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Fan Forums => The Official Amber DRPG, Erick Wujcik, and Lords of Olympus Forum => Topic started by: Justin Alexander on June 23, 2013, 05:34:32 PM

Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: Justin Alexander on June 23, 2013, 05:34:32 PM
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?
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: Rincewind1 on June 23, 2013, 08:07:19 PM
Trolling grading:

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

1/10, would not ban.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: Kuroth on June 23, 2013, 11:43:59 PM
This is a poor advertisement for your written work Justin.  Not at all creative.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: RPGPundit on June 24, 2013, 02:13:07 AM
Quote from: Justin Alexander;665038I'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
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: Panjumanju on June 24, 2013, 02:33:24 AM
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
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: Evermasterx on June 24, 2013, 04:04:07 AM
The question was't asked to learn.
So an answer is not needed.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: RPGPundit on June 24, 2013, 05:15:46 AM
Quote from: Panjumanju;665115Along 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.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: brettmb on June 24, 2013, 01:58:34 PM
I guess he told you, Pundit.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: Croaker on June 25, 2013, 04:22:11 AM
Worst troll ever.

Nice reply, panjumanju :)
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: crkrueger on June 25, 2013, 05:03:51 AM
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.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: silva on June 25, 2013, 08:36:51 PM
Quote from: RPGPundit;665114I 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.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: crkrueger on June 25, 2013, 09:01:58 PM
Quote from: silva;665628The 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.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: silva on June 25, 2013, 09:38:20 PM
Krueger, what are these "mandatory OOC elements" you speak of ? I dont remember seeing those, and I played the game this weekend.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: RPGPundit on June 26, 2013, 04:04:56 AM
Quote from: silva;665643Krueger, 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
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: daniel_ream on June 26, 2013, 04:51:44 AM
Quote from: CRKrueger;665634I 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.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: crkrueger on June 26, 2013, 05:41:10 AM
Quote from: daniel_ream;665708The Attribute Auction was expressly designed to engender conflict amongst the players rather than the characters.  There's your "fuck you, immersion!" right there.

Isn't the attribute auction character creation?
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: Benoist on June 26, 2013, 03:01:00 PM
Quote from: CRKrueger;665719Isn't the attribute auction character creation?

(http://c.a.d-cd.net/627d518s-960.jpg)
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: Rum Cove on June 26, 2013, 03:23:22 PM
Of course Amber (and any cheap knock-offs) is a story game.

The RPGPundit wisely gave it a separate subforum to avoid this whole conversation mucking up the rest of the site.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: RPGPundit on June 26, 2013, 04:30:23 PM
Quote from: Rum Cove;665858Of course Amber (and any cheap knock-offs) is a story game.

The RPGPundit wisely gave it a separate subforum to avoid this whole conversation mucking up the rest of the site.

Its funny how I don't see anyone complaining about this sub-forum the way they complain about the fact that I allowed a subforum for Storygames and other non-RPG games.  

RPGPundit
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: selfdeleteduser00001 on June 26, 2013, 04:45:23 PM
Quote from: RPGPundit;665154I'm not sure about Tacitus

Tacitus would play d100. Probably RQ2.

I don't really understand any of this Story game stuff, I just like some games and not others.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: Rum Cove on June 26, 2013, 04:48:03 PM
Quote from: RPGPundit;665874Its funny how I don't see anyone complaining about this sub-forum the way they complain about the fact that I allowed a subforum for Storygames and other non-RPG games.

Nothing wrong with being organized.

Why is there no separation of Video Games and Board Games from the Story Games?
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: silva on June 26, 2013, 08:11:47 PM
Quote from: RPGPundit;665695This 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.
Oh, I forgot. This is the subforum for you to lick Wujsomething balls.

Sorry to interrupt. Keep licking.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: RPGPundit on June 27, 2013, 01:08:19 AM
Quote from: Rum Cove;665883Nothing wrong with being organized.

Why is there no separation of Video Games and Board Games from the Story Games?

Just because the focus of this website is RPGs. We have a single place for discussion about all types of other games as a kind of concession to those who might be interested in talking about them but I don't feel the need to separate out any of those other types of games for special treatment.  They're secondary to the raison d'etre of the site.

RPGPundit
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: RPGPundit on June 27, 2013, 01:15:37 AM
Quote from: silva;665932Oh, I forgot. This is the subforum for you to lick Wujsomething balls.

Sorry to interrupt. Keep licking.

Wow. You are a special kind of ass.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: Brad on June 27, 2013, 11:04:10 AM
Having read about half the PDF this morning, I've come to the conclusion that 1) it is not a "story game" and 2) it is very not-shitty. Quite honestly, I think the Greek myth aspect of the game makes it a much easier sell vs. Amber, simply because some players may not have read the books; everyone is at least somewhat familiar with Greek mythology. It's definitely NOT Amber, though. The feel is totally different, but the kernel of substance that makes the Amber RPG so appealing is there, which is a beautiful thing.

It was either Lords of Olympus or Lords of Gossamer and Shadow, and considering I already have both published Amber books, I am very happy I got this.
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: Benoist on June 27, 2013, 12:09:26 PM
Quote from: silva;665932Oh, I forgot. This is the subforum for you to lick Wujsomething balls.

Sorry to interrupt. Keep licking.

Very nice. And you are an innocent victim with the moral high ground how, again?
Title: Lords of Olympus - How shitty is this story game?
Post by: RPGPundit on June 28, 2013, 06:35:12 PM
Quote from: Brad;666056Having read about half the PDF this morning, I've come to the conclusion that 1) it is not a "story game" and 2) it is very not-shitty. Quite honestly, I think the Greek myth aspect of the game makes it a much easier sell vs. Amber, simply because some players may not have read the books; everyone is at least somewhat familiar with Greek mythology. It's definitely NOT Amber, though. The feel is totally different, but the kernel of substance that makes the Amber RPG so appealing is there, which is a beautiful thing.

It was either Lords of Olympus or Lords of Gossamer and Shadow, and considering I already have both published Amber books, I am very happy I got this.

Thank you for this! Very nice of you to say.  

That said, LoGaS will be good too I'm sure, though it may stay thematically closer to Amber than LoO does.

RPGPundit