The Game Development Kit (a game design tool) (split)

[Joe]

Hi YeGoblinQueenne,

I have stumbled upon your GDK and was struck by it because I have also considered making kind of a Framework for RPGs. Nice work indeed!

I thought the Framework to be the basic parts of a Roleplaying Game (tabletop for my part, for I am not willing to design any PC game and like social interaction which could or could not be added to the mix and built upon with applications of the basic concepts. Do you probably know if such RPG Framework Concept exists?

It would speed up the basic work of thinking out what the game has to have (like conflict resolution, character creation etc.) and then the author can focus on higher-level decisions:

• what type of conflict resolution to use (dice, cards, plain description of actions...)
• how the character shall be descripted (individual skill assignment or career or mix of both or aspects ála Fate RPG...)
• or what the amount of player contribution to the story is relevant (GM has the first and last word or all is player-oriented without any GM...)
• etc.

Joe

[Ron Edwards]

Hello everyone,

The above post was split from The Game Development Kit (a design tool), from January 2007.

Ordinarily, when this happens, I split the post like I just did, and the conversation can continue from the new poster's point of view.

In this case, that particular thread was not a valid topic for the forum, as the person wasn't posting about a game in design. Perhaps it can be brought to a constructive purpose, though.

Joe, if you are designing a game, or have an idea for one, please share it here and explain how the points you made in your post apply to it, or to the design process. That would be a useful and interesting thread.

If you are not, then this thread must close here (i.e. do not post, anyone).

Best, Ron

[Joe]

HI Ron,

A question here  - you mean such a broad topic (like a Discussion about designing a general Framework for RPG Games) would not suit that much here on these Fora?
So that I am 100% certain what you mean.

As to designing a particular game - I am (now) more interested in a general RPG Game Framework than a particular Game Design as I like to make structures and fill them in with fluff text and subbranches etc (and am interested in RPGs of course and making them better). Depends on what would come out of such work that I may also come to try my own RPG Game Ruleset in future.

You can now decide on this Topic validity I guess.

Even better, Joe

[Ron Edwards]

Hi Joe,

It's great to discuss broader topics at the Forge as long as they are expressed in concrete form, or could be. The key here, for this forum, is to apply the conceptual framework to a game design, so others can understand what you mean and apply feedback.

You're certainly welcome to use material from the original thread toward that purpose, if you'd like. Or if you're interested, you can check out the Big Model, which is the product of many years of discussion here at the Forge. It's described in a number of essays in the Articles section (links at the top of the page); send me a private message if you want specific recommendations. Other theory frameworks are available there too.

A lot of people, me included, love to discuss this stuff. But at the Forge, it must be rooted in the concrete topic of a particular forum. If you really aren't that driven toward game design at the moment, then I strongly recommend Actual Play.

Best, Ron

[Joe]

A lot of people, me included, love to discuss this stuff. But at the Forge, it must be rooted in the concrete topic of a particular forum. If you really aren't that driven toward game design at the moment, then I strongly recommend Actual Play.

Hm,
you really think that section will do? As I peeked through, there are actual play experiences from games, no raw theory discussions. And the RPG Theory subsection is closed... But if you think so you can move it into Actual Play then.

[Ron Edwards]

Actually, I suggest starting your own Actual Play thread.

It is, in fact, a theory forum, which uses actual play experiences as touchpoints for honesty and for clarity. It is not a mere diary forum. Check out the sticky thread at its top, and you'll see.

Let's close this particular thread now, so, no more posting to it. I'll see you in Actual Play.

Best, Ron