RPGaDay2021 in August - August 29th: System
We continue on today with #RPGaDay2021 in August.
Day 29 - System.
Roleplaying game systems matter to me.
While I place equal weight upon the game system and the game world or universe when I buy a roleplaying game and deciding whether I'm going to run the game system in question, I find that if the game system doesn't meet certain criteria that I have, then it's not going to be a game that I'll enjoy.
My primary criterion for a roleplaying game system is that it has to be relatively simple. I've addressed this matter in this year's blog entry on August 21st - Simplicity, and will just add here that while I like systems that have a simple dice mechanic and no multiple types of dice (okay, perhaps two types of dice at the maximum), the game rules do have to give me a *complete* set of rules, not a vague creative prompt and maybe a resolution mechanic. The game rules need to cover both combat and non-combat situations, but the mechanics need to be consistent across the board for both these sets of rules. And finally, the game mechanics and rules system should not be bloated. It's fine to add Optional rules and a few "bells and whistles," but one has to draw the line somewhere. About 50-60 pages of rules, maximum, is about right for me. For me, the old DragonQuest RPG rules from SPI are the perfect form of simplicity. They are pretty complete (for when they were written), are consistent across the board for the most part, and take up very little space in the rulebook.
My second criterion that I have for a roleplaying game system is that it suit the genre of the game that it's being "fitted" to. To put it bluntly, a game of 1930s action-adventure needs a set of game rules and mechanics that fit that style of play and should be fast and keep players and their characters on the seat of their pants. On the other hand a science fiction game set in a universe with advanced technology, vast cultures spread across the stars, and psionic abilities needs a set of rules that can not only cover all three of these elements, but also one that encourages that type of play. And that's the real key... The game system has to encourage the type of play and roleplaying that the game and its genre are emulating or simulating. If you want someone to play a character in a Conan-esque world, the game sytem should encourage the sword & sorcery tropes of that kind of world; if you want to emulate the epic fantasy feel of Lord of the Rings, then you're game system should encourage those epic fantasy tropes. These days, too many game companies have a variety of different rpg genres and use the same set of mechanics and rules for them. Examples of this include the Modiphius 2D20 system and the Fria Ligan game mechanics that span their line of games. Some of these game systems work well for the genres they emulate, while others do not do as good a job. Several games that do a terrific job of doing the job in this regard are the Capharnaüm - The Tales of the Dragon-Marked RPG from Mindjammer Press (which is currently on hiatus) and the John Carter of Mars Roleplaying Game from the folks at Modiphius, both of which use their set of rules to perfectly bring across the feel and genre that they are trying to work with. It's just important to remember that the game system shapes the experience and the narrative of the specific game one is playing, and when the rules are a good match for the genre and the game world/universe, then the game is one that is...superb.
There are a few other criterion that I have about roleplaying game system rules and mechanics, but these are the two most important, so I've only dealt with them here today.
As a final note, a lot of GMs tend to use House Rules in their games. If I've learned anything in my 40+ years of roleplaying gaming it's this: Always run the game system at your table as written at least three times (in other words, three full four-hour game sessions). This will teach you a lot about the game rules as they were written (obviously!), but most importantly, in combination with your players' approach to the game, will show you what House Rules you need to add for your game to be enjoyable.
'Nuff said.
And there you have it, my thoughts on this twenty-ninth day of #RPGaDay for August, 2021.
Comments, thoughts, questions, etc. are all welcome, of course. :)
Day 29 - System.
Roleplaying game systems matter to me.
While I place equal weight upon the game system and the game world or universe when I buy a roleplaying game and deciding whether I'm going to run the game system in question, I find that if the game system doesn't meet certain criteria that I have, then it's not going to be a game that I'll enjoy.
My primary criterion for a roleplaying game system is that it has to be relatively simple. I've addressed this matter in this year's blog entry on August 21st - Simplicity, and will just add here that while I like systems that have a simple dice mechanic and no multiple types of dice (okay, perhaps two types of dice at the maximum), the game rules do have to give me a *complete* set of rules, not a vague creative prompt and maybe a resolution mechanic. The game rules need to cover both combat and non-combat situations, but the mechanics need to be consistent across the board for both these sets of rules. And finally, the game mechanics and rules system should not be bloated. It's fine to add Optional rules and a few "bells and whistles," but one has to draw the line somewhere. About 50-60 pages of rules, maximum, is about right for me. For me, the old DragonQuest RPG rules from SPI are the perfect form of simplicity. They are pretty complete (for when they were written), are consistent across the board for the most part, and take up very little space in the rulebook.
My second criterion that I have for a roleplaying game system is that it suit the genre of the game that it's being "fitted" to. To put it bluntly, a game of 1930s action-adventure needs a set of game rules and mechanics that fit that style of play and should be fast and keep players and their characters on the seat of their pants. On the other hand a science fiction game set in a universe with advanced technology, vast cultures spread across the stars, and psionic abilities needs a set of rules that can not only cover all three of these elements, but also one that encourages that type of play. And that's the real key... The game system has to encourage the type of play and roleplaying that the game and its genre are emulating or simulating. If you want someone to play a character in a Conan-esque world, the game sytem should encourage the sword & sorcery tropes of that kind of world; if you want to emulate the epic fantasy feel of Lord of the Rings, then you're game system should encourage those epic fantasy tropes. These days, too many game companies have a variety of different rpg genres and use the same set of mechanics and rules for them. Examples of this include the Modiphius 2D20 system and the Fria Ligan game mechanics that span their line of games. Some of these game systems work well for the genres they emulate, while others do not do as good a job. Several games that do a terrific job of doing the job in this regard are the Capharnaüm - The Tales of the Dragon-Marked RPG from Mindjammer Press (which is currently on hiatus) and the John Carter of Mars Roleplaying Game from the folks at Modiphius, both of which use their set of rules to perfectly bring across the feel and genre that they are trying to work with. It's just important to remember that the game system shapes the experience and the narrative of the specific game one is playing, and when the rules are a good match for the genre and the game world/universe, then the game is one that is...superb.
There are a few other criterion that I have about roleplaying game system rules and mechanics, but these are the two most important, so I've only dealt with them here today.
As a final note, a lot of GMs tend to use House Rules in their games. If I've learned anything in my 40+ years of roleplaying gaming it's this: Always run the game system at your table as written at least three times (in other words, three full four-hour game sessions). This will teach you a lot about the game rules as they were written (obviously!), but most importantly, in combination with your players' approach to the game, will show you what House Rules you need to add for your game to be enjoyable.
'Nuff said.
And there you have it, my thoughts on this twenty-ninth day of #RPGaDay for August, 2021.
Comments, thoughts, questions, etc. are all welcome, of course. :)