Previous Topics
In RPG Theory

11/19/2005 Rob Alexander: Alan Turing and System Doesn't Matter
On a computer-related forum, someone pointed out that almost every time a discussion starts up along the lines of "Which programming language is better?", someone always pipes up with "It…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Rob Alexander, Jasper, pells, Noon.

11/15/2005 E.T.Smith: [HELP] Unclear on an Aspect of "Authored Role-Playing"
In an effort to improve my GMing, I have recently acquired the book Sorcerer & Sword, specifically for the chapter entitled "Anatomy of Authored Role-Playing". I feel I've got the…
In RPG Theory
Participants: E.T.Smith, jburneko, Ron Edwards.

11/15/2005 Wormwood: Parallel and Hierarchical Views (PCon3)
I've already discusses the basics of a PCon3 here: http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=17387.0 . Likewise I demonstrated an approach to reducing play goals to atomic pairs of topic and form. (Such as ethical…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Wormwood, TonyLB, M. J. Young.

11/11/2005 TonyLB: Preparation as fuel for Story
So I've been thinking about the connection between GM-preparation (whether classic "what's gonna happen" or more (to my mind) useful preparation schemes like Sorceror or DitV) and its function in…
In RPG Theory
Participants: TonyLB, Joshua BishopRoby, Paka, Noon, WhiteRat, Marco, Alan.

11/10/2005 Roger: Of Utopias and Dystopias
Of Utopias and Dystopias Settings, in role-playing games as well as in fiction, can be very broadly described as resting somewhere on a spectrum which has utopias on one end…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Roger, MatrixGamer, Joshua BishopRoby, Joel, M. J. Young, Neal, Ben Lehman, DrVital, contracycle, JDMcDonnell, Mike Holmes, Arpie.

11/10/2005 Noon: Where investment seeds
Snakes and ladders is an amazing game. I recommend all Forgites play it again sometime soon if you haven't recently. Preferably with someone young and excitable! What amazes me is…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Noon, contracycle, MatrixGamer, Joshua BishopRoby, komradebob, Mark Woodhouse, Graham Walmsley, TonyLB, Ice Cream Emperor, talysman, Kesher, timfire, M. J. Young.

11/9/2005 Joshua BishopRoby: Setting > Situation > Scene?
Point of slight clarification. I'm trying to figure out how broad 'Situation' is supposed to be.  I've been considering it as the immediate elements of the setting, thrown into juxtaposition,…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Joshua BishopRoby, Noon, lumpley, MatrixGamer, Troy_Costisick, ewilen, John Kim, pekkok, Graham Walmsley, Adam Dray, contracycle, Mike Holmes.

11/8/2005 pells: About writing for RPG
This thread is a follow up of About dices, rules and narrative (http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=17184.0. I'd like to present the way I write, or let's say, the tool I design for scenarisation.…
In RPG Theory
Participants: pells, WhiteRat, contracycle, MatrixGamer, komradebob.

11/5/2005 talysman: suggestions for rapid RPG prototyping
someone pointed me to this article on rapid game prototyping. it's specifically about computer games, not roleplaying games, but I was struck by some of the similarities to the Iron…
In RPG Theory
Participants: talysman, Paul Czege, Ron Edwards, Noon, Roger, contracycle, Warren.

11/4/2005 Wormwood: Methods of Play Content Analysis (PCon3)
PCon3 is presented here: http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=17387.0 One of the advantages of examining the whole of play content is that active content can be classified in multiple ways, without dependence on the…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Wormwood.

11/4/2005 Montola: Thesis: The Role of Detection in Rule Enforcement
From Role-playing in academia thread. I didn't this thesis useful. A review in my reading diary. Best, - Markus PS. When was it published?
In RPG Theory
Participants: Montola, Blankshield, Bankuei, Vaxalon, 1of3.

11/2/2005 Kory Strickland: Introducing new games to old players
    Hello all, I'm a long time lurker here at the Forge, but this is my first post.  I'd like to get started running an RPG, but since none…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Kory Strickland, Joshua BishopRoby, timfire, brightstar, Blankshield, Trevis Martin, efindel, Halzebier.

11/2/2005 frikardellen: Evaluating aesthetics i a competetion
Hi everyone I have an idea for a game which in gns-terms is a gamist-narrativist hybrid in that order. What i am trying to do is make the aesthetic contribution…
In RPG Theory
Participants: frikardellen, Matt, Roger, Noon, TonyLB.

11/1/2005 brightstar: Another look at it
I just joined the board via a friends suggestion that I should come here and take a look around.  I figured before I got to posting I should introduce myself. …
In RPG Theory
Participants: brightstar, ScottM, Bankuei, Joshua BishopRoby, John Kim, M. J. Young.

10/29/2005 RenjiKage: Component-based design of RPGs
Two weeks ago I read about John Kirk's RPG Design patterns. I downloaded the book, read it and was very excited. As a student of computer science, focused on software…
In RPG Theory
Participants: RenjiKage, John Kirk.

10/28/2005 greyorm: Parlor Narration and Simulationism
Over in  Going beyond "Parlor Narration", Callan complained: was thinking, "Hey, it'll be cool to see how the characters interact," but then I restricted it to algorithms so…
In RPG Theory
Participants: greyorm.

10/28/2005 Certified: Defining a game’s setting, how much is too little or too much?
These are just some general questions about world building, open to anyone, for any setting. These are questions I’ve been asking myself lately and will answer them in another post,…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Certified, Jack Aidley, Lamorak33, Adam Dray, Mike Holmes, Joshua BishopRoby, Troy_Costisick, talysman, Shreyas Sampat, Sydney Freedberg, M. J. Young, Michael S. Miller, Paka.

10/27/2005 darrick: SenZar ???
aaahh, that explains it!   i heard about this scifi/dark fantasy/horror rpg called SenZar by accident.  a few guys on rpg.net disparagingly referred to SenZar when writing about my rpg: …
In RPG Theory
Participants: darrick, Jasper, daMoose_Neo, Sean, M. J. Young, Mike Holmes, Dr. Velocity.

10/27/2005 Joshua BishopRoby: Non-Binary Conflict Resolution
In discussing Dogs in the Vineyard, we came across a slight conceptual bump when it came to conflicts that included more than two parties all with mutally exclusive agendas.  Dogs'…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Joshua BishopRoby, timfire, Blankshield, lumpley, Shreyas Sampat, John Kirk, TonyLB, Trevis Martin, Michael S. Miller, Mike Holmes, LordSmerf, MatrixGamer, M. J. Young.

10/27/2005 timfire: [The Mountain Witch] Reward System?
Awhile ago, I was discussing tMW's "reward system" with Ron Edwards. It was spurred by a comment Vincent made on his blog that players get rewarded for making their characters…
In RPG Theory
Participants: timfire, Ron Edwards, MatrixGamer, Clinton R. Nixon.

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Subsequent Topics
In RPG Theory

11/20/2005 Nogusielkt: Any rpgs in which rule 0 doesn't apply?
Might be the wrong forum, but the descriptions aren't clear on where to ask questions about existing rpgs... So, can I get a list of games that don't have rule…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Nogusielkt, timfire, Eero Tuovinen, komradebob, Joshua BishopRoby, JDMcDonnell, TonyLB, Ron Edwards.

11/21/2005 Mike Holmes: Adjusting FATE for PBEM Play
I was asked how I'd modified FATE for PBEM play in this thread: I did a few things actually to make play flow more smoothly. I have to admit first,…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Mike Holmes, joepub.

11/21/2005 Joshua BishopRoby: Architect Stance
Okay, total snippet of a thought, here.  While Actor, Author, and Director stances describe the stances that player-participants take "in play" while things are happening, there's also procedures that player-participants…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Joshua BishopRoby, Mark Woodhouse, Andrew Morris, Mike Holmes, timfire, Ron Edwards, Roger, M. J. Young.

11/21/2005 aedaren: Ideas for defaults in classic skill-based systems
Hello All!  I've been developing a simple system with a normal rules-set (IE: similar to BRP, GURPS, AD&D, etc)... But I've been struggling with skill defaults.  I've gone back and…
In RPG Theory
Participants: aedaren, Joshua BishopRoby, Mike Holmes, demiurgeastaroth, M. J. Young, Ethesis.

11/22/2005 komradebob: I want training wheels!
I have a horrible confession to make: I realized tonight that I need training wheels. I realized it when I finished reading PTA, a game whose anticipated arrival in my…
In RPG Theory
Participants: komradebob, Shreyas Sampat, Warren, Troy_Costisick, TonyLB, Ron Edwards, joepub, Mike Holmes, Joshua BishopRoby, Noon, Valamir, ffilz.

11/23/2005 Bluve Oak: Coolness Hit Points
Crazy thought #509234. Most RPG’s have a mechanic that tells you if your character is alive or dead, or somewhere in between; Hit Points, Health, Injury… What if this measure…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Bluve Oak, Victor Gijsbers, Arturo G., Mike Holmes, Michael S. Miller, jerry.

11/23/2005 Joshua BishopRoby: Shaping Gamer Culture (Looooooong)
Okay, so see if this sounds familiar to you: You go to your Favorite Local Game Store.  The clerk there shows you a new book that just came out.  You…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Joshua BishopRoby, Marco, cpeterso, Ben Lehman, Ron Edwards, Arpie, Justin Marx, Merten, Arturo G., contracycle, Roger, Bankuei, Lig, John Kim, M. J. Young, DrVital, komradebob.

11/24/2005 J B Bell: Content Creation for the Discontented
[quote="contracycle"](From [url=http://www.indie-rpgs.com/forum/index.php?topic=17711.0"]Shaping Gamer Culture . . .[/url]): The appropriate response to the "demand for content" which you recognise is to produce content, not to fail to do so.  This is…
In RPG Theory
Participants: J B Bell, Mark Woodhouse, Joshua BishopRoby, M. J. Young, contracycle, komradebob, pells, Caldis, Shreyas Sampat, Ethesis.

11/25/2005 Arpie: GMless LARPs
I do hope I'm doing this thread thing right. I'd like to see a LARP where the GM gets weeded out. When I first heard about LARP I got excited…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Arpie, J. Tuomas Harviainen, WhiteRat, John Kim, Graham Walmsley, Merten, Lig, Paradox.

11/25/2005 lampros: A Plea for Gamism
Yo, This is the first half of an eassy on game design I wrote. I imagine this is mostly old hat around here, but I'd love some feedback anyway. I'm…
In RPG Theory
Participants: lampros, Arpie, Noon, Ben Lehman, ffilz, Nogusielkt, NN, Ron Edwards.

11/26/2005 bcook1971: Sorcerer in the Vineyard
Sorcerer in the Vineyard Hey, all. I’ve been reading (among other things) some John Constantine: Hellblazer graphic novels. The first story in the Red Sepulchre graphic novel, “High on Life,”…
In RPG Theory
Participants: bcook1971, lumpley, Vaxalon.

11/27/2005 diadochi: What is a Fantasy Heartbreaker?
Hi, I'm new to the forge and wonder if someone could explain what a Fantasy Heartbreaker is? I've tried to find out for myself, but am confused. I'm not sure…
In RPG Theory
Participants: diadochi, Trevis Martin, Ron Edwards, timfire, Rob Alexander, Paka, Jasper, John Kim, Halzebier.

11/28/2005 dindenver: Psionics in a fantasy setting?
Hi!   Do you feel that Psionics are appropriate for a sword and sorcery fantasy setting?   Are psionics too sci fi? Do they have a bad rep because of…
In RPG Theory
Participants: dindenver, Troy_Costisick, Eero Tuovinen, Durgil, HMT, Mike Holmes, Andrew Morris, Noon, Justin Marx, Ethesis, M. J. Young.

11/28/2005 Roger: Plucky Underdogs and Complicit Illusionism
[quote author=Arpie link=topic=17572.msg187530#msg187530 date=1133118839] I'd rather see a world where the plucky underdogs make a change for the better. [/quote] I've heard this before.  This sentiment that "I like games…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Roger, TonyLB, Ron Edwards.

11/28/2005 Andrew Morris: Dice fudging and other indicators
In a recent Sons of Kryos podcast, Judd makes a statement to the effect of "dice fudging is an indicator that the players are not being served by the rules."…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Andrew Morris, lumpley, inthisstyle, Bankuei, Paka, Ron Edwards, Bob Goat, dindenver, John Kim, Arpie, Sydney Freedberg, Wormwood.

11/29/2005 Elliott Belser: Plot-building system for less GM-centric game
Just an idea I had. A player has two plot-building resources: character Beliefs and a number of "Plot Points."  A Belief is a one sentence declaration of what your character…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Elliott Belser, TonyLB, Arpie.

11/29/2005 Samarkand: Player-defined consequences
  I've been reading a bit about the issue of character death--how "one bad roll" can kill a character  either because the PC is too weak at a given ability…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Samarkand, TonyLB, Elliott Belser, Ben Lehman, Arpie, Michael S. Miller, TheTris, Joshua BishopRoby, Noon.

11/29/2005 TheTris: Character design from the eyes of a 5 year old
Reviewing most (all?) of the systems I know, character design is approached from what seems like the view of an child looking at the character in question.  My example: daddy…
In RPG Theory
Participants: TheTris, Matt, Ben Lehman, Victor Gijsbers, Joshua BishopRoby, Andrew Morris, lumpley, charles ferguson, WhiteRat, M. J. Young.

11/29/2005 Halzebier: Task vs. Conflict Resolution – Saying it for my group
Hello! We've had a big (though perfectly ameniable) discussion in our DSA group the other night (DSA's a German FRPG). Our fantasy heroes tried to cross a ledge to get…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Halzebier, TonyLB, Andrew Morris, lumpley, Technocrat13, Malcolm, Eero Tuovinen, Sean, Noon, Ron Edwards, xenopulse.

11/30/2005 Ethesis: Misc comments.
[quote]BTW, [b]What is your game about?[/b] Killing monsters and taking their stuff. [b]What do the characters do?[/b] specialize their abilities (classes), work in groups, improve on a linear scale to…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Ethesis.

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