I've experienced three very interesting sci-fi works in the last year. Black Mirror (tv series), Arrival (the movie) and SOMA (the videogame). And looking to the genre in the tabletop environment, it occurred to me there is no way this medium can translate in an effective manner the kind of experiences those works provide.

Then I tried to come up with an reasoning. Why is that? Well, I think a good sci-fi work is one that has the changing of humanity through technology in the center of the story. Black Mirror does it. Arrival does it. SOMA does it. And no RPG I've seen does it. What sci-fi RPGs they do is have sci-fi as a veneer, or coat of paint, for stories or situations mostly about action and combat. Perhaps the best shot the medium had at depicting the kind of (actual) sci-fi seen in the aforementioned works is the game Shock: Social Science Fiction. But honestly, it's a gaming style so far from usual RPGs that I dont know if have the interest to try it.  

So, thoughts? Are there genres the tabletop medium can't really do? If so, should we accept this fact and move on, or is worth trying to find a way to do it?

I'd argue that what RPGs do is use a given genre as a veneer for stories about action and combat.  Luckily, that's mostly what I'm looking for.  Even in Call of Cthulhu.  In general, I think "deeper" endeavours require a degree of ability from both the gm and the players such that it just isn't a realistic expectation of the medium...it's the search for that (I feel) that brought on the efforts to increase the narrative aspects of RPGs (to their detriment, imho.)

Quote from: Zevious Zoquis;984776I'd argue that what RPGs do is use a given genre as a veneer for stories about action and combat.  Luckily, that's mostly what I'm looking for.  Even in Call of Cthulhu.  In general, I think "deeper" endeavours require a degree of ability from both the gm and the players such that it just isn't a realistic expectation of the medium...it's the search for that (I feel) that brought on the efforts to increase the narrative aspects of RPGs (to their detriment, imho.)

 Beaten to the punch. Yeah, all RPGs do that. I wouldn't want them to try to convey a message. You'd have at best an unplayable game trying to emulate how good fiction works and at worst a preachy mess meant to illustrate a hypothesis. That's my view, anyway. Looking for a game to be like a movie or novel is a common mistake that inevitably results in dissatisfaction.

If sci-fi is about changing humanity through tech... (I would quibble with your defination and say its about how societies change when tech changes.  But people are always people, the tech doesn't change people, people react differently to different circumstances)

Any way

If sci-fi is about people either changing or reacting through tech, you could take the on an odyssey.  Introduce new tech and watch them change.  Or read to the a lot and describe different societies reacting to the same or different techs.

You would have to have people that wanted more than beer and pretzels.

Quote from: Headless;984783If sci-fi is about changing humanity through tech... (I would quibble with your defination and say its about how societies change when tech changes.  But people are always people, the tech doesn't change people, people react differently to different circumstances)

Any way

If sci-fi is about people either changing or reacting through tech, you could take the on an odyssey.  Introduce new tech and watch them change.  Or read to the a lot and describe different societies reacting to the same or different techs.

You would have to have people that wanted more than beer and pretzels.

You'd also need a heck  of a ref.

I looked at techno music and none of it was about "changing of humanity through technology in the center of the story" either!  A lot of it had a good beat and was fun to dance to, but is that all there is to music!?

/sarcasm

Really though - specific modules could touch on that, but you're wanting a story from a toolbox.

It sounds like you are into storygames, not roleplaying games.

http://story-games.com/forums/

If were are talking about sci-fi where there is an exploration of the changes caused by a new technology, it is just on the players and GM, not the system. What happens to the Traveller Imperium if FTL communications are invented? Play a game of Traveller where that happens and find out.

I am sorry, deeply sorry. I have written more SF roleplaying games than anyone else, so I have the largest part of the blame for your hurt. I am personally at fault! I admire you so much! Here you have tried every SF RPG ever written, and none of them are what you want. That takes dedication! And you have played each of them with a variety of GMs and groups so you can control for the other factors! You must have even tried different snacks! A tear is trickling down my cheek, so overwhelmed am I by your disappointment! I'll go and chop my own head off now in shame.

Quote from: Headless;984783If sci-fi is about changing humanity through tech... (I would quibble with your defination and say its about how societies change when tech changes.  But people are always people, the tech doesn't change people, people react differently to different circumstances)

Any way

If sci-fi is about people either changing or reacting through tech, you could take the on an odyssey.  Introduce new tech and watch them change.  Or read to the a lot and describe different societies reacting to the same or different techs.

You would have to have people that wanted more than beer and pretzels.

Quote from: Dumarest;984785You'd also need a heck  of a ref.

And serious players interested in that, but it can be done.

Quote from: flyingmice;984800I am sorry, deeply sorry. I have written more SF roleplaying games than anyone else, so I have the largest part of the blame for your hurt. I am personally at fault! I admire you so much! Here you have tried every SF RPG ever written, and none of them are what you want. That takes dedication! And you have played each of them with a variety of GMs and groups so you can control for the other factors! You must have even tried different snacks! A tear is trickling down my cheek, so overwhelmed am I by your disappointment! I'll go and chop my own head off now in shame.

Suicide is too good for you.

You must take all of your creations and translate them into the Cepheus Engine rules and then republish them. Only by this act of atonement shall you be forgiven.

So Say We All!

Quote from: flyingmice;984800I am sorry, deeply sorry. I have written more SF roleplaying games than anyone else, so I have the largest part of the blame for your hurt. I am personally at fault! I admire you so much! Here you have tried every SF RPG ever written, and none of them are what you want. That takes dedication! And you have played each of them with a variety of GMs and groups so you can control for the other factors! You must have even tried different snacks! A tear is trickling down my cheek, so overwhelmed am I by your disappointment! I'll go and chop my own head off now in shame.

Bad flyingmice, bad, BAD flyingmice!!!!

Quote from: jeff37923;984802And serious players interested in that, but it can be done.

Exactly. This is just about having a group interested in exploring science-fiction.

I don''t think all RPGs are only good for action/adventure. That is more a reflection of nerdculture's tastes than what you can and cannot do with any RPG system. And I disagree you need a 'storygame' to do it.

Quote from: Voros;984809I don''t think all RPGs are only good for action/adventure. That is more a reflection of nerdculture's tastes than what you can and cannot do with any RPG system. And I disagree you need a 'storygame' to do it.

You don't even need an rpg to do it.  You just need a group of people who want to tell a story.  Sadly, the vast majority of gamers are not actually very good writers and while they might like the idea of exploring deeper themes, they don't actually have the creative chops to pull it off in any non-lame manner.