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In RPG Theory

8/25/2005 Silmenume: Exploration does not equal Bricolage.
I broke this off from Xenopulse’s (Christian) thread Complications Instead of Failure as I felt this would be too far out of the original subject matter.  A link to the…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Silmenume, ewilen, cruciel.

8/24/2005 TonyLB: Who's your Pep-Squad?
So I was chatting with Andrew Cooper at GenCon, and we were talking about how Capes falls apart if nobody brings the excitement to the table.  It's like people come…
In RPG Theory
Participants: TonyLB, Ron Edwards, Gaerik, Miskatonic, Technocrat13, J. Tuomas Harviainen, Joshua BishopRoby, Noon, c, Meguey.

8/24/2005 Levi Kornelsen: Physical Game Staging - Black Box LARP
I've been slowly building up my methodology for staging LARP events, and I feel that it could benefit from some critical analysis and any general thoughts others had. This is…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Levi Kornelsen, Andrew Morris, komradebob, Matt, Albert of Feh.

8/23/2005 J. Tuomas Harviainen: Please rip our questionnaire apart.
We have done field research on larp experiences by using this questionnaire, with the intent of gathering data on how people experience the in-game stare. It also contains questions that…
In RPG Theory
Participants: J. Tuomas Harviainen, Eero Tuovinen, xenopulse, beingfrank, Graham Walmsley.

8/23/2005 Balbinus: What creates complexity in rpg mechanics?
Hi guys, I posted this originally on rpg.net, as it was inspired by a comment in a thread about how many game character sheets tend to look like tax returns,…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Balbinus, GB Steve, komradebob, ewilen, John Kim, Joshua BishopRoby, LogicaLunatic, ragnar, Nogusielkt.

8/21/2005 ragnar: Resolution mechanics in Zero?
I was not sure where to post this, so admins feel free to move the post if I got it wrong. Ron mentioned in one of the articles that the…
In RPG Theory
Participants: ragnar, Ron Edwards.

8/19/2005 exploreRPG: Tabletop to CRPG? Share your thoughts...
I am a professional software engineer that has also developed what I think to be a near-perfect model for table-top RPGs to be converted to CRPGs. My design, while it…
In RPG Theory
Participants: exploreRPG, M. J. Young, Gordon C. Landis, Vaxalon, Noon, nikola, Ron Edwards, Silmenume, Selene Tan, LordSmerf, Tobaselly.

8/19/2005 M. J. Young: A Model for a CRPG?
Recently I was corresponding with someone whose understanding of The Big Model is rather incomplete. In the course of our discussion he portrayed his dream of designing a CRPG with…
In RPG Theory
Participants: M. J. Young, Noon, Warren, Adam Dray, contracycle, JamesSterrett, Eric J..

8/15/2005 Tobias Wrigstad: [Knutpunkt 2006 RPG con] Call for Papers
[size=10pt][tt] Hi there, the Call for Papers for the book accompanying the Knutpunkt 2006 convention on role-playing is now official. It can be found here: http://jeepen.org/knutpunkt/ but is also included…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Tobias Wrigstad.

8/15/2005 Troy_Costisick: What Role Does Setting Play In System?
Heya, I'm working on a problem in my latest design, and am hoping to get some good input from you guys.  Let's say you have a finite ammount of space-…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Troy_Costisick, Ron Edwards, GB Steve, Artanis.

8/13/2005 timfire: Resources on world/setting building
I'm in the research phase of a new project. I would like to research world/setting building. I would preferably like sources that discuss world-building in play, but in lieu of…
In RPG Theory
Participants: timfire, Adam Dray, Jasper, Paganini, M. J. Young.

8/12/2005 Paul Czege: one player's quest to recapture the table-top RPG experience...
...in the medium of computer rpgs: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/issue/4/31 I can't decide if I think he failed for the same reasons he thinks he failed. Paul
In RPG Theory
Participants: Paul Czege, Ron Edwards, Adam Dray, Rob Carriere, Andrew Norris, Artanis, Sean, cruciel, Resonantg, TonyLB, Gaerik, Noon, contracycle, GB Steve, Miskatonic.

8/12/2005 Sean: Puzzles and Monsters
In fantasy fiction, a lot of monsters are actually puzzles. That is, they are problems of the form: - Hero can't solve the puzzle (of the monster's weakness) = hero…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Sean, TonyLB, Andrew Norris, contracycle, Jack Aidley, rrr, cruciel, M. J. Young, Balbinus, jaw6, rafial, Graham Walmsley, Noon, simon_hibbs, Vaxalon, xenopulse, Gamskee, GB Steve.

8/11/2005 Sean: Are these two things incompatible?
To reboot my other thread - here are two posts about something I'm trying to work out, one original, one in response to a clarification query by Alan: ----------------------------------- 1.…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Sean, GB Steve, contracycle, Andrew Norris, TonyLB, xenopulse, M. J. Young, Noon, Joshua BishopRoby.

8/11/2005 Darcy Burgess: Is that a Dingus in your Dice Bag? -- Real world Research
For the last several months, I've been tackling what amounts to a grand experiment: Shifting my group's focus towards conflict-res, primarily narr-structured games.  Where we were before would probably be…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Darcy Burgess, GB Steve, M. J. Young.

8/11/2005 Calithena: Are these two things incompatible?
1. "You're in a cavern of undulating stone, with an ancient brass demon-idol hulking above its farther reaches. Three bestial humanoids stand guard before it, waving flails..." (During the battle,…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Calithena, Alan, Ron Edwards.

8/8/2005 LandonSuffered: D10s, Add-Ons, and the Missing TN 11
Since this is a forum for game designers I thought I’d post this short question here. Background first: I’ve had some complaints in the past with D10 games that have…
In RPG Theory
Participants: LandonSuffered, rafial, Adam Dray, Valamir.

8/8/2005 xenopulse: Complications Instead of Failure
Due to several recent discussions, I realized that one of the things I really like about most conflict resolution mechanics (e.g., Primetime Adventures' system) is that you can have interesting…
In RPG Theory
Participants: xenopulse, ScottM, Silmenume, Ron Edwards, timfire, cruciel, M. J. Young, Balbinus, Joshua BishopRoby, ewilen.

8/7/2005 Noon: Address of Challenge: The care and feeding of
Split from: Gamism: Exploration of conflict & Address of conflict (Important to the context of this thread) I'm tackling that same question regarding RPG/board games with Power/Evil, and I'm not…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Noon, David Bapst, xenopulse, komradebob.

8/5/2005 John Burdick: Connection between target numbers and purpose of dice resolution
In Target Numbers, or the last bastion of GM fiat and the earlier Difficulty/Success Needed as it relates to GM Fiat, there has been some mismatch in reactions and focus…
In RPG Theory
Participants: John Burdick, btrc, Black Iris Dancer, David Bapst, cruciel, M. J. Young, ewilen, Joshua BishopRoby, Paganini.

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Subsequent Topics
In RPG Theory

8/26/2005 John Kim: John's Standard Rant #1: Freeform Traits
This is a general rant about freeform traits, prompted by some off-board discussion.  I'm not opposed to them in general, but I think that some designers choose them as a…
In RPG Theory
Participants: John Kim, Sean, gsoylent, Emily Care, Nathan P., Joshua BishopRoby, greyorm, HMT, lumpley, chadu, Marco, Sydney Freedberg, cruciel, Noon, Troy_Costisick, Darcy Burgess, jaw6, Everspinner.

8/28/2005 Graham Walmsley: The GM as safety net
This is an idea that's currently interesting me. I'm hoping you guys will kick it around and tell me a. Whether it might work, b. Whether it's hopelessly naive and…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Graham Walmsley, lumpley, Halzebier, TonyLB, demiurgeastaroth, Noon, MrSandman666, contracycle, c, GB Steve.

8/28/2005 timfire: Rewarded for winning---backwards?
Over in Indie Design I posted my ideas for a new project. One of my main ideas for the game is this---When you win a conflict, you win the stakes,…
In RPG Theory
Participants: timfire, matthijs, Filip Luszczyk, Marco, Troy_Costisick, TonyLB, Noon, Ron Edwards, Halzebier, John Harper, Shreyas Sampat, contracycle, Bankuei, Joshua BishopRoby, ewilen, Negilent.

8/31/2005 TonyLB: IIEE and Karma Resolution
A discussion over on the Muse of Fire boards got me thinking pretty seriously about IIEE, and where it applies.  I reference threads:  the four steps of action, What is…
In RPG Theory
Participants: TonyLB, Ron Edwards, Noon, cruciel, Vaxalon, Gaerik, ewilen, Joshua BishopRoby, John Kim.

9/1/2005 Jeff Turner: I am legion, we are many
Has anyone heard of a game or system that casts players as organizations or groups? For example, a player has either a stable of characters, represents a corporation or entire…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Jeff Turner, Paul Czege, TonyLB, Artanis, contracycle, Sean, Michael S. Miller, Gaerik.

9/1/2005 Meguey: Ritual and Gaming/Game Design
All the recent discussion in Actual Play of Dogs, Under the Bed, Barbaren, and Bacchanal got me thinking. Here's what I thought: I have been creating ritual for groups from…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Meguey, lumpley, Artanis, Silmenume, cruciel, Joshua BishopRoby, Paka, Ben Lehman, Adam Dray, Blankshield, Emily Care, ivan23.

9/2/2005 Montola: CFP: Role-playing seminar at Tampere University
We're hosting a small seminar on role-playing theory at the University of Tampere. Check out the seminar webpage below for practical information and the call for papers; please note that…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Montola.

9/2/2005 jasonm: Vi Åker Jeep
I'm friends with Olle Jonsson, who is a founding member of the Swedish freeform collective Vi Åker Jeep.  These guys are doing some very interesting things, and I really wanted…
In RPG Theory
Participants: jasonm, Joshua BishopRoby, Merten, Tobias Wrigstad.

9/2/2005 b_bankhead: The Anima Rpg, If it isn't a Heartbreaker how come it's breaking mine?
(before you click on the url below, you should know the little glowing jewel thingy operates the controls to turn off the sound) http://www.animarpg.com/ I know this one isn't really…
In RPG Theory
Participants: b_bankhead, Andy Kitkowski, greyorm.

9/3/2005 Dan R. Stevenson: What are your views on the D6 system?
The title pretty much sums it up. What do think of the D6 system by Westend Games? I was thinking of acquiring it for sci-fi fantasy game I am working…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Dan R. Stevenson, Vaxalon, Selene Tan, gsoylent, Eric J., Matt Wilson, Technocrat13, rafial, Bankuei, Gordon C. Landis.

9/4/2005 lpsmith: Control and Restrictions in RPGs
So, I wrote an essay about RPG theory: http://strackenz.spod-central.org/~lpsmith/rpg/essays/ControlAndRestrictions.html It has two basic premises:  one, that a roleplaying system delegates control over different aspects of the created story to the…
In RPG Theory
Participants: lpsmith, Noon, contracycle, lumpley, Joshua BishopRoby, timfire, M. J. Young, Marco, demiurgeastaroth, Blankshield, Halzebier, Mike Holmes.

9/7/2005 Dumirik: Surrounded by Genius
Ok, this thread might be something new, or it might have already been dealt with before, in which case give me a swift kick in the ass and point me…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Dumirik, timfire, Vaxalon, Andrew Morris, TonyLB, bcook1971, Graham Walmsley, contracycle, Arturo G., Paul Czege, xenopulse, Blankshield, Joshua BishopRoby, gsoylent, Troy_Costisick, Ron Edwards, Michael S. Miller, Nathan P..

9/8/2005 jasonm: Swedish Freeform and the Forge
[url=http://polyfem.blogspot.com/]Sven Holmström[/url] has some interesting things to say about the similarities and differences between narrativist games emerging from the Forge and nordic [i]friform[/i] gaming.  It was pointed out to me…
In RPG Theory
Participants: jasonm, Green, J. Tuomas Harviainen, Merten, Sven, JonasB.

9/8/2005 TonyLB: Advantage/Disadvantage: What does the divide tell us?
Characters in many games have clear-cut advantages and disadvantages.  The way games treat these is becoming a source of fascination for me. I was raised (as a gamer) in Champions. …
In RPG Theory
Participants: TonyLB, Technocrat13, c, Joshua BishopRoby, Noon, Tony Irwin.

9/8/2005 TonyLB: Why should player's support their characters?
[i][ Okay, I am arrogant enough to think that what follows is a whole separate topic from [url=http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=16750.0]Advantages/Disadvantages[/url].  They are clearly linked, in mindset if nothing else, but they seem…
In RPG Theory
Participants: TonyLB, Joshua BishopRoby, Troy_Costisick, Ben Lehman, Gordon C. Landis, timfire, Noon, lumpley, Emily Care, xenopulse, demiurgeastaroth, cruciel, Kynn.

9/8/2005 RPGnut: who needs a GM?
Now as much as the title might make it sound as if I'm looking for work as a gorups GM I'm not.  Instead I'm curious as to everyone's thoughts on…
In RPG Theory
Participants: RPGnut, Technocrat13, Andrew Morris, lumpley, Halzebier.

9/8/2005 ragnar: Harming characters...let players narrate their own pain?
While GMing a diceless free form game (with some elements of Theatrix) a while back I came across one problem. I didn't want to harm the characters of the story.…
In RPG Theory
Participants: ragnar, Joshua BishopRoby, Ron Edwards, Arturo G., M. J. Young, Noon, Vaxalon, xenopulse.

9/10/2005 Noon: Complete games with unguided resource assignment
Just a quick question or three: What is the take of people here on RPG's which ask for users to assign mechanical resources without system guidance? Say, like a game…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Noon, TonyLB, Shreyas Sampat, Gordon C. Landis, Kynn, Sean, LordSmerf, Joshua BishopRoby, Vaxalon, RPGnut, John Kim.

9/10/2005 cruciel: Technique Discussions
I've seen it come up a couple times now that people are having trouble finding design tools - talk about specific Techniques.  I know such discussions are all over this…
In RPG Theory
Participants: cruciel, M. J. Young.

9/10/2005 John Peloquin: A Theory on Role, inspired by character class debates
First a little background: I've been lurking on these forums for about a month, reveling in the collection of knowledge available here. Yesterday I was running a search on threads…
In RPG Theory
Participants: John Peloquin, Halzebier, Troy_Costisick, J. Tuomas Harviainen, aplappi, Alan, Ron Edwards.

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