I've noticed a lot of threads here since I've started posting, and a few have really caught my eye as unique perspectives on the games I like to play. However it seems like all too often these threads either lose their steam and drift after a short period of time, or degenerate into some name calling if people feel strongly enough.

So my question is, is it fun? Do you enjoy discussing Game Theory and Design? Why?

My own answer has evolved from an ignorant maybe to a definite no. The more i read here the less I like the design process, and the theory end of games, and less I want to know the people who make them.

When I bought Shadowrun I purchased it because it was cool. It covered a subject matter I had never really seen done in games, in a way I could relate to. I didn't even know it used a different system than 2nd edition AD&D until I bought it. And even then it had little to do with why we liked the game.

The more I read here, the more disappointed I get. Some of you people are the people designing and creating games for people like me to buy. The more I read, the less I want to buy. Hell, the less I want to game.

And I don't like feeling like that. (Which is why my posting has dropped, as my interest has waned.)

As a creative person, I like creating things. I work on Music, acting, pro-wrestling, film, art . . .etc. If It's a creative outlet, you can bet it's a hobby of mine. (Did I mention I'm a GM most of the time?)

I think game theory is not really the place for the "audience". I don't mean just players, but also GM's who already enjoy running a game they have in a universe they enjoy with rules they like.

Theory is for players who would like to push the boundaries past what is already available. Those discussing may not be making their own game, but I'm sure there's the hope that their idea might see print or become a law someday. Theory is like taking something that doesn't exist in anywhere but someones headspace and giving it a reference point, so that somone can apply it. If any of these theories prove true, the new law can only improve the future RPG's that follow it.

I like discussing ideas on how things work.

I also rapidly get annoyed with any such idea when it is pushed to the exclusion of other ideas.

I enjoy dissing theory, which involves discussing theory, so I had to answer yes.

I like taking things apart to see how they don't work.

I enjoy discussing (to the best of my ability) political theory, sociological theory, anthropological theory, literary theory, art theory and linguistic theory. It would be kind of weird if I didn't enjoy discussing theory to do with my one and only hobby.

Fuck RPG theory.

Yep, I like to discuss theory, but all kind of theory (not only RPG) ...

That said, I don't want to discuss theory for the sake of discussing theory !!! It needs to serve something ; it needs to be useful !!!

Otherwise, it's just empty vacuum, intellectual masturbation ...

You've got around eighty years on this earth, and you've got to talk about something. Beats sports. Doesn't quite beat gossiping about your friends, but there's only so much of that you can do.

I find it useful to discuss RPG design and theory.  It helps me clarify some of my ideas, and there are some really good suggestions from a few other people.  There's a lot of rubbish to wade through, though... and that makes it a lot less fun than it could be.

Too much time is wasted just building up which preferences one has.
That´s a big downer for me, especially as most discussions don´t reach the core of what´s really at stake.

I´ll move on and will rather discuss strategical and tactical challenge and rules design in the future.

But should the Swine start any new efforts, I´ll be there to repell them.
:hehe:

I think it's about 80% useless.

I do enjoy verbally abusing various theory-advocates, though.

Ideas are great.  I love talking about cool, potentially useful ideas.
 
When those discussions become rigid, unnecessarily complicated/formalized, exclusionary, and  One-True-Way in nature, that's where I grab my hat and coat.

I like RPGs.

I also like to think deeply about simple things.

I also like to talk to people about the things I think, and learn about the things they think.

There are simple things in RPGs, and in how we as human beings respond to RPGs, that I think merit deep thought:  the way we interact, the way we form a narrative, the way we respond to games and to chance, etc., etc.

I loves me some RPG theory discussion, yep!  How could I not?

Q: Do you have fun discussing theory?

A: No. I'm too stupid to understand it, and not motivated enough to try.

-clash

I have had theory discussions which proved engaging and enlightening.

But my experience is there is so much anecdote and ego involved, odds are that a given theory discussion will be more annoying than useful.