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In RPG Theory

10/30/2003 bcook1971: Playtesting a Spatial Mechanic
A few weeks back, my group played the fifth and final session for a 1st ed. D&D module. I've used this opportunity to playtest various rules in a game system…
In RPG Theory
Participants: bcook1971, Mike Holmes, M. J. Young.

10/29/2003 Paul Czege: Greg Costikyan's list of 300 Games
In his weblog last Sunday, Greg Costikyan wrote:The 300 Games Every Game Developer (and Gamer) Should Know I've been thinking about writing a book with this title. There are several…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Paul Czege, anonymouse, Ian Charvill, AnyaTheBlue, Mike Holmes, jdagna, John Kim, Calithena, Ron Edwards, Adam, Clinton R. Nixon, Cemendur, adamsmith, ross_winn.

10/29/2003 Jonathan Walton: Sports RPGs: A Match Made in Heaven?
[quote="Marco"]So yeah, a good fantasy ("mmm...rich sports hero") doesn't necessiarily make for a good troop-style game.[/quote] I beg to differ. This has been on my mind for years now. Roleplaying…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Jonathan Walton, quozl, Lxndr, Marco, Matt Snyder, Mike Holmes, Valamir, Comte, Jack Spencer Jr, Dev, Ben Lehman, Andrew Norris, Michael S. Miller.

10/28/2003 C. Edwards: Confirmation of Cool
(From Popular and Damaging) Rules-lite, just pick a few key stats and the rest is description: Unsatisfying. As a mass market newbie role player, it's not enough for the…
In RPG Theory
Participants: C. Edwards, Marco, Walt Freitag, Jonathan Walton, sirogit, Michael S. Miller.

10/27/2003 b_bankhead: Cthulhu's Clues: Why failure is not an option
Failure is not an option As I stated in my essay 'Drifting to R'lyeh' most skill rolls in CoC don't matter much. The design of the prototypical CoC scenario makes…
In RPG Theory
Participants: b_bankhead, Ian Charvill, Valamir, jdagna, Ben Lehman, Comte, The Benj, Rob MacDougall, Mike Holmes, gobi, kalyptein, Noon, Scripty, Marco, John Kim.

10/26/2003 Marco: Popular and damaging
Ralph wrote: At any rate, IMO Call of Cthulhu stands with GURPS as what I consider to be the two most damaging games to the development of the hobby…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Marco, Valamir, jdagna, Ian Charvill, Jack Spencer Jr, Calithena, RaconteurX, b_bankhead, John Kim, Jonathan Walton, Dauntless, Mike Holmes, M. J. Young, greyorm, quozl, Walt Freitag, Matt Snyder, Gordon C. Landis, Green, Jack Aidley, Andrew Norris, David Chunn, Minx, Ben Lehman, C. Edwards, Lxndr, damion, Scripty, eyebeams.

10/26/2003 anonymouse: the ShadowRun Dungeon: the Matrix.
So, Paganini has been pondering dungeon-crawl-game design over in #indierpgs (realtime chat is good for game discussion, too!). I've been thinking about SR a bunch lately, and it occured to…
In RPG Theory
Participants: anonymouse, MachMoth.

10/25/2003 Calithena: D&D Spells and Resource Allocation Problems
Okay, I'm not quite up to speed on all the theory here yet, but I'm a quick study. But I wanted to bounce something off the people here as worth…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Calithena, Walt Freitag, Mike Holmes, Ron Edwards.

10/24/2003 b_bankhead: Drifting to R'lyeh:Facing the Problems with Call of Cthulhu
Drifting to R'lyeh: An Autopsy on Call of Cthulu Introduction Call of Cthulhu is one of the simplest rules systems around. The Cthulhu Mythos is popular among the members of…
In RPG Theory
Participants: b_bankhead, Ron Edwards, Andrew Martin, Valamir, jdagna, John Kim, GB Steve, Calithena, M. J. Young, Ian Charvill, Walt Freitag, Rob MacDougall, Lisa Padol, Comte, GreatWolf, Noon, simon_hibbs, Andrew Norris, James Holloway.

10/22/2003 gobi: Encouraging Cheating
While cooking up Gears & Spears' setting-influenced task resolution, I started thinking about a task resolution appropriate for Take, my criminal underworld/heist side side project formerly titled "Pull." Because the…
In RPG Theory
Participants: gobi, ethan_greer, Christopher Weeks, Jonathan Walton, Tim Alexander, LordSmerf, Harlequin, Mike Holmes, Jeph, Lxndr, M. J. Young.

10/21/2003 Jack Spencer Jr: Cheating
From over in Randomizer Gimmicks: Key to Tone or More To Learn/Buy? Interesting system, reducing the standard deck. It is susceptable, however, to a general problem with card draws:…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Jack Spencer Jr, LordSmerf, Ron Edwards, Harlequin, jrs, ADGBoss, Michael S. Miller, Czar Fnord, David Chunn, Walt Freitag, Valamir, Mike Holmes.

10/20/2003 SumDood: GM as Multi-Character
I'm bringing up this topic because it occurs in games, and I'd like to see how other GMs address this issue. The problem is having the GM play two different…
In RPG Theory
Participants: SumDood, Mike Holmes, Ron Edwards, JSDiamond, M. J. Young, efindel.

10/20/2003 Czar Fnord: Randomizer Gimmicks: Key to Tone or More To Learn/Buy?
What makes a new method of randomizing results worthwhile? Speed, versimilitude, strategic play, capturing the tone of the game world? If a unique randomizing method requires players to purchase a…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Czar Fnord, LordSmerf, Michael S. Miller, Jack Aidley, Ron Edwards, Lxndr, Paul Czege, M. J. Young, Mike Holmes, Tim Alexander, Walt Freitag.

10/20/2003 Sonja: umbrella term for "NPCs and Monsters"?? help
Is there an umbrella term to include both NPCs and Monsters, i.e. a simple word to cover any and all GM-controlled entities? I can think of terms like Supporting Characters…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Sonja, Andrew Martin, Mark Johnson, ethan_greer, Jack Aidley, Czar Fnord, Ron Edwards, Marco, jdagna, Mike Holmes, Lxndr, ADGBoss, M. J. Young, simon_hibbs, apeiron.

10/17/2003 Jack Spencer Jr: From CRPGs: Is that all it is?
I read this review here It's mainly a tactical combat game, but it has enough backstory and character development to merit dual genre classification as an RPG. Characters go…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Jack Spencer Jr, Valamir, anonymouse, Comte, Noon, James Holloway.

10/16/2003 Tomas HVM: How do you explore "being another person"?
It is often said that roleplaying games let you explore being another person. However: I've never seen any real discussion on how we do this (other than the gender issue).…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Tomas HVM, RaconteurX, Mike Holmes, AnyaTheBlue, DNAphil.

10/16/2003 M. J. Young: Cross-Gender Play, or Walk a Mile in My Stiletoes
I'm often saying that role play can be a way of coming to understand other people, how they think, why they do what they do. I've also said that I…
In RPG Theory
Participants: M. J. Young, Tomas HVM, contracycle, Clinton R. Nixon, AnyaTheBlue, Emily Care, Ron Edwards, jrs, LordSmerf, JSDiamond, Mike Holmes, Mark Johnson, ADGBoss.

10/15/2003 c_stone_bush: Single Success Systems vs. Multiple Success Systems
I am working on the mechanics for a new game and am trying to decide on a system for task resolution. Which do you think I should use: a) The…
In RPG Theory
Participants: c_stone_bush, John Kim, Valamir, DNAphil, Mike Holmes, Brian Leybourne, M. J. Young, efindel.

10/15/2003 Jonathan Walton: Needed: "What is Roleplaying?" Quotes
Hey folks, I'm thinking of writing a new column for PRGnet called "What is Roleplaying?" that examines what we do from a variety of viewpoints (social, aesthetic, philosophical, historical, etc).…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Jonathan Walton, John Kim, AnyaTheBlue, Tomas HVM, redivider, M. J. Young.

10/15/2003 Mark Johnson: The Gender Genie
A while back in Most attractive setting for female players, there was a little consideration of how to make RPG text more palatable to a larger range of people. I…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Mark Johnson, Ian Charvill, Rich Forest, Sylus Thane, Valamir, Emily_Dresner, jrs, AnyaTheBlue, Meredith, Matt Wilson, Sonja.

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In RPG Theory

10/30/2003 MachMoth: Shared Action Resolution
To be honest, I never put to much thought into shared narration. I like the idea, but most of the people I play with don't. The seperation of character and…
In RPG Theory
Participants: MachMoth, Ben Lehman, LordSmerf.

10/31/2003 Tim C Koppang: Rule Nebulas
Out of curiosity, I was wondering if anyone has ever done anything like this when designing their game? I call it a rule nebulas. Basically, I think it's a nice…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Tim C Koppang, Andrew Martin, Cemendur, Jasper, Jack Spencer Jr.

10/31/2003 Emily Care: international rpg
In the four main types of role-playing thread: ...and it wouldn't surprise me if this were true in most of the US -- obviously, UK LARP culture is very…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Emily Care, Minx, Eero Tuovinen, matthijs, Jonathan Walton, Rich Forest, Grex, James Holloway, Ben Lehman, herrmess, Andrea Gualano, Ron Edwards, gizem, Valamir, GreatWolf, GB Steve, Mike Holmes, Walt Freitag, Andy Kitkowski, John Kim, contracycle, Dr_Mikenstein, edomaur, kwill, Erick Wujcik.

11/2/2003 John Kim: Story and Narrative Paradigms in RPGs
I have just finished a fairly in-depth essay about the relation of story in static narratives (i.e. books and film) versus story in RPGs. It's a sort of formalist approach…
In RPG Theory
Participants: John Kim, Ben Lehman, RaconteurX, Marco, Emily Care, Mike Holmes, fusangite, Ron Edwards, peejay.

11/2/2003 LordSmerf: GM/PC Play Simultaneously?
So Ron tossed this off in the Adept Press forum, almost anecdotally. I really thought it was a great articulation of something that i wanted to do. After some thought…
In RPG Theory
Participants: LordSmerf, jdagna, lumpley, C. Edwards, Lxndr, Ron Edwards, Emily Care.

11/2/2003 LordSmerf: Do Generalized Systems Inhibit Long-term Play?
First, this is a personal observation stemming from my experiences playing Universalis and the Pool primarily. I was really curious as to other people's experiences. It seems to me that…
In RPG Theory
Participants: LordSmerf, C. Edwards, Marco, Ron Edwards, Valamir.

11/3/2003 eyebeams: Non-gamers say the darnest things
Hey there. I saw a thread on non-gamers "challenging assumptions" and whatnot. It made me think of some recent experiences, but the ansuing discussion was pretty "meta" compared to what…
In RPG Theory
Participants: eyebeams, Ron Edwards, Marco, jdagna, Walt Freitag, Lxndr, Valamir, Paul Czege, Jack Aidley, Jay Turner, Mike Holmes, John Kim, M. J. Young.

11/3/2003 Drifter Bob: Using Realism in RPG's, part 2
Hello Forgers (that has a criminal connotation to it, Forgites? Forgees?) you may remember me from my earlier much reviled mechaics of melee article. Part 2 has been more or…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Drifter Bob, Jack Aidley, Ian Charvill, Marco, Mike Holmes, John Kim, Devlinhugh, M. J. Young, Tomas HVM.

11/3/2003 ross_winn: design and resolution
In my experience there are three major areas of player satisfaction in game design. Shiny stuff is the flashy art and conceptual pieces people like. Soft stuff is the interpersonal…
In RPG Theory
Participants: ross_winn, Ron Edwards, Valamir, Marco, M. J. Young, Ben Lehman, Mike Holmes.

11/4/2003 Chris Barrett: Man vs. Nature
I'm new here so forgive me if this has been discussed before. I didn't find it with a search. The conflict in RPGs is primarily man vs. man/supernatural. Does anyone…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Chris Barrett, jdagna, Ian Charvill, Mike Holmes, b_bankhead, M. J. Young, John Kim, Walt Freitag, Gordon C. Landis.

11/6/2003 John Kim: Mission Selection and Player Authorship
OK, I'm starting a new thread on this, because I think it doesn't really have to do with observations of new gamers. I'm discussing a style which Walt Freitag describes…
In RPG Theory
Participants: John Kim, jdagna, Walt Freitag, Jeph, Noon.

11/6/2003 M. J. Young: Simple to Complex Combat in Multiverser
Over in design and resolutionI suspect I'd like Multiverser. The simple-to-complex issue (did I read you right? Up to 12 steps?) is a great assist in play. I also…
In RPG Theory
Participants: M. J. Young.

11/6/2003 rosscowman: Anarchy in Game Design
Mr. TV-Head sayz “Anarchy is CHAOS!” That’s not what I’m talking about. When I say anarchy, I mean- an+archos = no ruler. I'd like to discuss ways of sharing the…
In RPG Theory
Participants: rosscowman, Ben Lehman, gobi, Mike Holmes.

11/8/2003 gobi: Game Design 101: A survey
Assume you were to create and teach a college course in the design of role-playing games: 1) Summarize the nature of your class and its ultimate goal. 2) What would…
In RPG Theory
Participants: gobi, M. J. Young, Eero Tuovinen, jdagna, fusangite, Calithena, Lxndr, Dotan Dimet, Emily Care, Mike Holmes, John Kim, Ben Lehman, Comte, ross_winn, eyebeams, damion.

11/10/2003 Eric J.: My eternal hunt for Planescape
I'm in an eternal hunt for a working Planescape RPG. I want something that will facilitate the type of gameplay that Planescape, in my view, should provide. I've made countless…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Eric J., ethan_greer, Ron Edwards, Mike Holmes, C. Edwards, Andrew Martin, Scripty, Jeff Powers.

11/10/2003 Jay Turner: PCs and Plots: In Media Finiti Res
Okay, I'm not sure about my Latin in the subject. It's been awhile. :) Something I noticed, though, and this might be a specifically ME thing, was that an insane…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Jay Turner, jdagna, Mike Holmes, John Kim, M. J. Young, Noon, Ron Edwards.

11/12/2003 Ben Lehman: Mainstream?
I am writing this from a hip little Internet cafe near my house, where RIGHT NOW on television (okay, it's in an ad break) two personalities on an ESPN talk…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Ben Lehman.

11/13/2003 anonymouse: system piece: the Human Machine
Had this thought today inna shower. The characters have the ability to alter aspects of themselves while they sleep, via dreams. Maybe they want to speed up their metabolism, or…
In RPG Theory
Participants: anonymouse, Comte, Harlequin, Emily Care, Paul Czege, Ron Edwards.

11/15/2003 ks13: Crunchy mechanics for social conflicts
In my present game system, I have a resolution mechanic that is applicable to any type of conflict resolution. However for things such as combat, the mechanics are expanded, outlining…
In RPG Theory
Participants: ks13, Mike Holmes, Brassel, dyjoots.

11/16/2003 sirogit: Counter-system for Physical/Mental/Social opposistion?
I was thinking of making a system wherein characters have Physical, Mental and Social scores, and when rolling against another character's score, gets a large advantage depending on what the…
In RPG Theory
Participants: sirogit, Shreyas Sampat, greyorm, Walt Freitag.

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