Quote from: Redforce;1000369I don't currently role-play, but I read about RPGs from time to time when I'm bored or in the mood or whatever.  I have look at a bunch of those Indie RPGs, and I just don't get it- I either can't fully grok the rules, or fail to see how you could have fun playing them.

There's no masterkey to all the indie RPG, as was mentioned:).

QuoteThe ones that require to 'frame a scene' or 'set the stakes' - doesn't that pull you out of the immersion?  Isn't it too much of a pain in the ass?  And doesn't it sound to you like some wussy theater geek crapola?

It does it to me, lately - though it used not to:).

QuoteThere are others that need too much resource management, and some others that seem just plain weird, and too much trouble (like PbtA).

OTOH, I don't consider PbtA "weird".

QuoteMy wife, who is not even what you'd call remotely interested in geek stuff (though she likes some Star Trek, and some board games), seemed to catch on fairly quickly to the 'traditional' RPGs the few times we've played (Vampire the Masquerade, True20), but I think even she would scoff at those fancy-pants pretentious games.

Well, if you're not into indie, just don't introduce her to them;).

QuoteI HAVE seen a few that I 'get' - like Fiasco, but those are usually very genre-specific or good for one-shots.

Am I nuts or dumb?  Do you guys 'get' and play these kinds of games?

Some, yes, others, I'd rather avoid.
And if you "get" the ones that are good for one-shots, use them for one-shots:p!

QuoteAnd how long do you think it will take before Pundit swoops into the thread?  "A mind untainted by The Swine!!  Must act quickly!"

I'm currently betting on him posting as #33, but I might be wrong:D!

I've found that there are so many games I already want to play and don't  get to, I don't need to worry about trying to grok a new game that is not immediately intuitive to me.

Quote from: AsenRG;1000696There's no masterkey to all the indie RPG, as was mentioned:).


It does it to me, lately - though it used not to:).


OTOH, I don't consider PbtA "weird".

 
Well, if you're not into indie, just don't introduce her to them;).

Some, yes, others, I'd rather avoid.
And if you "get" the ones that are good for one-shots, use them for one-shots:p!


I'm currently betting on him posting as #33, but I might be wrong:D!

I'll take 35.

Make it #36.

On topic, "indie" games (whatever that means) is just another flavor of let's pretend, as someone said above. If you don't like it, don't sweat it.

Do not speak his name!

Quote from: Itachi;1000731On topic, "indie" games (whatever that means) is just another flavor of let's pretend, as someone said above. If you don't like it, don't sweat it.

Right? I never get the whole thing of shitting on other people's fun. If you don't like something, go find something you like. But you don't need to tell people who like that thing why it sucks, and why they suck for liking it. Life's too short.

There are games I buy to play and games I buy to read.

Sometimes I enjoy seeing how another designer constructs a game, even if I have no intent of running a campaign. Sometimes I enjoy running a one-shot, just to mix things up.

You don't get them because they're written by communists.

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;1000688All of those games actually fit the example perfectly.

You can only use Microscope to do the specific thing it was intended to do, and there is no room to go beyond its phases or turn orders. It's not like D&D where you can use it for many different types of games, or create extra rules or interpret them. Everything is set in stone straight from the start.

That doesn't mean it is bad; I have Microscope and want to try it sometime. But it is true that it's basically a super rigid and specific formula for creating a very specific experience.

Same with Fiasco.

I'm not familiar with 1001 Nights.

Fiasco has the Turn and usually ends badly, otherwise it is pretty wide open in terms of incident. The mechanics at the beginning are to create characters with relationships and a world, no more restrictive than rolling up PCs and having a setting in D&D is.

The 'turns' in Microscope are there to give it structure otherwise it would leave most players in the dark. They don't dictate what happens. It is very freeform, you can do almost anything in it so your statement is a bit mystifying.

To me the best storygames give exactly that kind of structure to play otherwise it ends up being 'make it up' like in Archipelago which is way too vague.

Quote from: Herne's Son;1000735Right? I never get the whole thing of shitting on other people's fun. If you don't like something, go find something you like. But you don't need to tell people who like that thing why it sucks, and why they suck for liking it. Life's too short.

The OP was disingenous as it wasn't actually a question just an invitation to shit on games that are supposedly 'different' and even 'weird' (what is weird about PbtA who the hell knows).

Some I get, some I don't.... Gotta be some kind of social democrat then ;P

Quote from: Herne's Son;1000691Why? What's so abominable about Lovecraftesque that elicits such a strong reaction from you?

this - "Each turn, the players make up the next scene in the Witnesses tale, completely off the cuff. They throw in a clue, and try to connect it to the ongoing story. Then, when the turn ends, the Witness and Narrator roles are handed to the next players, and it begins again."

It sounds like a horrible experience to me.  I absolutely do not want to be sitting in a room with a bunch of people collaborating on writing a story.  It sounds like a recipe for dumb shit.  It's not what I want to do in my gaming.  That's just me...I'm not saying it's bad or wrong or not fun.  If it's what you or any other person wants to do when they take part in an evening of gaming then go for it and have a blast.  It's not what I'm interested in.  I don't want to take part in a game where "each player takes turns making up scenes and creating story elements."  To me, it just sounds like some silly creative writing exercise...for me, it would never in a million years feel like anything more than just me and some friends sitting around adding lines to a (probably terrible) story.  There would be zero immersion - no feeling that I was anywhere but on a couch making stuff up with some other people.

That a lot of words to say: 'I don't like storygames. I think, as I've never played one.'

There is some irony in talking about 'silly creative writing exercises' in an entire hobby built around what to outsiders looks like very, very 'silly playing pretend exercises.'

Quote from: Voros;1000824That a lot of words to say: 'I don't like storygames. I think, as I've never played one.'

There is some irony in talking about 'silly creative writing exercises' in an entire hobby built around what to outsiders looks like very, very 'silly playing pretend exercises.'

theres no irony at all.  I was asked what it was that sounds awful about the game to me.  I explained what that was.  I think the person that asked me was hoping for a bit more than "I don't like story games" so I tried to give him that.  Sorry if my not liking story games bothers you.  We don't all like the same things.  Just because lots of people think trad rpgs are silly pretend games doesn't mean I have to like everything...and no, I've never played one.  Shocking that someone can have something described to them and know that they won't like it.  I don't need to have a fork jammed in my eye to know I don't want to do that either.

You have your right to that opinion just as lots of others have a right to think RPGs are silly pretend games beneath adults, without ever playing them.

And sorry but there is obvious irony in your dismissal. One can say that the idea of the game doesn't appeal but to call it 'silly' is a bit of the kettle calling the teapot black.