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What RPG was a crappy read, but fun to actually play?

Started by Spinachcat, August 23, 2018, 03:46:28 AM

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Omega

#15
August 27, 2018, 09:57:48 AM
Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;1053821Most SPI RPGs.

Once you get used to their format though it gets alot easier. Getting used to the format though is the trick. One bonus is if you are used to any SPIs board games then the format for their RPGs clicks. Especially for Universe.

3rik

#16
August 28, 2018, 06:28:55 AM
Quote from: Shawn Driscoll;1053821Most SPI RPGs.

SPI?
It\'s not Its
"It\'s said that governments are chiefed by the double tongues" - Ten Bears (The Outlaw Josey Wales)
@RPGbericht

Merrill

#17
August 28, 2018, 02:33:44 PM
Masterbook was a pretty dry read, and led to the impression that it could be excessively crunchy/complicated

But it plays really well, and I still enjoy it.

Tod13

#18
August 28, 2018, 03:41:53 PM
Quote from: 3rik;1054256SPI?

Tactical boardgame and RPG publisher whose assets were acquired by TSR nee WotC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulations_Publications,_Inc.

Christopher Brady

#19
August 28, 2018, 08:13:29 PM
Quote from: Spinachcat;1053769Anyone encounter a RPG that wasn't enjoyable to read, but rocked in actual play?

Uh at that point, aren't you playing your own game?
"And now, my friends, a Dragon\'s toast!  To life\'s little blessings:  wars, plagues and all forms of evil.  Their presence keeps us alert --- and their absence makes us grateful." -T.A. Barron[/SIZE]

VincentTakeda

#20
August 29, 2018, 01:24:47 PM
I feel like palladium is the trope codifier here.  Nearly everyone complains about the characteristics of the books themselves, but at the same time I rarely run into anyone that thinks playing it wasnt a total blast.

Christopher Brady

#21
August 29, 2018, 02:13:32 PM
Quote from: VincentTakeda;1054377I feel like palladium is the trope codifier here.  Nearly everyone complains about the characteristics of the books themselves, but at the same time I rarely run into anyone that thinks playing it wasnt a total blast.

Welp, you just found one of the 'rare' few.
"And now, my friends, a Dragon\'s toast!  To life\'s little blessings:  wars, plagues and all forms of evil.  Their presence keeps us alert --- and their absence makes us grateful." -T.A. Barron[/SIZE]

Omega

#22
August 29, 2018, 05:35:08 PM
Quote from: Christopher Brady;1054304Uh at that point, aren't you playing your own game?

Not really. some RPGs are worded badly or just unpleasant to read the fluff or jargon. But once you cut off all the dross there is a playable game there. Case in point 4e D&D Gamma World.
Others are just plotted out in what at first feels like an esoteric manner like the SPI RPGs. And a few are just a mess in the order of the rules like the System 26 Metamorphosis alpha or the AH Runequest basic set.

Things that make reading the rules or refferencing the rules a nuisance or worse. But dont actually impact playing the game.

Omega

#23
August 29, 2018, 06:13:58 PM
Quote from: Christopher Brady;1054383Welp, you just found one of the 'rare' few.

heh-heh. Same here. Oddly I think the rules are, overall well laid out and the repeat format actually makes the books easier to read as you know the format and how its usually laid out. Similar to how once you get used to SPI and Metagamings format the games are not that hard to parse.

DMing Rifts on the other hand can be a real pain if you dont reign things in a little or alot. Its a really flexible system. But like gurps you need to know when to prune the tree. And Rifs tree totally eclipses Gurps.

Beyond the Supernatural though I had a blast DMing and After the Bomb played fairly well too.

James Gillen

#24
August 29, 2018, 07:02:42 PM
Quote from: Silas1066;1054276Masterbook was a pretty dry read, and led to the impression that it could be excessively crunchy/complicated

But it plays really well, and I still enjoy it.

That's because Masterbook was a stripped-off TORG, which had a lot more flavor text originally. ;)

jg
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Christopher Brady

#25
August 30, 2018, 12:59:38 AM
Quote from: Omega;1054418heh-heh. Same here. Oddly I think the rules are, overall well laid out and the repeat format actually makes the books easier to read as you know the format and how its usually laid out. Similar to how once you get used to SPI and Metagamings format the games are not that hard to parse.

DMing Rifts on the other hand can be a real pain if you dont reign things in a little or alot. Its a really flexible system. But like gurps you need to know when to prune the tree. And Rifs tree totally eclipses Gurps.

Beyond the Supernatural though I had a blast DMing and After the Bomb played fairly well too.

My problem was trying to run the system as written during one of my rare forays into Heroes Unlimited.  There was no system for stat checks under, I believe 16 for MOST stats.  There was no perception style skill at the time, so spotting danger without Detect Ambush was problematic to say the least...

Palladium for my group at the time was unplayable without adding more and more stuff, to the point we made our own game system out of it.

As for badly written RPG's, if I can't make head or tails about what the game system is, or if I find it too complex, I don't use it.  It might be the greatest thing ever, once you get past the convoluted crap, but if you can't hook me, I'm gone.
"And now, my friends, a Dragon\'s toast!  To life\'s little blessings:  wars, plagues and all forms of evil.  Their presence keeps us alert --- and their absence makes us grateful." -T.A. Barron[/SIZE]

Séadna

#26
August 30, 2018, 02:39:02 PM
Stonehell like S'mon. While reading it, it just seemed ho hum, a big swords and sorcery prison with various generico enemies. However it really comes alive in play, it changed some players over to loving dungeon crawls.

It's not always true, but there can be a bit of an inverse relationship between "good read coffee table book" and actually decent in play.
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