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In RPG Theory

4/24/2003 b_bankhead: Evolve or Die: forces Driving the Evolution of RPGs
Recently a major game store in my area moved three doors down in the same strip mall to new digs. Where the first location was notable by it's large and…
In RPG Theory
Participants: b_bankhead, clehrich, Mike Holmes, M. J. Young.

4/23/2003 Marco: No Myth playing
Feng has been talking about playing without the "myth of reality"--I find the idea interesesting but I'm foggy on some issues. 0. Gener issues? What happens when genre is foggy?…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Marco, Mike Holmes, Le Joueur, clehrich, M. J. Young.

4/23/2003 Jack Spencer Jr: Making the players more proactive
I think I should start that I dislike the word proactive. I side with the Itchy & Scratchy writer on the episode of the Simpson when they created the Poochy…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Jack Spencer Jr, Valamir, Mike Holmes, Le Joueur, Fabrice G., damion, John Kim, clehrich, cruciel.

4/23/2003 John Kim: Plotless but Background-based Games
This is a split from another thread in the "Actual Play" forum. The essential problem which the poster was posting was his feeling that: "if they fail, then nothing…
In RPG Theory
Participants: John Kim, Le Joueur, lumpley, Mike Holmes, clehrich, Ron Edwards, Walt Freitag, Bankuei, Emily Care, cruciel.

4/23/2003 Buddha Nature: Necessary Risk
Is risk a necessary part of the roleplaying experience? This is a question I have been grappling with for a bit now. What I mean by this is whether or…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Buddha Nature, AV, Simon W, Le Joueur, Mike Holmes, ADGBoss, damion, Ron Edwards, Wolfen, C. Edwards, M. J. Young, Bruce Baugh.

4/22/2003 fabien: Civilization(TM) RPG game?
In a previous thread about innovation, I ended asking about some kind of Civilization-like mechanics in RPG. By this, I don't mean a RPG where you're playing God-like creatures building…
In RPG Theory
Participants: fabien, Mike Holmes, M. J. Young, talysman.

4/22/2003 anonymouse: Go as primary resolution mechanic?
Idea: You use a 9x9 board; the 13 and the 19 are probably too large for any kind of quick resolution. Every action has a stone-amount associated with it; maybe…
In RPG Theory
Participants: anonymouse, Garbanzo, Mike Holmes, Jonathan Walton, Valamir, Andy Kitkowski, clehrich, hix, Marco, Chris, Thomas Tamblyn, Shreyas Sampat.

4/21/2003 M. J. Young: On Innovative: Ranting Against a Rant
I'm responding here to Chris's Standard Rant: "Innovative", but in a different direction. When we're talking games and folks scream "Revolutionary and New!" most of the…
In RPG Theory
Participants: M. J. Young, Bankuei, Mike Holmes, fabien, Ron Edwards.

4/20/2003 Drew Stevens: The Means and Ways of Conflict
Question: Is conflict in RPGs inherently limited to binary states (win/lose), a game of diminishing resources (traditional HPs, dice pool) or the question of narrative control? I'm specifically contrasting this…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Drew Stevens, clehrich, Harlequin.

4/20/2003 Bankuei: Chris's Standard Rant: "Innovative"
This rant was something I posted to a thread on rpg.net in regards to originality, innovation, etc. (http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?s=555618707ef2dd0564940f08674d04d0&threadid=45579) This rant is a little more "gut level" and emotional than what…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Bankuei, J. Backman, anonymouse, Marco, Wolfen, Valamir, Green, clehrich, Kester Pelagius, Jack Spencer Jr, Jonathan Walton, John Kim, redcrow, Ron Edwards, fabien, Bruce Baugh.

4/18/2003 John Kim: Soap Opera Test Session
WARNING: Liz or any of my players -- DON'T READ THIS. OK, I was intrigued by Chris Lehrich's thread on soap opera structure, and going to go over my…
In RPG Theory
Participants: John Kim, Blake Hutchins, Ian Charvill.

4/18/2003 clehrich: On Definitions In General
Given the recent threads on Monopoly the RPG and other related topics, it seems as though the old definitions problem has raised its ugly head once again. Having been trained…
In RPG Theory
Participants: clehrich, Ian Charvill, Adam Dray, Nick Pagnucco.

4/18/2003 Jack Spencer Jr: Pinball comparison
After reading through the Monopoly: The Most Popular Roleplaying Game? thread, something occured to me about that whole discussion. Rather than muddy the waters further in that thread, I'll post…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Jack Spencer Jr, clehrich, Bankuei, C. Edwards, Le Joueur, John Kim, Jeph.

4/17/2003 SrGrvsaLot: The Role of Names in Roleplaying Games
The Storypunk thread on the indie games forum got me to thinking, how much of a role does the title of an RPG play in creating the mood and theme…
In RPG Theory
Participants: SrGrvsaLot, Jack Spencer Jr, ThreeGee, Felix, M. J. Young, Heather Manley, talysman, Ron Edwards, John Kim, Thomas Tamblyn, Jared A. Sorensen.

4/16/2003 ThreeGee: Firearms Resources
Hey all, In the spirit of asking impossibly broad questions in the hopes of getting someone else to do my homework for me: What resources would you recommend for understanding…
In RPG Theory
Participants: ThreeGee, Mike Holmes, Walt Freitag, Bankuei, CplFerro, RobMuadib, M. J. Young, Sylus Thane, Tonic.

4/15/2003 CplFerro: To Mr. Langford: Special Theory of Roleplaying
Dear Mr. Langford: As a coda to the previous thread, I offer a pithier explanation of the fundamental difference between an axiomatic game like Monopoly, and a principled one like…
In RPG Theory
Participants: CplFerro, Mark Johnson, Mike Holmes, Le Joueur, Ron Edwards, clehrich, ross_winn.

4/14/2003 redcrow: Maneuvering in Armor
To go along with my other post on weapons, I'm hoping to get some input on Armor. Specifically, maneuvering in armor. Many games include a skill for learning to maneuver…
In RPG Theory
Participants: redcrow, Mike Holmes, ThreeGee, SrGrvsaLot, Valamir, Sylus Thane.

4/14/2003 redcrow: Separating Weapon Skills
What is the best break-up of weapon skills based on similarity? I'm hoping for some educated/expert opinions on what a reasonable break-up for medieval fantasy weapons would be. Is the…
In RPG Theory
Participants: redcrow, SrGrvsaLot, Ron Edwards, Marco, ThreeGee, Shreyas Sampat, Harlequin, cruciel, M. J. Young, Thomas Tamblyn, John Kim, Jake Norwood, epweissengruber, simon_hibbs, Eamon Voss.

4/13/2003 quozl: Monopoly: The Most Popular Roleplaying Game?
I hope this helps show others what I mean when i say that Monopoly is an RPG. Please let me know what you think. Monopoly: The Most Popular Roleplaying Game?…
In RPG Theory
Participants: quozl, Eric J., M. J. Young, Valamir, CplFerro, Marco, Le Joueur, Ron Edwards, simon_hibbs, Jack Spencer Jr, Mike Holmes, John Kim, Walt Freitag.

4/13/2003 taalyn: All-opposed, but...
I've described elsewhere here at the Forge how all of Aisling's 'rolls' are opposed. So-called 'unopposed' draws draw on the Doorness or Carness to determine difficulty. But, what about situations…
In RPG Theory
Participants: taalyn, Kester Pelagius, SrGrvsaLot, Garbanzo, M. J. Young, Ron Edwards, Mike Holmes.

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In RPG Theory

4/24/2003 iago: Stats Heads: What's the math?
I'm trying to write up some quickie perl functions to run some probabilities on several dice methods, and I want to be able to avoid the ugly and memory-consumptive brute…
In RPG Theory
Participants: iago, bowlingm, Mike Holmes, Walt Freitag, J B Bell, M. J. Young.

4/25/2003 szilard: Player Narration and GM Secrets
This is spun off from a post Ron made in the (remarkably interesting) Actual Play thread A demoralising day which highlights a current dilemma I've been having: How do you…
In RPG Theory
Participants: szilard, Kester Pelagius, Jack Spencer Jr, Jay Turner, Valamir, lumpley, Ron Edwards, Mike Holmes, Christopher Kubasik, Walt Freitag, Le Joueur, Buddha Nature, cruciel, Piers Brown, clehrich.

4/25/2003 Jay Turner: Mechanics: How Bad Are Ties?
I'm working on a game that involves drawing cards to resolve who gets to narrate a scene, and I'm wrestling with the significance of ties (the same number drawn by…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Jay Turner, C. Edwards, Paul Czege, Mike Holmes, ADGBoss, Bob McNamee, greyorm, M. J. Young, Bankuei, deadpanbob, Jeph.

4/26/2003 soundwave: Motivations to design
I'm not exactly sure this is the right forum for this topic, but... I've been looking through a lot of new RPG systems lately, and a question ocurred to me:…
In RPG Theory
Participants: soundwave, anonymouse, hix, cruciel, lumpley, Le Joueur, Bankuei, M. J. Young.

4/26/2003 MistHunter: The Modern Wild West
I have this setting idea, and I would like to know other's players opinions on it. The setting makes the RPG itself, highly Gamist, as your goal is to become…
In RPG Theory
Participants: MistHunter, anonymouse, Thomas Tamblyn, Walt Freitag, M. J. Young.

4/26/2003 Sindyr: HELP! I can't remember which RPG this is...
I am not sure if I have posted this in the right forum(s), but I am trying to remember where I came across an interesting game, and thought this would…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Sindyr, Wolfen, Chris.

4/27/2003 Chris: Exhaustion/Strain based Magic . . .
I'm trying to design a magic system for a setting that I'm basing around the Icelandic Sagas (mytho-historical viking setting based on primary medieval source material). To keep magic "realistic"…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Chris, Wolfen, Thomas Tamblyn, damion, John Kim, Ron Edwards, Paganini, Piers Brown, Jay Turner, kregmosier, Mike Holmes, Andrea Gualano.

4/27/2003 Garbanzo: SWM iso unopposed one-roll = one-exchange systems
All- I'm looking for systems to reference as I plow ahead with mine own game. Desired: Games with all-unopposed resolution where that one roll covers an exchange, not a swing.…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Garbanzo, greyorm, Thomas Tamblyn, Bob McNamee.

4/27/2003 DaGreatJL: Do prewritten scenarios=Illusionism/Participationism?
First, I apologize if this is covering old ground; if so, please feel free to direct me to the proper thread. So, when a GM has a fully prewritten story,…
In RPG Theory
Participants: DaGreatJL, John Kim, M. J. Young, cruciel, Jack Spencer Jr, Ron Edwards, clehrich, Mike Holmes, Bob McNamee, Marco.

4/28/2003 soundwave: Defining Genre Expectations
There's been a lot of talk around here lately about Genre Expectations, particularly in relation to Fang's 'No Myth' style. Now, it seems to me that Genre Expectations have to…
In RPG Theory
Participants: soundwave, M. J. Young, MoonHunter, Le Joueur, Bankuei, Mike Holmes.

4/28/2003 cruciel: Relationships Between GMing Styles
I've been thinking a little bit about how these different GM styles being discussed as of late relate to each other...so I drew (err, typed actually) a picture. Participationism…
In RPG Theory
Participants: cruciel, Rob MacDougall, Le Joueur, Marco, Mike Holmes.

4/28/2003 Chris: Icelandic Saga based campaign
Know how to cut them, know how to read them, Know how to stain them, know how to prove them, Know how to evoke them, know how to score them,…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Chris, James Holloway, greyorm, John Kim, Paul Czege, Ron Edwards, RiP, Jeffrey Miller, jrs, Balbinus, Poenz.

4/28/2003 Nick Pagnucco: the role of supplements
I read somewhere Ron criticizing a lot of supplements as either working off assumptions of playing a certain way at conventions, or as being disguised fiction. I don't remember for…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Nick Pagnucco, Jack Spencer Jr, Ron Edwards, Felix.

4/28/2003 Christopher Kubasik: Stance is Still Not Power
Hi all, I've been turning the GM Secrets thread around in my head all weekend, and I'm not sure I can find the problem. I mean, there is a problem…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Christopher Kubasik, Ron Edwards, clehrich, Mike Holmes.

4/28/2003 Walt Freitag: A different perspective on the Demoralizing Day
The heart of Hyphz's problem on the Demoralizing Day thread was stated very eloquently in the last few paragraphs of the initial post: But the negative feeling I got afterwards…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Walt Freitag, clehrich, Bob McNamee, Mike Holmes, Le Joueur.

4/29/2003 M. J. Young: Does Module Play Equal Participationism?
Over in the thread, Do prewritten scenarios=Illusionism/Participationism?, M.J., what you describe sounds like straight-head Participation to me. I don't see why or how it's a different category.He was…
In RPG Theory
Participants: M. J. Young, Kester Pelagius, Mike Holmes, Jack Spencer Jr, Ron Edwards, Le Joueur, cruciel, Tim C Koppang, John Kim, deadpanbob.

4/29/2003 Jay Turner: Character Generation: "Splats", Templates, or Kits
I'm working on a game that's a bit more freeform-Gamist (the way I understand the terms), and its skill-system is such that the players are free to create their own…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Jay Turner, Mike Holmes, Jeffrey Miller, John Kim.

4/30/2003 Andy Kitkowski: "Indie" as a definition, and Getting Over It. (^.^
Hey, this kinda fell squarely between Theory and Site Discussion, so I'm posting it here. So there's another yearly meltdown over at "My House", RPGNet (don't bother. seriously.) about the…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Andy Kitkowski, Malcolm, Ron Edwards, Wolfen, Valamir.

4/30/2003 Le Joueur: Psychotic (or is It Schizoid) Game Design
Okay, this has been a long time coming, but I only conceived of it this week. It's a rather harsh theory and I need a lot of your experience and…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Le Joueur, John Kim, Bruce Baugh, deadpanbob, Marco, cruciel, Jack Spencer Jr, Mike Holmes.

5/1/2003 Kester Pelagius: What to do when. . .
Greetings All, I guess this belongs here as well as anywhere else so here goes. . . There you are, surfing your favorite forum when someone's post makes you pause,…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Kester Pelagius, Jay Turner, Marco, Jack Spencer Jr, Mike Holmes, jdagna, Jeffrey Miller.

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