk]

The Tabletop cafes that Andy talked of remind me of Fantasy Flight. Really interesting stuff here!

[nashwinston]

Man coming back to this video five years later to see Delicious in Dungeon sweep the internet.

[Kuwaiden]

This was a great interview. Exploring how different cultures conduct games has always been a fascination of mine, and hearing the insight from a someone like Andy was definitely a good glimpse into it.
I do wonder why the culture of replays took off so strongly in the Japanese market while the US tends to only have official published novels? Is it a licensing issue with using the official names of the games they play or is it a publishing cost reason?

[colinflanigan]

Below is an article on Japanese RPG and Andy Kitkowski is referenced!

[harbringerf]

Just came across you in my recommended. Your a really great presenter subbed!.

[WaluigiTimer]

I am really interested in this Sword World 2.5 does anyone know where I can find a translation on the web or if someone's petitioning to get it localized?

[MonStarGuy]

10:00 This reminds me of Kaiji Tang's playstyle on D&D's Dark & Dicey. They even joke that Dark & Dicey is their favorite anime.

[MrsDeprimente]

you should interview brazilians too. around here we play a lot rpg and there are some famous figures on the rpg scene

[Dracopol]

Again, you should entitle this one Part 2 of 2, and the previous one Part 1 of 2.

[chlorolupus]

Call of Cthulhu is generally more popular in East Asia due to it being more related to their background, and a relatively lack of language barrier.( I live in Hong Kong and DnD 5e does not have an official Chinese translation, people I know use unofficial translations to play most trpgs here)

[YoshiroPoh]

I must be so brave, that I joined a japanese-hosted Arma 3 server.... not a trpg... but a military rpg... to some extent :P
But it's definitely an interesting experience...