Games you'd like to play, but can't

Balbinus · September 28, 2006, 06:21:40 AM

There was a thread about Transhuman Space on rpg.net, a game I initially got very buzzed about. I bought the books, read them, tried to work out how to run it and failed utterly.

The fact the books basically include no advice on how to run adventures in a very unusual setting does not help.

They're now on my sale list, I still like the game, I just have no idea what to do with it and ultimately that destroys its value for me.

What about you? The reasons may differ, but are there any games about that you'd like to play but for some reason can't? And why not?

Imperator · September 28, 2006, 06:25:35 AM

Quote from: BalbinusWhat about you? The reasons may differ, but are there any games about that you'd like to play but for some reason can't? And why not?

Exalted. I can't finish the fucking book. There are very cool ideas in it, but it's too clunky and there are a bajillion of Charms... and the same reason I don't run D&D. I can't finish reading the book. I get bored when I read the Feats thing.

Also, in both games statting NPCs can be hell.

Mr. Analytical · September 28, 2006, 06:45:25 AM

Yeah, I'd love to play THS because I adore the types of books that have informed it. I can even think of a few things to do with it but I simply can't deal with GURPS. Far too much number crunching and the core book is SO boring to read because it's like 400 pages of nothing but crunch and tables.

Adventure! is another game I'd like to play because I think it's really nicely put together but while I quite enjoy pulp things from the point of view of a passive observer, I can't write pulp to save my life. I feel uncomfortable with the contrived nature of the genre.

Sosthenes · September 28, 2006, 08:01:01 AM

Dying Earth. I'd really like to have a horde of Cugels fight amongst themselves, but it's not likely I'll ever get there. My current group is great, but they don't exactly excel when it comes to improvising flowering dialogue. Apart from that, Vance's thesaurus-speak doesn't translate all that well.

(Gee, I remember the time when they were trapped in some dream and had to talk in rhymes to the person dreaming... I was expecting quick couplets and they took ages to compose whole poems.)

Mr. Analytical · September 28, 2006, 08:12:07 AM

Dude, there IS such a thing as having unfair expectations of your players.

joewolz · September 28, 2006, 09:36:17 AM

Mine is Broncosaurus Rex. It's probably my favorite game that I can't run. Mostly because I've never encountered anyone who wants to play it.

Even after all my friends became Firefly fans, "Firefly with Dinosaurs" still didn't get them stoked enough to want to play it.

::sigh:: I so want to play that game...

jrients · September 28, 2006, 09:43:32 AM

I tried running Nobilis once. Other people seem to dig it, but my session was an utter trainwreck. The mechanics felt awkward rolling around in my brain and the setting was vast and unsympathetic. Sometimes I'd like to try again but why push a boulder up a hill when so many other games are more willing to meet me halfway?

Akrasia · September 28, 2006, 09:56:44 AM

Angel/Buffy.

Love the shows, love Cinematic Unisystem, but can't ever seem to get a game going (both because I have a hard time coming up with ideas as a GM, and because so few gamers I've known seemed interested).

mythusmage · September 28, 2006, 10:12:42 AM

Mythus: Because I'm having a hard time finding people to play with.

ColonelHardisson · September 28, 2006, 12:13:11 PM

HackMaster. I just could never convince my group to play it.

HinterWelt · September 28, 2006, 12:31:15 PM

Rifts. This is purely a subjective issue. I have the roughest time coming up with adventures and when I do, the group inevitably wants a stick wielding barbarian next to a glitter boy. It isn't just the difference in technology, I just have trouble with a lot of the concept.

Like I said, though, a lot of other folks have no such problems.

Bill

The Yann Waters · September 28, 2006, 01:30:50 PM

Quote from: jrientsI tried running Nobilis once. Other people seem to dig it, but my session was an utter trainwreck. The mechanics felt awkward rolling around in my brain and the setting was vast and unsympathetic.

Eh, in practice that setting is exactly as vast as you wish it to be. You could even run an entire campaign without the PCs ever stepping outside their Chancel, instead concentrating on the various problems that might trouble the realm, such as local Banes or unexpected guests from beyond space and time: Creation is certainly immense, but there's no need to go wandering around the worlds of Yggdrasil unless that's what the group wants from the game. As for the mechanics (as seen here), they probably prove more confusing to gamers who have grown accustomed to randomizers, but I've found that complete newbies get used to the system very quickly indeed.

Xavier Lang · September 28, 2006, 03:01:28 PM

SLA Industries. I just like the feel of it. I've played in a couple of short campaigns - 2-5 sessions a piece and I would like to do more. Not enough interest amongst the people I know.

JamesV · September 28, 2006, 03:39:40 PM

May I provide a variation? This is a game I'd like to play again, but can't.
I ran exalted for a span off and on for three years, it was a great campaign and we all had fun. Now, for the life of me I'll probably never run or play it again, even though I'd like to. All I can remember is how weary I could get running a combat between exalts. It was flashy, but gods was it not only drawn out, but in a more complicated fashion than a typical D&D slugfest.

The Yann Waters · September 28, 2006, 03:41:47 PM

In retrospect, I've always been lucky in that folks ask me to run the kind of games I enjoy: Nob, Mage, Puppetland... Sailor Moon comes up in a conversation, and someone mentions that she would like to try out the RPG. Another player notices Engel on my shelves and promptly says to give him a call if I ever start running it. So this really has never been a problem.

Games you'd like to play, but can't

Mr. Analytical

Mr. Analytical