Quote from: SHARKIt seems like a totally different kind of conversation, obsessed with obscure trivia. Am I just not getting it or what?

I feel this way sometimes. Check that. I feel this way most times. The amount of cross referencing I have do to -whoa. But you know, I'm lucky I think because I always manage to take some stuff away that benefits the way I game - and when I say this I mean the players seem to get more out of the game.

By the way Shark, your non fiction reading list has been a big hit with the other two gms in my crew. Thanks again.

Regards,
David R

My observations about gaming take place after I run or play in games, not before. Besides, I never have to do more than an hour's prep for a single session these days, anyway. I pretty much have the process down. I might do more in prep for the overall game, but chatting about this sort of thing doesn't really affect my sessions.

I like theory. I find it useful. I just don't find the Big Model useful except as a kind of cautionary tale. On the other hand, my disagreement doesn't mean that I diss the entire enterprise of working on it in the first place.

Quote from: shooting_diceOn the other hand, my disagreement doesn't mean that I diss the entire enterprise of working on it in the first place.

This is a distinction that I think is difficult to grasp for some people.

An thread on GNS helped me to figure out why my regular group liked certain types of games and didn't like certain others.  This has stopped me trying to run certain games that just won't work with them

If thinking about the nature of gaming stops you from writing or prepping for a game that just isn't going to work then it's worth it

I've spent 74% of my life theorizing.

Hang on....

Yeah, closer to 73.89775% of my life.

Approximately.

There's a couple ways to look at it.  Feel free to agree or disagree as the mood takes you. . .

1) Game Design is a struggle between finding a balance of effective, yet easily understood, rules and finding an audience for the finished game.

Rules take time to construct.  It's an artform, yet's it's also an architectural process.  Theory can help game designers to better understand that process.

2) Games are supposed to be fun and entertaining.  However as we get older we often require greater and greater levels of complexity to fool ourselves into suspending our disbelief.

Theory can help Game Masters and players better achieve that sense of immersion.

3) Games are for playing, not thinking about, thus theory is all BS or, more succintly, it's what bored people do that have too much time on their hands.

Theory thus alleviates boredom and, since misery loves company, these people share their "theory" with everyone else strictly to amuse themselves.

I may have grossly oversimplified it.  

Here's my thought on the matter:

Because theorists LIKE to theorize.

Crazy hunh? People sitting around and talking about something they like to do, and how to make it more like what they want to see it as... because they like doing that...?

I like larping. I think that many of the rules for larps aren't that great. In fact they kind of blow goats. So I decide to sit down and rewrite the rules... and so I go and talk to a bunch of larp friends about it and we all start to toss ideas of how to make it better around... and while this may not directly affect the game I'm running at the time, in the long run it could help live gaming a lot. And really, I love sharing ideas with people.

So how is that a bad thing?

:bow:

Quote from: angelsorayamaHere's my thought on the matter:

Because theorists LIKE to theorize.

Girl, You've been reading some very hard-end theory recently, whether you know it or not.

Those little "advice columns" for LARP I've been writing up for the Grimoire?

Yep.  That's a form of theory.

Quote from: angelsorayamaSo how is that a bad thing?

What's bad about it is that you're not writing stat blocks 24/7.

Theorizing is almost as bad as dating that way.:muttering:

Quote from: Levi KornelsenGirl, You've been reading some very hard-end theory recently, whether you know it or not.

Those little "advice columns" for LARP I've been writing up for the Grimoire?

Yep.  That's a form of theory.

Ok... but how does that change my statement? I know you like to talk/write about theory...
Or is this a reference to the level of theoretical discussion? Because I still think that if a person didn't like to do it... they probably wouldn't... unless they were getting paid large sums of money or other such mundane incentive.

Quote from: bondetampWhat's bad about it is that you're not writing stat blocks 24/7.

Now the only response I can give to this is: Waaah? First off, what mean you by "writing stat blocks". Secondly, why should I write these stat blocks you speak of?

Quote from: angelsorayamaOk... but how does that change my statement? I know you like to talk/write about theory...
Or is this a reference to the level of theoretical discussion? Because I still think that if a person didn't like to do it... they probably wouldn't... unless they were getting paid large sums of money or other such mundane incentive.

I don't like the greater mass of theory, to put it bluntly, though.

There are a lot of theories out there that require some serious slogging-through, usually because the language used is terrible.  It's worth it to me for the parts I find that I can apply to games, those occasional but huge flashes of "aha!".

Now, those, and how to apply them, I like talking about.

Quote from: angelsorayamaOk... but how does that change my statement? I know you like to talk/write about theory...
Or is this a reference to the level of theoretical discussion? Because I still think that if a person didn't like to do it... they probably wouldn't... unless they were getting paid large sums of money or other such mundane incentive.

Sure I think some people like to talk theory. I also think some people like to run games. Check that. They like to run certain kinds of games. Theory discussions may (or may not) help them get the desired game they want to run/play. So for some, it's not really a question of like, but rather just another road one has to take to a good game.

Regards,
David R

Quote from: Levi KornelsenI don't like the greater mass of theory, to put it bluntly, though.

There are a lot of theories out there that require some serious slogging-through, usually because the language used is terrible.  It's worth it to me for the parts I find that I can apply to games, those occasional but huge flashes of "aha!".

Now, those, and how to apply them, I like talking about.

So you like the meat of theory, not the pretentious, over-complicated bullsh!t that can accompany it?  :heh:

Quote from: David RSure I think some people like to talk theory. I also think some people like to run games. Check that. They like to run certain kinds of games. Theory discussions may (or may not) help them get the desired game they want to run/play. So for some, it's not really a question of like, but rather just another road one has to take to a good game.

Okay, so sometimes theory can be a neccesary evil for those who don't like it but want good games?

Quote from: angelsorayamaSo you like the meat of theory, not the pretentious, over-complicated bullsh!t that can accompany it?  :heh:

Yes.

And sometimes people catch me over-complicating things, and say so, and I turn purple.

And then I rewrite from scratch.

Quote from: angelsorayamaNow the only response I can give to this is: Waaah? First off, what mean you by "writing stat blocks". Secondly, why should I write these stat blocks you speak of?

Erm ...

What I meant was that using time to talk theory would take time away from writing stat blocks, and that it is therefor A Bad Thing.

Just like dating. Or cooking. Or running around writing "Neckface" on people's mailboxes for that matter.

Now this was not meant entirely serious, but my comic delivery isn't at it's best after a long day at work.:brood: