Quote from: grubmanI'm at a point now where my criteria are so tight that I'm finding there is actually very little (new games) I like anymore.  Anyone else suffer from the same problem?

Is knowing what you want really a problem?

Myself I'm usually down on archaic (and totally unnecessary) secondary attributes. In fact, a reasonably low number of stats/attributes is becoming a necessity for me.

No percentile games.

By far the biggest criteria is who is involved. I have a list of authors, designers and companies that are red-flagged as providers of pure, pointless crap.

There are others but I can't think of them right now.

My criteria has become. . . somewhat tight. There are two ways that I look at games. . . as a mundane player and as a Game Master. There are games that I will play but likely never GM (e.g., Burning Wheel, D&D 3x) and vice versa (e.g., Mutant Chronicles). There are also games that I will gladly play and GM (e.g., Risus, The Window), or that I won't touch at all (e.g., ). What it comes down to is this. . .

As a player, I want lots of options and the potential for immersion. If a game only has one or the other, I probably won't be interested in playing it. As a GM, I also want options -- but I want them to be mechanically efficient. If I have  to jump through 20 hoops in a game to achieve the exact same result that I could obtain via a greatly streamlined process, I probably won't GM that game. Play it? Possibly. GM it? Very, very, unlikely.

So. . . in order for me to want to play and GM a game, I need mechanically efficient options and the potential for immersive play. If a game has none of those things, and I'd just assume not waste my money on it.

I like simple systems that give me tools for a lot of stuff, but keep those tools blunt simple. I prefer those systems to support the suggested play of any settings included. (Hence I don't like Exalted, because the system, does not to me support the style of setting--its too rigid and unfluid)

I like fluidity and enough amorphousness in mechanics to give me wiggle room for  creating cool things--for example I converted Gurps Spirits magic system to BESM2E with a simple add on for Dynamic sorcery. Because Dynamic Sorcery was fluid mechanic, not a rigid one that worked only one way.

I prefer if your giving me numbers in a game, that those numbers mean something mechanically too. Hence I don't like D&D's attribute profile much anymore (3-18 but only ever two points count for effecting most outcomes)--and vastly prefer True 20's.

What the PCs do has to sound interesting to me.

"Reclaim civilization from a techno-magical wasteland with giant robots and dragons and psychics and shit" sounds interesting. "Pretend to be Igor and roll dice until the story reaches its one ending" does not.

I'm kind of shallow when it comes to a game. I want an interesting setting or the capacity to bolt one on, the prospect of action (preferably violent action), and a lack of metagame mechanics beyond a collection of 'fudge points'. And I want to roll dice.

Edit: As it turns out, even fancy names and prick designers don't bug me. I broke down on Burning Wheel.

I don't really have a problem with my arbitrary tastes.  I should feel poorer for having saved my money on games that don't interest me?

Quote from: jrientsI'll try darn near any RPG once, but nowadays I generally only buy retro stupid stuff.

Hah!  I'm much the same way, anymore.  There's a few things I don't particularly like, but I'm easy-going enough to at least play anything once.

Running is generally a bit different.  I used to hate games with high overhead (Exalted, D&D, etc.) but since I started prepping D&D I've found that they don't have to be annoying chores.

I guess I'm just mellowing out as I grow older.  Grubman, maybe you should too.  Your burn-out post on the Purple makes me think you hit the same sort of funk I did a year or so ago.

Stop chasing The One True Game and The One True Gaming Experience.  Roleplaying's the geek equivalent of poker night, and letting it frustrate you is the only way to game wrong.  

Quote from: Consonant DudeIs knowing what you want really a problem?

It is when you really really want to buy something new and can't find anything.  I think having money and nothing to buy is just as bad as wanting something and not having the money to get it.

Quote from: RedFoxI guess I'm just mellowing out as I grow older.  Grubman, maybe you should too.  Your burn-out post on the Purple makes me think you hit the same sort of funk I did a year or so ago.

a funk is right.  Today I went into my "box-o-unfinished projects" this morning and found the FAST game I started a while back.  I actually found it read well, and am thinking of doing some work with it again.  I'm on the verge of being inspired again.

Quote from: grubmanI think having money and nothing to buy is just as bad as wanting something and not having the money to get it.

Out of sheer civic-mindedness, I am willing to help you with your grave difficulty of having too much money.  You don't need to bear this burden alone!

Don't be selfish, Tony. Why should you get all the pleasure of helping people? Grubman, I'm here for you too.

Quote from: grubmanIt is when you really really want to buy something new and can't find anything.  I think having money and nothing to buy is just as bad as wanting something and not having the money to get it.

Here's my sincere recommendation: design a game, again.

I know you've done it in the past. You may not have been satisfied then. You might not be the next time. But it is an intersting exercise and YOU will be the target audience of the product.

Quote from: grubmanOver the years I've (literally) digested hundreds of RPGs.  During all this play/read time I've definitely discovered things that I like and don't like.  I've also discovered things that are an immediate turn –off to the point where I won't even give the game a chance...because I know I won't like it.

For example, if a game has "hit locations" I automatically put it down.  

P.S. There are really only 2 flawless games for me, Star Frontiers and Basic D&D (go figure)

To each his own, grubman. Personally I hate games without hit locations, but then again I have fond memories of star frontiers as my first rpg. (Man they were giving those things away after a while...)

Quote from: grubmanIt is when you really really want to buy something new and can't find anything.  I think having money and nothing to buy is just as bad as wanting something and not having the money to get it.

You're talking about burnout, pure and simple.  Happens to everyone in every hobby.

The only sure cure is to walk away.  If you come back, super.  You'll see everything new again.  If you don't, you'll have saved time and money on a hobby that's turned into work.

I got out of Magic (twice) when it stopped being fun.  I got out of anime and from video games.  This summer will mark the first time in seven years I haven't gone to an Otakon.

I could beat myself up over all the fun I could be having on those old hobbies, but I choose to take a realistic view: If it doesn't look good enough to make me come raring back, it probably isn't.

Let me close with a little help from my ol' buddy Humungus.


Just walk away.  I will give you safe passage through the wasteland.  Just walk away and there will be an end to the horror.

Thanks, big guy.

When the fun's gone, it's gone.  Forcing it doesn't do yourself any favors.

Quote from: grubmanOver the years I’ve (literally) digested hundreds of RPGs.  During all this play/read time I’ve definitely discovered things that I like and don’t like.  I’ve also discovered things that are an immediate turn –off to the point where I won’t even give the game a chance…because I know I won’t like it.

For example, if a game has “hit locations” I automatically put it down.  I’m also very turned off by games that try to use artsy fartsy terms to describe character attributes (It’s frigging Strength!).  Wound systems aren’t a deal breaker for me, but I’m very fond of less concentration straining “Hit point” type systems.  The list goes on and on.

I’m at a point now where my criteria are so tight that I’m finding there is actually very little (new games) I like anymore.  Anyone else suffer from the same problem?

P.S. There are really only 2 flawless games for me, Star Frontiers and Basic D&D (go figure)

I guess this is true for me, too.

I like games that keep it simple and keep it flexible. These include Fudge, basic D&D (the rules Cyclopedia rocks my world), Gamma World, BRP, Toon, etc.

I must be able to run it cold and stupid.  If I can do that, then my crew can play it cold and stupid, and that means a winner.