If you could delete one concept in rpg design, what would it be?

Dr Rotwang! · February 19, 2008, 08:59:01 PM

Quote from: BalbinusI like characters to change, but advancement I think makes us too focussed on jam tomorrow rather than jam today and I think it breads huge rules complexity.

Fixed your typo.

GET IT?!

Dr Rotwang! · February 19, 2008, 09:01:14 PM

Okay, okay. Delete one design concept...? Ah!

"Playing this way is better than playing that way, so play this way and don't be a plebe."

Balbinus · February 19, 2008, 09:08:44 PM

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Fixed your typo.

GET IT?!

Aiiee! My beautifully crafted post, over which I spent many hours, now contains a pun.

Curse you Rotwang! Curse you to hell! To hell I say!

On an unrelated note, I saw tonight that the new NWoD book contains rules for car repairs. I can see why that could be important in a horror game actually, but not why it's so important you couldn't just ask for a quick roll with a relevant skill.

Over time, systems tend to bloat...

James McMurray · February 19, 2008, 09:09:59 PM

Quote from: BalbinusMe too, though James makes a good case also.

I usually do.

Quote from: Dr Rotwang!Okay, okay. Delete one design concept...? Ah!

"Playing this way is better than playing that way, so play this way and don't be a plebe."

As usual, Rotwang hits in on the head. (hopefully with a club made of penicillin)

John Morrow · February 19, 2008, 09:31:24 PM

Quote from: James McMurrayAs usual, Rotwang hits in on the head. (hopefully with a club made of penicillin)

Bang! Bang! Rotwang's silver hammer
Came down on upon it's head.
Bang! Bang! Rotwang's silver hammer
Made sure that it was dead.

Caesar Slaad · February 19, 2008, 09:38:08 PM

Quote from: Pierce InverarityPC script immunity, i.e. Dragonlance.

That's a good one.

I torn between that, "disads as point farms", "all PCs are cut from the same cloth", and "xp/compensation for florid description or roleplay".

EDIT: These are all fine things to disdain, how could I forget:

"Roll-your-own traits". For me, defeats the purpose of having a gaming system.

Blackleaf · February 19, 2008, 09:41:23 PM

"Rule Zero" and associated dice fudging, railroading, and Illusionism. It's all part of the same concept.

Pierce Inverarity · February 19, 2008, 09:49:52 PM

Quote from: Caesar Slaad"disads as point farms",

Had I ever played GURPS, this one may well have made the list...

KrakaJak · February 19, 2008, 09:51:09 PM

Things I would get rid of?

Generic Systems and/or generic settings. In my mind, they are married.

"System Mastery" or any sort of focus or rewards for the same.

Large pools of hit points (or equivalent). I prefer when HP is easy to quantify into physical character damage.

The idea that railroading, cliche's and predictability are bad things.

Seanchai · February 19, 2008, 10:58:01 PM

Maybe flaws. They give the player points for creating more work for the GM. I mean, seriously, you take "Addiction to Gambling" and I have to remember you've got it, to work it into the game, etc., to make sure you're not getting free points.

Seanchai

Haffrung · February 19, 2008, 11:23:31 PM

Mapped out character builds.

Ian Absentia · February 19, 2008, 11:58:00 PM

Quote from: HaffrungMapped out character builds.

By this, do you mean ready-to-play character templates?

!i!

David Johansen · February 20, 2008, 12:31:59 AM

That's a tough question really.

For instance, I don't think random character creation or point buy is inherently bad, but there are certainly plenty of bad implementations of both.

I don't think classes are bad if you want a quick character creation system for a game where pcs die in droves. But to then tie them to endless complications and skill systems seems pretty self defeating (Rolemaster you say? Nah, RM is a skill system where the skill costs are bought on points in the form of a balanced template, not a class system)

Anyhow, mine would be the core book that isn't complete enough to run the game without buying supplements. I can't stand that.

walkerp · February 20, 2008, 12:32:47 AM

Quote from: KrakaJakGeneric Systems and/or generic settings. In my mind, they are married.

What the hell is a generic setting?

David Johansen · February 20, 2008, 12:47:57 AM

Generic Setting:

Here is a vibrant new fantasy world with elves, dwarves, and +1 swords, only the elves braid their hair and the dwarves get their beards permed.

Here is a vibrant new science fiction world where there are ftl starships furry aliens and energy swords but as a twist the energy swords are used by a cult of psychics who have undermined the democratic federation.

Here is a vibrant new comic book world with analogues of all your favourite characters with name and costume changes.