You often see a discussion on the tubes or have an argument around the gaming table about what is 'realistic' as applied to the current situation of the game. There is often a fair bit of difference of opinion. Is this difference of opinion on how to apply the rules of the game to the situation at hand or because we all have a different idea of what is realistic? Do our real life experiences colour what we think of as a realistic outcome in the fictional world and if it does, does it not make it an anecdotal reality?

The thing is very few gamers have actual, practical experience breaking into Fort Knox, piloting a spacecraft through hyperspace and into the Typ system or using using a magical incantation to summon the demon Zgortha-Kan.    

I suppose there are roleplayers in the armed forces whose own personal experience can be relevant to a game like Twilight 2000, but for the rest of us all we got is what we see in the movies. So in that respect "reality" isn't even anecdotal, it's Hollywood.

Quote from: One Horse Town;334441You often see a discussion on the tubes or have an argument around the gaming table about what is 'realistic' as applied to the current situation of the game. There is often a fair bit of difference of opinion. Is this difference of opinion on how to apply the rules of the game to the situation at hand or because we all have a different idea of what is realistic? Do our real life experiences colour what we think of as a realistic outcome in the fictional world and if it does, does it not make it an anecdotal reality?

All the above, and then some.

There are differences of opinions on how to apply the rules, differences of experiences informing what is "believable", "realistic" and what isn't, there is confirmation bias and egos getting in the way (i.e. people who want to be right, no matter the actual argument), et cetera. And there are situations that are purely theoretical or worse, fantastical, in nature (cf. Soylent Green's post).

It's more complex than it looks.

In my old/pretty recent group I have at least two players who had practice breaking into things or places. (sort of 'legal' within context)
At least one competitive swimmer/athlete (she was also a professional cartographer)
Three individuals that knew outdoor camping and survival  REALLY well, better than me.
At least 4 of us know or knew our way around firearms / guns.

So , yeah in a game session I might say: "Is this plausible or somewhat realistic?"

If the consensus was yes - or I bought the reasoning - then thats whast I went with.

 Oh and that does not in any way give "narrative control" to players or other silly crap like that . Its just a quick reality check opr 'almost reality' check being cashed.


- Ed C.

Nothing is real. Everything is permitted.

Well I think most gamers when they argue about realism they are really arguing about verisimilitude. Of course it's all rather subjective and informed by experience.

Regards,
David R

Quote from: David R;334486Well I think most gamers when they argue about realism they are really arguing about verisimilitude. Of course it's all rather subjective and informed by experience.

Regards,
David R

Extremely subjective and usually brought in only to influence a ruling in favour of the player

My 2 cents,
  I have an anecdote that I "think" will shed some light on this discussion.
  For a long time I have watched various athletic events and seen some world records and thought I had a pretty good handle on what humans can and can't do with their bodies.

  All of that changed once I saw a show called Ninja Warrior (in America, it's called Sasuke in Japan). In this show, I have sen things I previously thought was impossible. If I were to say a person could jump 5 feet and catch their entire weight by their fingertips, only two kinds of people would believe me, someone who has seen it or someone who has done it.

  And yet, everyone once in a while, me and my Ninja Warrior watching friends will STILL get in an argument over what it possible or not.

  What does this mean? Well, of course your understanding of reality is limited to your experiences. And gamers are always going to argue about what is and isn't humanly possible.

  No change please.

Quote from: dindenver;334505My 2 cents,
  I have an anecdote that I "think" will shed some light on this discussion.
  For a long time I have watched various athletic events and seen some world records and thought I had a pretty good handle on what humans can and can't do with their bodies.

  All of that changed once I saw a show called Ninja Warrior (in America, it's called Sasuke in Japan). In this show, I have sen things I previously thought was impossible. If I were to say a person could jump 5 feet and catch their entire weight by their fingertips, only two kinds of people would believe me, someone who has seen it or someone who has done it.

  And yet, everyone once in a while, me and my Ninja Warrior watching friends will STILL get in an argument over what it possible or not.

  What does this mean? Well, of course your understanding of reality is limited to your experiences. And gamers are always going to argue about what is and isn't humanly possible.

  No change please.

Interesting.  I have seen people do incredible acts of fighting too, suspended only from the flimsiest of wires!

At the end of the day, you are on shaky ground when arguing reality in an RPG, especially a fantasy one. Its not completly pointless as some basis of reality generally helps with immersion, but nevertheless.

Correspondence to reality, in a fantasy game, is irrelevant.

What matters is that the system is internally consistent.

Quote from: One Horse Town;334441You often see a discussion on the tubes or have an argument around the gaming table about what is 'realistic' as applied to the current situation of the game. There is often a fair bit of difference of opinion. Is this difference of opinion on how to apply the rules of the game to the situation at hand or because we all have a different idea of what is realistic? Do our real life experiences colour what we think of as a realistic outcome in the fictional world and if it does, does it not make it an anecdotal reality?

Of course.

Seanchai

Quote from: GnomeWorks;334638Correspondence to reality, in a fantasy game, is irrelevant.

What matters is that the system is internally consistent.

I'll agree with this. Reality is too complicated to mimic with simple gaming rules.

For example, attitudes / levels of enthusiasm never come into play in a fight according to the game rules, unless someone breaks moral. In my opinion, one of the biggest aspects of real fighting is how enthused the participants are about it. What's more dangerous to you? A guy in full police riot gear, years of martial training, and a truck load of weapons who happens to have a very compassionate heart and has never hurt anyone before, or your crazy girlfriend / ex girlfriend that has become enraged and grabbed a knife while you are buzzed or tired?

Simple initiative bonuses don't do justice to real complexity, but it is all the rules ever entail... and usually if someone tries to make rules for it, they end up seeming unfair or stupid.