Why Amber is my favourite RPG in the world

[RPGPundit]

One of two declarations from my latest blog entry:

2. I believe that a good RPG is one where the rules are tied to the setting/genre, and the more they are tied to that, the better they will work.  Conversely, the more a set of rules create a system within themselves with no particular relation to the world they're supposed to let you play in, the worse they will be.

...

That's why I love Amber more than any other RPG: because with Amber, once you get through the character creation, simply flows. And it flows because every single part of the Amber rules are directly tied to the setting, with no level of abstraction.  You have the four attributes, which reflect the personal talents of your character. And then every other "rule" in the game: the powers, the items, the stuff, they all tie in directly to something that actually physically exists in the game world.  Pattern isn't some abstract technique, its a physical part of the setting. Trumps are a physical part of the setting.  There's no rule in Amber that's there just because, or that is present for the system's sake as opposed to the setting's.
Because of this, for a player, after you create your character the rules simply disappear.  In fact, the players are using the rules all the time. But the player won't be thinking in terms of "I'm using a rule"; he'll think in terms of "I'm using the Pattern", or "I'm casting a spell" or "I'm using my sword".
The GM, meanwhile, is looking at the mechanical side of things, but the resolution of the mechanics is based directly on what the players are doing in the game world.

RPGPundit

[Crimson]

I couldn't agree with you more.

[Lawbag]

my/our group has recently swollen by 3 extra players who have brought a lot of variety and wonderment back into the game for me, and Amber is now back on my list of games "I want to run" as well as now being "able to run."

[Mike S.]

While Amber looks like a good game, it is a diceless game which just doesn't grock with me.

I have looked at, it looks good but since it's diceless I have to pass on it

[Nihilistic Mind]

While Amber looks like a good game, it is a diceless game which just doesn't grock with me.

I have looked at, it looks good but since it's diceless I have to pass on it

Why are you reticent about a diceless system?

I'm by no means criticizing your opinion, merely curious
I'm gonna be running a few Amber introductory games at a con and I'm curious to see people's reaction to it.


Amber was the first RPG I was introduced to and it has stayed in my top played games since. The system is great for the setting and the setting is rich and open.
Now if we could get a new edition or a reprint so it were readily available to new players... ugh.

[The Yann Waters]

Why are you reticent about a diceless system?

That objection has come up all the time in the "dealbreaker" thread on the main forum, actually. It seems that for a considerable number of players an RPG simply isn't a proper game without the element of random chance.

[Will]

A lot of people (myself included) are wedded to the model of Attempt > randomize > resolve.

'I want to break down the door > I roll against Warfare (or whatever) > I make progress/nothing happens/door breaks/it happens but takes N time'

Nobilis introduces some clever ways to make diceless still chancy, with usage of miracle points; a small portion of gamers who otherwise wouldn't like diceless do like Nobilis' mechanic (myself included).

Other peeves of mine include competition between players and playing nonheroes. While I imagine you could play Amber and change both of these elements, they would entail a lot of change.

[The Yann Waters]

A lot of people (myself included) are wedded to the model of Attempt > randomize > resolve.

'I want to break down the door > I roll against Warfare (or whatever) > I make progress/nothing happens/door breaks/it happens but takes N time'

Hmm. There might be the makings of a new thread in that, but perhaps it should be placed in the main forum rather than here.

[Will]

Well, the 'dealbreakers' thread in the main forum is somewhat along these lines.

[The Yann Waters]

Well, the 'dealbreakers' thread in the main forum is somewhat along these lines.

I started another, anyway: that "no dice" discussion.

[Mike S.]

Why are you reticent about a diceless system?

I'm by no means criticizing your opinion, merely curious
I'm gonna be running a few Amber introductory games at a con and I'm curious to see people's reaction to it.

Amber was the first RPG I was introduced to and it has stayed in my top played games since. The system is great for the setting and the setting is rich and open.
Now if we could get a new edition or a reprint so it were readily available to new players... ugh.

I just do not like Diceless games.  I have tried them and they have been a disappointment.

So I no longer will play diceless games.

Besides, I love the randomness of rolling a die

[Mike S.]

That objection has come up all the time in the "dealbreaker" thread on the main forum, actually. It seems that for a considerable number of players an RPG simply isn't a proper game without the element of random chance.

I know that I am one of those people.  I have tried diceless games but they just dont do it for me.

[Nihilistic Mind]

To each his own. At least you gave it a shot!

[Blackleaf]

Besides, I love the randomness of rolling a die

I like the noise they make. :haw:

[Mike S.]

I like the noise they make. :haw:

I agree.  The sound of dice dropping brings it all together