Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?

[Justin Alexander]

I've been given to understand that it doesn't even use dice. Everyone knows you need dice to be a roleplaying game: That's how Daddy Gygax did it. That's how America does it. And it's worked out pretty well so far.

So... obviously a story game. Or at least some sort of non-traditional mutant. But the author actually tries to claim that it's a "roleplaying game" right on the cover. What kind of sick agenda is this guy pushing? Can't he just be content with destroying the whole idea of emulation and a lot of immersion with his predetermined, non-randomized outcomes? Why does he have to try to claim that his flawed mechanics are really an RPG when they clearly aren't?

[Rincewind1]

Trolling grading:

Too obvious title
Far too underhanded insults
Very small target group
General lack of spirit

1/10, would not ban.

[Kuroth]

This is a poor advertisement for your written work Justin.  Not at all creative.

[RPGPundit]

I've been given to understand that it doesn't even use dice. Everyone knows you need dice to be a roleplaying game: That's how Daddy Gygax did it. That's how America does it. And it's worked out pretty well so far.

So... obviously a story game. Or at least some sort of non-traditional mutant. But the author actually tries to claim that it's a "roleplaying game" right on the cover. What kind of sick agenda is this guy pushing? Can't he just be content with destroying the whole idea of emulation and a lot of immersion with his predetermined, non-randomized outcomes? Why does he have to try to claim that his flawed mechanics are really an RPG when they clearly aren't?

Well, I'd certainly say that Lords of Olympus (and Amber, and any derivatives thereof) is "some sort of non-traditional mutant".   I don't think anyone cares if its a 'traditional' RPG.  It is, however, a REGULAR RPG, and not a storygame.
Namely because very clearly it doesn't destroy either emulation or immersion; on the contrary, the near absence of dice and mechanics on the side of the players during actual play means that the players are free to go very deep into immersion without having to worry about rolling d20s or looking up bonuses.

Anyways, thanks for the laugh!

RPGPundit

[Panjumanju]

Along the lines of what is "traditional", I'm pretty sure that if the fathers of classical thought and storytelling modes - Ovid, Homer, Cicero, or even Soctrates, or any of that ilk had the opportunity to play roleplaying games, they would concern Greek Gods, and be eerily similar to Lords of Olympus. (Unless of course they used sheep's knuckles, but I picture most of them as the diceless type.)

Tacitus, however, would be off in the corner playing Warhammer.

//Panjumanju

[Evermasterx]

The question was't asked to learn.
So an answer is not needed.

[RPGPundit]

Along the lines of what is "traditional", I'm pretty sure that if the fathers of classical thought and storytelling modes - Ovid, Homer, Cicero, or even Soctrates, or any of that ilk had the opportunity to play roleplaying games, they would concern Greek Gods, and be eerily similar to Lords of Olympus. (Unless of course they used sheep's knuckles, but I picture most of them as the diceless type.)

Tacitus, however, would be off in the corner playing Warhammer.

//Panjumanju

I'm not sure about Tacitus, but Seneca would most likely be running DCC.

[brettmb]

I guess he told you, Pundit.

[Croaker]

Worst troll ever.

Nice reply, panjumanju

[crkrueger]

The funniest thing about it is, the diceless games have their own forum, they're NOT discussed in the traditional RPG forum.  I think this one was alcohol induced.

[silva]

I don't think anyone cares if its a 'traditional' RPG.  It is, however, a REGULAR RPG, and not a storygame.
Namely because very clearly it doesn't destroy either emulation or immersion

The same can be said about Apocalypse World.

And yet, you call it a storygame.

[crkrueger]

The same can be said about Apocalypse World.

And yet, you call it a storygame.

Sigh, we've been over this a hundred times, but the mandatory OOC elements in AW/DW etc. can destroy emulation and immersion like any OOC mechanics can.

I don't know enough about Amber to make a call on how OOC it gets and whether the OOC is baked in fundamentally.

I do disagree however that AW is a traditional storygame. I think, just like Fate, it's a non-traditional narrative RPG hybrid, just to different degrees.

[silva]

Krueger, what are these "mandatory OOC elements" you speak of ? I dont remember seeing those, and I played the game this weekend.

[RPGPundit]

Krueger, what are these "mandatory OOC elements" you speak of ? I dont remember seeing those, and I played the game this weekend.

This is neither the thread nor the subforum for talking about AW or DW.  If you want to start a thread elsewhere, in the right subforum, go nuts. But not here.

This thread is for talking about whether or not LoO is shitty and/or a storygame, apparently.

RPGPundit

[daniel_ream]

I don't know enough about Amber to make a call on how OOC it gets and whether the OOC is baked in fundamentally.

The Attribute Auction was expressly designed to engender conflict amongst the players rather than the characters.  There's your "fuck you, immersion!" right there.