Quote from: TristramEvans;806253I wear my glasses when I game....so I like to game "in focus", I guess.\

Beyond that, no idea what the fuck you guys are talking about.

Wide focus means being able to use a large number of different playstyles for the same RPG. Narrow focus means the opposite. You can't do a lot of different things with Little Fears for example, but what it does, does it well.

Anyway if the books are not very practical in use and not very supportive to a certain playstyle, then it becomes hard to figure out what to do with it. This can apply to both wide and narrow focused games.

Quote from: jan paparazzi;806274Wide focus means being able to use a large number of different playstyles for the same RPG. Narrow focus means the opposite. You can't do a lot of different things with Little Fears for example, but what it does, does it well.

Anyway if the books are not very practical in use and not very supportive to a certain playstyle, then it becomes hard to figure out what to do with it. This can apply to both wide and narrow focused games.

I see. Well then, I guess the most I can say is that I like games that cater to my preferred playstyle, and dislike any system that interferes with my preferred playstyle, but otherwise it doesn't matter to me what other playstyles a game accords.


Its been over a decade since I read Little Fears (first edition), so I cant really react to that. When I think "narrow focus" (in the way you intend), I would think games like Marvel Heroic, Dungeonworld, and Fiasco. But then, I suppose one could say even Paranoia enforces a specific style of play, but I'm not certain on that. This is very close to the distinction I make between storygames and RPGs however.

Yeah, well, you have me doubting right now. Some games have a default playstyle. If you play Delta Green, you are a member of Delta green, you will get a mission and you will investigate it.

That's good, because it saves a lot of time. It's clear and you can dive into right away. It doesn't focus so much on what Delta Green is, but more on whatever weird shit is out there.

Ok now I don't even know where I am going with this topic.

I get back to this later.

Edit: I know it. Agents of Oblivion gives you spygear and spyskills and generally crunch that support a spy playstyle. Demon the Descent rather discusses the spygenre like a literary essay. Talking about it's themes (morally grey, distrust, paranoia etc.) and basicly padding pages full. Very unpractical. That's why every WoD book is political, but none have actually mechanics to back up a political playstyle. Like for example Song of Ice and Fire RPG has mechanics for Intrigue, which rocks my world. Amen.

I think of what you're calling focus as premise. Most games have them but they usually not so limiting that  you can't do something else in the setting if you want (the degree of effort will vary). Though that's not necessarily true of some more narrative or "story games" since their mechanics can be intimately tied to their premise.

Quote from: Nexus;806351I think of what you're calling focus as premise. Most games have them but they usually not so limiting that  you can't do something else in the setting if you want (the degree of effort will vary).

Do many folks play Shadowrun without the 'runs'? Paranoia with a more serious emphasis on mystery, intrigue and exploration (I could see it as an earthbound Metamorphosis Alpha)?

Quote from: Simlasa;806354Do many folks play Shadowrun without the 'runs'?

Playing anything diarrhea is pretty difficult!

But seriously, I couldn't say. I've been in some Cyberpunk 2020 game that got away from the "elite team of mercenaries doing gray and black ops for shady clientele" model though. I'm going to be running a game like that myself

QuoteParanoia with a more serious emphasis on mystery, intrigue and exploration (I could see it as an earthbound Metamorphosis Alpha)?

Actually, Didn't one edition Paranoia have suggestions for dropping the comedic tone and playing it straight?

Quote from: Nexus;806351I think of what you're calling focus as premise. Most games have them but they usually not so limiting that  you can't do something else in the setting if you want (the degree of effort will vary). Though that's not necessarily true of some more narrative or "story games" since their mechanics can be intimately tied to their premise.

I am talking about playstyle. What is the default one? What do you actually do? In Traveller there are three: merchant, explorer, soldier or a mix. Song of Ice and Fire RPG has a few playstyles: adventurers, nobles, the nightwatch etc. The more playstyles, the broader the game. But ... some games totally skip this part.

Quote from: jan paparazzi;806358I am talking about playstyle. What is the default one? What do you actually do? In Traveller there are three: merchant, explorer, soldier or a mix. Song of Ice and Fire RPG has a few playstyles: adventurers, nobles, the nightwatch etc. The more playstyles, the broader the game. But ... some games totally skip this part.

I know but I have a different term for it, that's all. \

It's becoming sort of a rant, but anyway...

I am reading through the God Machine Chronicle and suddenly it hits me. With all the gamemasters advice there is one thing missing. The players. It is never mentioned what the players are supposed to do. All the stuff a bout the theme and the mood and the scope of the game, the story arc and whatever more. Not a thing about the players. Vampire Requiem simple asks the question "What sort of character do the players want to play?" talks a little bit about a previous profession like police officer and then leaves it open-ended. That isn't really helpful, is it? Holy cannoli, that's been bugging me for years now! :rant:

/rant

It might be fair to say there are narrow focused games and wide focused games, but there are also unfocused games. The focus of such a game is completely individualised and depends on the pc's goals. I prefer something more straightforward.

Wide focus.  Narrowing the focus is the job of the GM, not the designer.

Robotech was the first game I GMed.  I used it more as a generic post apocalyptic game than as RDF v Zentreadi.

I've run way more DnD of whatever edition than all other rpgs combined, but have never run a straight megadungeon or hexcrawl.

Star Wars of whatever rule set hits second on my list of games run, but usually have nothing to do with Rebels v Empire.

Deadlands games have never been about lowering the fear.

Call of Cthulu has been as much about '20s gangsters or pulp as about madness and insanity from the infinite beyond.

DC Heroes had nothing whatsoever to do with comic book tropes in my games.

Been eyeing Psi World some lately to play straight modern day without any psi.

All in all, suspect that I do not care whether a game has a specific focus or not.  It will be molded to whatever I desire.

When something has a narrow focus and that narrow focus is laser perfect for what I want, its probably the best thing ever.

But the moment any one little thing doesn't line up, it starts falling apart, ESPECIALLY if the rules tie strongly into the focus.

So basically: Narrow focus is awesome if its perfect, but that happens so rarely I tend to play wide focus games, which are actually more useful.

Quote from: Emperor Norton;807014When something has a narrow focus and that narrow focus is laser perfect for what I want, its probably the best thing ever.

But the moment any one little thing doesn't line up, it starts falling apart, ESPECIALLY if the rules tie strongly into the focus.

So basically: Narrow focus is awesome if its perfect, but that happens so rarely I tend to play wide focus games, which are actually more useful.

Do you recall any that were perfect?

Quote from: TristramEvans;807039Do you recall any that were perfect?

I ran Leverage for a cinematic heist/con game and it was exactly what I wanted.

It is super rare that something matches perfect though. I can't think of any more off the top of my head.