Its not a Regular RPG if...

RPGPundit · August 01, 2007, 02:12:19 AM

Someone's sig around here says "Its not a real RPG if the GM can't do a total party kill without the players consent".

I agree very deeply with that statement. So what else would constitute examples that would make a game NOT a Regular RPG?

As in "its not a Regular RPG if..."

RPGPundit

Kyle Aaron · August 01, 2007, 03:06:59 AM

... if there are no junk food snacks.

... if there are no dice.

Koltar · August 01, 2007, 04:04:38 AM

...if the rules are trying to force the players to have a particular mood or feeling.

...if the text of the rules book reads like a psychology textbook.

droog · August 01, 2007, 08:01:31 AM

...it's not about making stuff up.

Alnag · August 01, 2007, 08:02:18 AM

...if you can't kill them and take their stuff.

kryyst · August 01, 2007, 08:11:04 AM

If your character's stats look more like they are made of feelings the cold hard numbers.

Sosthenes · August 01, 2007, 08:19:56 AM

...I say so.

TonyLB · August 01, 2007, 08:34:04 AM

Quote from: Sosthenes...I say so.

Uh ... which way does this work? If you say it's not a regular RPG then you are correct? Or if you say that it is a regular RPG then that's proof positive that it isn't?

Either way would actually be really cool ... I'm just groovin' on the ambiguity.

Sosthenes · August 01, 2007, 08:36:58 AM

Well, Tony, can we really be sure that our paths of communication is clear -- or even whether the communicator is really the one we assume he is? Therefore, post-modern doctrine leaves us in an undecided space.
Or put this way: If you put a book in a box, at one time it might be a RPG .. or not.

JamesV · August 01, 2007, 09:01:11 AM

If there are not clearly defined spheres of player and GM control.

kregmosier · August 01, 2007, 09:02:42 AM

Quote from: RPGPunditSo what else would constitute examples that would make a game NOT a Regular RPG?

As in "its not a Regular RPG if..."

someone on an internet forum tells me it's not?! hahaha :haw:

Ian Absentia · August 01, 2007, 09:13:14 AM

...if it doesn't appeal to the lowest common denominator.

!i!

Warthur · August 01, 2007, 09:29:01 AM

...as a player I'm expected to pay more attention to the situation as a whole than to my character.

In my opinion, once you get to the point where the emphasis is (as they say over at story games) "Our Story" as opposed to "My Character", you may as well junk the idea that each player controls a specific character and just give everyone GMing powers, with a system there to determine who gets to narrate what happens next. If you want to design a story game, actually design a story game, don't design a hybrid where I'm supposed to be thinking about the story but I still have a special character who is "my character", as if it's a traditional RPG or something.

JohnnyWannabe · August 01, 2007, 09:31:52 AM

...if geeks don't argue about its contents on internet fora.

joewolz · August 01, 2007, 09:35:16 AM

Quote from: Warthur...as a player I'm expected to pay more attention to the situation as a whole than to my character.

In my opinion, once you get to the point where the emphasis is (as they say over at story games) "Our Story" as opposed to "My Character", you may as well junk the idea that each player controls a specific character and just give everyone GMing powers, with a system there to determine who gets to narrate what happens next. If you want to design a story game, actually design a story game, don't design a hybrid where I'm supposed to be thinking about the story but I still have a special character who is "my character", as if it's a traditional RPG or something.

That's why Prime Time Adventure is the epitome of Story Game.