Hmm...

Game Design & Tips?

I vote yea.

Quote from: RPGPunditProposed: that this forum's title be changed from "Game Design and Theory Forum" to "RPG Design and Game Master Coaching".

Yea, or nay? And why?

Nay.  I think the idea behind the change is good but "Coaching" is awful.  How about something like "RPG Design and Practical Gaming Advice" or something like that.  Emphasis on the "Practical".

Quote from: Levi KornelsenWhich is weird, cuz' I got the term from JimBob.

Well, the main idea was to distinguish it from "theory." Because not many gamers are interested in labelling their play style as "Alphaist" or "Boggist" or whatever, nor are they interested in discussing "scene framing" and stuff like that. But if you want to talk about how to scare players in a horror game, or whether giving out xp for this stuff encourages that other stuff, okay, people like to talk about that.

The stuff that sits around by itself and which you can discuss without naming any roleplaying game, or talking about what your game group did last night - that stuff is "theory." The stuff you can't separate from any particular roleplaying game book or session, that's "craft."

I'm not that fond of the word "craft," either. But I'm even less fond of "theory", both as a word and a bunch of ideas. The theory/craft or pure/applied split is one you see all over the place, it's a useful distinction.

In deciding whether to rename the subforum, what you have to decide is whether theory is welcome at all in the forum as a whole. Me, I'm happy to exclude pure theory from discussion, leaving us with applied craft. So I say, yep, rename it.

If I were to be designing an rpg forum, I'd probably give it subforums like this,

Roleplaying Discussion
For general discussion, rants and raves and anything else to do with gaming.

Recruitment
Discuss new campaign ideas and gauge interest from other gamers on

Game Design & House Rules
Adding house rules to your system? Turning your house rules into a whole system? Come here!

Over a Pint
Non-gaming banter and anything else that doesn't fit into the other forums

I wouldn't give "Craft" or "GM Coaching" its own subforum. It overlaps too much with general roleplaying game discussion. I've noticed here on this forum that "craft" sorts of discussions have happened in the main roleplaying subforum, and gone very well, with lots of interest. In the "craft" subforum, the same topics have fallen flat.

"Hosue rules" are probably "craft", really, but I'd still put them separately, because house rules really are game design. You're designing part of a game based on another game. Well, speaking from experience, when you design a whole game, you have to do it in parts, too.

Quote from: SettembriniMy vote is for

Game Design & DM Coaching

I'll stop coming here if any proprietary words or acronyms are put in any of the forum names.  

I don't want there to be no place on the internet for dissenting theory.  That name would kill it , Sett.

I also vote "nay" on the name being changed to "RPG Design and Game Master Coaching"

Change it to RPG Design and Craft.  I like that suggestion.

QuoteIt overlaps too much with general roleplaying game discussion. I've noticed here on this forum that "craft" sorts of discussions have happened in the main roleplaying subforum, and gone very well, with lots of interest.

You convinced me. Having different subforae isn´t always helping. Less is more, sometimes. No need to label and seperate technique talk, let it just spread and bloom on it´s own!

@GM vs DM: I really don´t care much. Whatever gives you a better feeling.

Quote from: JimBobOzGame Design & House Rules
Adding house rules to your system? Turning your house rules into a whole system? Come here!

Ohh... I like this.

House RULES!

"Gotta have House Music all night long... With that House Music you can't go wrong..."

"Game Design", or "RPG Design", I can tolerate; but PLEASE don't call it "Craft" or "Coaching". The two "C's" sound lame to me. Craft makes me think of knitting a sweater, or reminds me of butter. Isn't there a butter named "Craft"? And Coaching.....eh...I don't like it.

Keep the name, short but sweet. Please?

i'm down for whatever as long as the section of the site containing -ism's is clearly marked so i can avoid it.

The thing about 'coaching' is: who's coaching whom? It just isn't like that.

Game Design & GM Workshop

Regards,
David R

Quote from: David RGame Design & GM Workshop

Regards,
David R

Not bad, but the problem is that it makes me think of "Games Workshop". That's probably not our goal, however.

Quote from: Sacrificial LambNot bad, but the problem is that it makes me think of "Games Workshop". That's probably not our goal, however.

Very true.

My original idea was lumping the whole forum under the heading GameWorks...but I thought the Pundit may have a heart attack

Regards,
David R

How about "RPG Design & Analysis" plus (if it's included here and not in the general forum) "GMing Workshop" ?