I've been mulling over the Dread mechanic and your comments are right on the mark for me. I think the mechanic can be used to just resolve tasks, leaving the GM to still screw with the stakes. I'm not sure if it has to be used this way though. I know Graham was getting the shits with some of my GMing the game before this one.
I am pretty sceptical about games that require the facilitator to be a jerk in order to get the Fun out of the game.
I think BE is better when people play hard, in the same way that a game like chess or soccer is better if people play hard; but you don't have to be a jerk to make the game work.
I think I am going to have to read over Dread some more, I am not sure I am getting it.
Totally agree. A good mechanic will allow and reward everyone at the table playing hard and not pulling their punches.
Whether Dread can play like that, I'm not sure. I *think* it can but I'm not sure if it's formally encoded in the rules or whether it'd rely more on informal rules of play. I have feeling it has something to do with grouping pulls to resolve the stakes.
But, it could be broken. I wouldn't be surprised. It's pretty old school once you get past the jenga. The narrative authority is centralised with GM, players don't scene frames, set stakes or narrate success or failure.
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Dread just ain't Dogs in the Vineyard.
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I think BE is better when people play hard, in the same way that a game like chess or soccer is better if people play hard; but you don't have to be a jerk to make the game work.
I think I am going to have to read over Dread some more, I am not sure I am getting it.
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Whether Dread can play like that, I'm not sure. I *think* it can but I'm not sure if it's formally encoded in the rules or whether it'd rely more on informal rules of play. I have feeling it has something to do with grouping pulls to resolve the stakes.
But, it could be broken. I wouldn't be surprised. It's pretty old school once you get past the jenga. The narrative authority is centralised with GM, players don't scene frames, set stakes or narrate success or failure.
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