Profiling In Reverse

[C. Edwards]

First Three
Basic D&D (Pink Box, Module B2, baby!)
AD&D 2nd Edition
Talislanta 2nd Edition

Longest Three...um, Two
AD&D 2nd Edition
Talislanta 2nd Edition

Most Influential
Sorcerer
Shadows  (This game blows my mind, I can't get over it.)
Rolemaster (If nothing else, I now avoid charts and tables like the plague.)

-Chris

[jrients]

Hi, my name's Jeff and I'm a gamer.  ["Hi Jeff."]

1st played:
1981 Dungeons & Dragons Basic Rules (with swell Erol Otus cover)
Star Frontiers Alpha Dawn
Gamma World (2nd or 3rd edition, can't remember exactly)

Most play:
Various incarnations of Dungeons & Dragons
HERO System/Champions 4th edition
I'm not sure what's third, either Call of Cthulhu (3rd through 5th editions) or Pendragon (2nd edition)

Biggest Influence
D&D, in particular the Basic Rules mentioned above and the 1st edition Dungeon Masters Guide
Call of Cthulhu
QAGS: Quick Ass Game System

[GreatWolf]

"What were the first three role-playing games that you actually, really played?"

A sorta D&D-type thing, based on a 1 ed. AD&D PHB and the beginner D&D material.

Middle-earth Roleplaying System

Hero System

"What three role-playing games, out of ALL the ones you've EVER played, did you play the most/longest?"

Rolemaster--Others played AD&D.  I played RM.  My players demanded nothing less.

Hero System--Originally I was toying with designing a multi-genre game (like Torg).  Instead I found this.  I used it for several different genres, and I even tried a little superhero gaming.  It was light, fun entertainment.

Call of Cthulhu--Let's just say that I've spent far too many hours in basements, trying to scare my players to death.

"What three role-playing games had the most influence on you as a player, GM and designer?"

Call of Cthulhu--Quite simply, I learned both atmospherics (music, candles, etc.) and presentation (intonation, etc.) through playing CoC.

Unknown Armies--This game managed to capture large amounts of what I loved in Mage and encapsulate it in a potential moral framework that I found attractive.  (I.E. Power and consequences)

Alyria--Yes I know that it's my game.  This isn't a "toot my horn" entry, though.  Actually, Alyria was largely the reason that I began seriously studying game design issues, and the process (long and drawn-out as it is) has provided me with most of the techniques that I currently use for GMing, playing, and designing.

Seth Ben-Ezra
Great Wolf

(edit:  changed my mind about the last question)

[Walt Freitag]

First Three
D&D
Paranoia
(Don't remember which was 3rd, probably either The Fantasy Trip or a Gamma World homebrew)

Longest Three
Heavily modified AD&D (using Symmetry resolution)
A homebrew stat-less Vampire game (pre-V:tM)
Champions/Hero 4th ed.

Most Influential
D&D (the past)
FUDGE (the present)
Shadows (the future)
Can't separate player, GM, and designer though. I'm all the same.

Answers in the latter two categories would be very different if I also included my LARPs.

- Walt

[Daredevil]

Interesting questions and nice to read your answers!

"What were the first three role-playing games that you actually, really played?"

The first game I played was an obscure, early Finnish role-playing game called "Dungeon of Acirema" (translation is mine). I bet that's a first!

Subsequently transferred to red-box D&D, graduating to AD&D very soon.

The third game was probably Marvel Superheroes or Middle-Earth RPG by ICE. I'm a bit fuzzy about the specifics of that time.

"What three role-playing games, out of ALL the ones you've EVER played, did you play the most/longest?"

Shadowrun. Though I don't care for the game much these days, I have played and GMd it quite a lot.

L5R. This I have only GMd and the two campaigns I have done were, if not the longest time I've played a game, certainly the most intense.

The difference between second most played and third most played is quite huge, in terms of time invested. I think AD&D takes the third spot, but it's followed closely by a motley including at least Marvel Superheroes.

"What three role-playing games had the most influence on you as a player, GM and designer?"

Very hard question, indeed.

Shadowrun, by sheer weight and certainly not by innovative game mechanics or the like. I've played it the most, so I've grown up the most along with it.

Sorcerer. Never played it, don't own it, but hearing about it and later reading about it led me into (.. the Forge) several enlightening experiences regarding playing, GMing and designing RPGs.

Somewhat reluctantly I put L5R here, but the choice is a bit controversial. I have had the best time with it of any RPG, my first campaign in it stands as the best one I've GMd, but that's sort of all in a days work. The game system was nice, the setting inspired, the sourcebooks suberb ... I guess L5R represents for me what's ultimately most important in this hobby; having fun, even though it can get very intense and deep while at it.

- Joachim Buchert -

[Tim Denee]

First Three
Palladium
Gamma World
AD&D

Longest three
Deadlands
AD&D
Aedorea w/ The Window

Most Influential
Aedorea
InSpectres
The Window

[Bob McNamee]

First Three
D&D (a boxed set with module B1 In search of the unknown) from 1979
AD&D
Traveller or Gamma World (I forget which was first, Traveller, I think)


Longest three
AD&D (all through high school, plus)
Champions (a 1 year campaign, and a 2.5 year campaign)
Traveller

Most Influential
Champions (make the character you want, non-random)
Universalis (everybody create)
Inspectres? (haven't played yet...but its influence is there)

[Jack Spencer Jr]

What were the first three role-playing games that you actually, really played?

D&D/AD&D Kind of hard to say because the DM used both of them at the same time.

GURPS and I think Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, but I'm not sure. (Possibly Villians & Vigilantes)

What three role-playing games, out of ALL the ones you've EVER played, did you play the most/longest?

Villians & Viginates.
GURPS
Warhammer FRP

D&D third edition coming up strong. (I'm sick of saying 3e, are you?)

What three role-playing games had the most influence on you as a player, GM and designer (keep what's applicable)?

Everyway
Baron Munchausen
De Profundis

All three as a designer because I really didn't need direction as a player or GM. I just do what I want in those cases. These three help me realise that you don't need armor class of a weapon list.

(Edit: Forgot about Sandman Map of Halaal, which was a very, very simple design. I daesay it was more influential than DeProfundis or Everway to me)

[xiombarg]

I like these questions, tho they're less likely to change over time than the standar profiling ones.

What were the first three role-playing games that you actually, really played?

D&D (red box, Erol Otis cover)
AD&D (1st edition hardbacks)
STar Frontiers (yes, I was a TSR junkie back in the day)

What three role-playing games, out of ALL the ones you've EVER played, did you play the most/longest?

Changeling: The Dreaming
The Masquerade (Mind's Eye Theatre) -- i.e. Vampire LARP
Amber Diceless

What three role-playing games had the most influence on you as a player, GM and designer (keep what's applicable)?[/b]

Player: OctaNe, actually. The stuff on descriptions and the reminders about the Sorcerer "band" metaphore have really stuck with me.
GM: Over the Edge, no doubt about it.
Designer: Tough call. It's a toss-up between Over The Edge, Amber Diceless, and Fading Suns.

[Andrew Martin]

What were the first three role-playing games that you actually, really played?

TSR AD&D, AH Runequest & ICE Rolemaster.

What three role-playing games, out of ALL the ones you've EVER played, did you play the most/longest?

Call of Cthuluhu, TSR AD&D & AH Runequest.

What three role-playing games had the most influence on you as a player, GM and designer (keep what's applicable)?

WEG Torg, Ground Zero Games Dirtside II, FMA/FMC (Yes it's a wargame!)  & Fudge.

[greyorm]

What were the first three role-playing games that you actually, really played?

Red-box D&D. I was DM. I introduced my generation to the hobby on a local level.
AD&D. Shortly thereafter. I actually played this time.
Shadowrun.

What three role-playing games, out of ALL the ones you've EVER played, did you play the most/longest?
Basic D&D.
AD&D.
3E D&D (or Shadowrun)

What three role-playing games had the most influence on you as a player, GM and designer (keep what's applicable)?
Define: influence?

Without that, I would have to say "Sorcerer" has influenced my play and design styles, the way I see the act of gaming and the goal of design, the most out of /any/ game, if influence is defined as "stylistic emulation."

Otherwise, D&D "influenced" me in that it was the first game I ever played and played the most, followed by "Vampire" (and etc.).  Both had systems which were influential in the way it shaped my development as a gamer/designer and what I saw mechanics and play-style as being "about" and "achieved with a game."  Obviously, I abandoned emulation of these influences after I found Sorcerer.

So currently, I have to say: DragonLance SAGA...cards, dude; and player control of outcome via player tactics. Now that I think about it, it is sort of FitM...you decide what your character is going to do, but you often know ahead of time whether she'll succeed at the task or not.

1st edition Immortal, for its depth of background and some funky design decisions I'm still trying to tweak into existence in other systems (ie: building a character as you go, and the concept of Hostiles); however, I still despise its anal skill mechanics, D&D-clone advancement/power levels, and "ooo, its a mystery...I should be a book instead" metaplot.

D&D also influenced me in regards to the metaplot issue...because of constant supplements for various campaign worlds advancing the timeline and invalidating older supplements, or making information worthless, I've grown to hate (HATE!!!!) the concept.

Sorry, I know that is more than three, but I'm not sure what the question is "getting" at in terms of influence.

[Le Joueur]

What were the first three role-playing games that you actually, really played?

[*]Dungeons & Dragons before anyone thought of hardcovers (What do you want? It was 1976.)
[*]Champions (I dunno, first or second editions; you know the one with the 'Grey Avenger' firing his 'teeth energy blast' into the visor of 'The Helmet,' softcover, horrible art.)
[*]Man-to-Man (Steve Jackson's precursor to GURPS.)[/list:u]
What three role-playing games, out of ALL the ones you've EVER played, did you play the most/longest?

[*]Dungeons & Dragons (The covers were hard, but it didn't seem all that advanced; around 8 years.)
[*]Freeform (I'm still running it on and off, frequently.)
[*]Scattershot (Somebody has to playtest it....)[/list:u]
What three role-playing games had the most influence on you as a player, GM and designer (keep what's applicable)?

[*]Dungeons & Dragons (I anticipated it with such relish that I spent almost a year trying to design it before I even saw my first role-playing game; guess what I do now.)
[*]Mind's Eye Theatre's Vampire: the Masquerade (Every game has a 'live-action' element to it; take that to the logical limit and learn something.)
[*]Magic: the Gathering (I know, I know, but it affected the industry in an incredible fashion.  I really think it is an example of what Ron's on about with the 'new' mainstream.)[/list:u]
This thread has been highly enlightening and informative.  It gives me a much better idea 'what games to look at.'

Fang Langford

[Christoffer Lernö]

Hey, this is really interesting, even better than I thought! :)

My turn then!

What were the first three role-playing games that you actually, really played?

Hmm 1
Red box D&D 2
Drakar och Demoner 3
Mutant 4

1. This doesn't qualify really, but my first experience was playing a very short solo-adventure in RuneQuest.
2. Elmore(?) (or was that Easley?) cover
3. ="Dragons and Demons" - Swedish BRP style rgp
4. Yet another Swedish rpg, sort of Gamma World in setting with rules derived from "Drakar och Demoner" mentioned above.


What three role-playing games, out of ALL the ones you've EVER played, did you play the most/longest?

Robotech 1
Shadowrun 2
AD&D 2nd ed 3

1. Various versions of Robotech, predominantly Sentinels, with Return of the Masters (personal favorite) as a close runner-up followed by Southern Cross.

2. Despite my personal bias against the Shadowrun system I've been asked to GM this game so much that it's probably what I've GMed the most. Ironically I was the biggest supporter of the game when it initially was released, but became the one least anxious to play or GM it in the end...

3. I'm suprised AD&D comes up on this list but if I count together all the various (widely different) campaigns I've played I think I have to admit it's more than I've played say Rolemaster, Pendragon and Wastelands.


What three role-playing games had the most influence on you as a player, GM and designer (keep what's applicable)?

Hmm 1
Robotech 2
Rolemaster 3
Mutant 4

1. Lately I've been reading a lot of indie rpgs, but I want to exclude these from my list above. Some games important for me to mention are Shadows and Donjon Krawl. And I can't deny I got a lot of Cthulhu Mythos^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hinsight from reading Hero Wars.

2. This game together with a good GM showed me what illusionist gaming could be at its best. What I'd like to see is that feeling transferred to a fantasy game.

3. Rolemaster again and again made me ask the question: how can I release an excellent and cool character (as created within the Rolemaster system) from a system which again and again only serves to de-protagonize it? Why can't there be a system which not only gives great character concepts but also creates epic scenes (colour)?

4. Not many rules, not much setting. But the setting could be extended with very little problem to create new fantastic stories. It serves an example of how a short game can be complete, and how less setting actually both means more playable setting, and more setting in total because the GM has such an easy time extending it.

[Ben Morgan]

What were the first three role-playing games that you actually, really played?
1. AD&D 2nd Ed. (1 sessions)
2. Palladium Fantasy Roleplaying (1 session)
3. Cyberpunk 2020

What three role-playing games, out of ALL the ones you've EVER played, did you play the most/longest?
1. Cyberpunk 2020 (about two years straight at one point)
2. Vampire (same game world (non-canon) on and off since 1994)
3. Legend of the Five Rings (about a year and a half)

What three role-playing games had the most influence on you as a player, GM and designer (keep what's applicable)?
1. Vampire, for showing me the power of color. (no goth pun intended)
2. Amber, for showing me how to love my characters. (no matter what fucked-up stuff happens to them; or even what fucked-up stuff they decide to do to other people )
3. Sorcerer, for showing me how to focus on the stuff I want to emphasize, and chuck the rest out. (a lot of Jared's work get honorable mention in this category as well).

-- Ben

[joshua neff]

I like this thread. Anyway...

What were the first three role-playing games that you actually, really played?

AD&D (hardcover version)
Gamma World
&...really, I'm not sure. Possibly Boot Hill. Or Top Secret. Or Tunnels & Trolls.

What three role-playing games, out of ALL the ones you've EVER played, did you play the most/longest?

AD&D, which I played the hell out of all through middle school.
Traveller, which I also played the hell out of, up into high school.
&...I've probably played a fair amount of Champions, in various editions, over the years (although it's been quite a while since I last played it).

What three role-playing games had the most influence on you as a player & GM?

(I'm not a designer.)

Sorcerer
Story Engine
Castle Falkenstein
...all for scene-framing & the distribution of power between Players & GMs. And for contributing to my love of games that don't require Xeroxed character sheets.