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The Danger of Creating the Perfect RPG Ruleset

Started by Razor 007, September 23, 2018, 01:30:26 AM

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Razor 007

#30
September 27, 2018, 01:22:54 PM
Imagine if an automotive company sold an automobile that would last forever.  They'd sell like hotcakes at first, and then new sales would taper off over time; but never fall to zero, due to population growth.  The company would have to base their long term growth upon offering value-added customization options for their base / core product.  It would be the same scenario for an RPG creator / publisher, if they released a perfect RPG rule set.
I need you to roll a perception check.....

Rhedyn

#31
September 27, 2018, 01:25:24 PM
Quote from: Razor 007;1058072Imagine if an automotive company sold an automobile that would last forever.  They'd sell like hotcakes at first, and then new sales would taper off over time; but never fall to zero, due to population growth.  The company would have to base their long term growth upon offering value-added customization options for their base / core product.  It would be the same scenario for an RPG creator / publisher, if they released a perfect RPG rule set.
Another analogy.

If everyone has unlimited free Perfect hamburgers, you can still make money selling toppings and buns.

Spinachcat

#32
September 27, 2018, 02:32:49 PM
Quote from: NathanIW;10575531) Referee describes a situation
2) Players describe what their characters do
3) The system is used to resolve the described actions
4) Go to 1 and Referee describes the new resultant description

Thank you NathanIW! To me, that succinct cycle represents perfection in a RPG.

Chivalric

#33
September 27, 2018, 02:54:50 PM
Quote from: Spinachcat;1058080Thank you NathanIW! To me, that succinct cycle represents perfection in a RPG.

That's been my RPG mantra for a while now.

I would actually amend 3 to say "3) The referee uses the system to resolve the described actions."

I also find it a great way to review rules to see if they'll do what I want.  As soon as system refers to system rather than back to description, I'm not interested as playing it as an RPG.  And as soon as players are making decisions based on the system rather than the description, I'm also not interested.  

That said, I did enjoy running loads of 4E D&D as a miniature wargame with some RPG elements tacked on.  Like Gorkamorka or Mordheim but with less miniatures per person.

RPGPundit

#34
October 01, 2018, 05:46:50 AM
Having many different rule-sets is different than having many different editions.
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