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In RPG Theory

2/26/2004 Noon: Quick questions on illusionism
A quick question or two on illusionism. Okay, say our hero gets to a T intersection. One way looks like it goes to a dangerous forest, the other a graveyard.…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Noon, M. J. Young, Ron Edwards, Mike Holmes, Doctor Xero.

2/26/2004 Noon: Rules that back source
This is a condensation of the 'Rules that outsource' thread. I'd give a direct link, but that might give the idea that you have to read through it before tucking…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Noon, M. J. Young, Ian Charvill, Itse, Valamir, John Kim, Mike Holmes.

2/25/2004 Jinx: Team creation / social contract questions
I've been thinking a great deal about group character creation and social contracts for players in a team, potentially with team/party-oriented PCs designed to work together - specifically, in this…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Jinx, Mike Holmes, Ben Lehman.

2/25/2004 Bankuei: Let's talk Design!
Hi folks, We tend to go through a cycle here at the Forge. New folks come in, and there tends to be a little rustling as folks get adjusted to…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Bankuei, clehrich, Shreyas Sampat, Autocrat.

2/24/2004 Dr. Awkward: RPGs driving an interest in history?
Is anyone aware of any studies, surveys, or articles that address how RPGs can increase an interest in history among players? I've been contacted by someone who is doing some…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Dr. Awkward, Valamir, M. J. Young, Scourge108, Mike Holmes.

2/24/2004 Nigel Evans: Autocracy U-turn. Probably.
First real post here - I'm not sure this is the place for it but here goes. The situation: I'm running a game called Pathways. It's a homegrown in both…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Nigel Evans, Mark Johnson, clehrich, coxcomb, Ron Edwards, M. J. Young, montag, Noon.

2/23/2004 ksarith: Major Methods of Mechanics
When I went looking to choose the attributes, I forgot to start at the very basic level of a system. I am just BS'ing my way through this fraction of…
In RPG Theory
Participants: ksarith, M. J. Young.

2/23/2004 Nuadha: How many skills do you prefer?
I've a question for everyone here. How exhaustive of a skill list do you prefer in a game? From games with no skill lists (like Amber) to games with skills…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Nuadha, Ron Edwards, Valamir, John Kim, orbsmatt, coxcomb, Scourge108, clehrich, M. J. Young, RDU Neil, contracycle.

2/23/2004 Eric J.: Pyron's first Rant (Which isn't very good)
I would just like to rant for a moment: And I'd like to start with a quote from Shapesphear: "This, above all else, to thine own self be true." I'd…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Eric J., james_west, Noon.

2/21/2004 Autocrat: Skills:- What types and how many?
Yeah, yet another one to pick you brains and preference sticks with! OK, post apaoco', loads of variety for the technnology, potential goldmines of info for Characters to locate and…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Autocrat, Taina, Ron Edwards, Valamir, Shreyas Sampat, M. J. Young, Ole, clehrich.

2/21/2004 Autocrat: Item & Equipment Details ????
OK then, lets see how fast this one goes...... So you have a huge list of potential equipment, (to cover your post apoc setting with umpteen types of skills and…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Autocrat, anonymouse, erithromycin, Ole, Shreyas Sampat, Valamir, Noon.

2/20/2004 Grover: Trying to find setting design rpg
I remember running across a free RPG on the internet several years ago. Unfortunately, the only thing I can remember about it is some vague things from the example of…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Grover, contracycle, anonymouse.

2/20/2004 Jonathan Walton: Brecht Article up on RPGnet
Hey folks, This is a public service announcement. http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/collists/fineart.html The new article is called "...But with Innovations!" and talks about the dramatic theories of Bertolt Brecht and how they apply…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Jonathan Walton, Noon, Halzebier, xiombarg, Valamir, clehrich, John Kim, Mike Holmes, Jack Spencer Jr.

2/20/2004 clehrich: Calculating card-hand odds
Hey, math people, Can you help me calculate some odds that use cards? The difficulty, of course, being that every card drawn changes the pack, thus each draw affects the…
In RPG Theory
Participants: clehrich, james_west, Walt Freitag, M. J. Young, HMT.

2/20/2004 Tomas HVM: "Guiding"; game guiding techniques (GGT)
[quote="Ron Edwards (in the "GM-less techniques" thread)"] I suggest that "GM-less" is an abominable and misleading term. [/quote] This is quite wrong, in my view. The users of a game…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Tomas HVM, talysman.

2/19/2004 Jonathan Walton: "Beyond Role & Play" Book
Hey all, So the huge Nordic roleplaying convention, called "Nodal Point" in various Scandinavian languages, decided to publish a book on RPG theory for this year's convention in Helsinki, Finland.…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Jonathan Walton, John Kim, Clinton R. Nixon, Rob Donoghue, Ron Edwards, Lxndr, Christopher Weeks, Itse, matthijs, Ole, Tomas HVM, Eero Tuovinen, MikesLeftHand.

2/19/2004 bergh: Dwarfs, Dwarves and small people!
HEHE, i don't acutally know if this is the right place to write this, but i need info from different systems/RPG world. More precise on Dwarfs! I need the Maximum…
In RPG Theory
Participants: bergh, Bankuei, Doctor Xero, Ron Edwards, anonymouse, Thuringwaethiel, Simon W, M. J. Young, coxcomb, talysman, Christopher Weeks, Ian Charvill, Gelasma, Trevis Martin, ejh, contracycle, Scourge108, timfire.

2/18/2004 artofmagic: Lines of Experience
the only brilliant idea Marvel Universe RPG has is lines-of-experience. from every session you get 1 - 3 lines of experience, and when you collect 10 relating to an action,…
In RPG Theory
Participants: artofmagic, Bankuei, Mike Holmes.

2/18/2004 ksarith: Choosing and defining the Stats
I am new to the Forge and was searching for something. Supprisingly enough, I was unable to locate it. For a while I have been developing a RPG and feel…
In RPG Theory
Participants: ksarith, contracycle, pete_darby, Valamir, artofmagic, Scourge108, M. J. Young, John Kim, orbsmatt, Autocrat.

2/18/2004 artofmagic: loose skills
I really like the FATE's idea of Aspects. Player desides his aspects, not game rules or GM. They can be anything. But what happens when you read FATE rules a…
In RPG Theory
Participants: artofmagic, Mike Holmes, Noon.

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Subsequent Topics
In RPG Theory

2/26/2004 Nathan P.: Interesting NYT Article
Hey all For you online NYT subscribers (its free to sign up if you're not already), this is an interesting article: The Ivy-Covered…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Nathan P., John Kim, Mike Holmes, contracycle, Loki, Vishanti, Eric J..

2/26/2004 clehrich: Setting seeks System, for long walks, cuddling....
So I’ve got this setting and campaign concept, and I wonder if anyone can think of a system that would admirably suit my goals. I’d rather not redesign from scratch;…
In RPG Theory
Participants: clehrich, Valamir, erithromycin, Shreyas Sampat, John Kim, Loki, Mike Holmes, M. J. Young, cruciel, Jonathan Walton, Harlequin, Rob Carriere.

2/27/2004 Doctor Xero: The Role of Fantasy Races in FRPGs
[quote="Zak Arntson"]Tying into the third category, you have races representing an exaggerated aspect of humanity. Does this ties into the suspension of disbelief? Can players can more readily accept a…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Doctor Xero, Jonathan Walton, Ben Lehman, pete_darby, contracycle, Ron Edwards, Wolfen, Scourge108, John Kirk, Itse, coxcomb, M. J. Young, greyorm, Henri, John Kim, arwink, Argetlamh, komradebob, madelf, Walt Freitag, Valamir, Brother Adso, simon_hibbs, Cemendur.

2/27/2004 Tomas HVM: Like a symphony...
[b]A roleplaying game should be played like a symphony.[/b] [b]It should start quiet and calm,[/b] like a single cello. The opening scenes should be played in a deep and protracted…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Tomas HVM, M. J. Young, Mike Holmes.

2/27/2004 sirogit: Obtrusive mechanic details?
It's to my understanding that several games have considering using certain mechanics, but didn't include them in the game as it would slow the game down to a certain degree.…
In RPG Theory
Participants: sirogit, Doctor Xero, Harlequin, Mike Holmes, John Kim, coxcomb.

2/29/2004 Wenlock: No limit ?!
Hello, I'm a newbeee and I wondered a short time in which forum I could put this thing...... Well, in case I made a mistake, let me know. Here's the…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Wenlock, Jack Spencer Jr, Ron Edwards, Noon, Lorenzo Rubbo-Ferraro, Doctor Xero, M. J. Young, Nathan P..

3/1/2004 RDU Neil: Simplistic GNS examples...
As I've attempted to plow through the varioud GNS articles and the like, I find my non-academic brain needing some clarification. (I have to look up words like brachiate and…
In RPG Theory
Participants: RDU Neil, Ron Edwards, Valamir.

3/1/2004 Doctor Xero: thesis : the two approaches to RPG player enjoyment goals
After reading (and participating in) the various posts involving cooperative and competitive gaming, the purpose of fantastical races in FRPGs (and SFRPGs), and some of the G/N/S concerns, I think…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Doctor Xero, RDU Neil, Mike Holmes, John Kim, greyorm, contracycle, Ron Edwards, ethan_greer, Andrew Norris, Valamir, clehrich, Itse, Alan, Christopher Kubasik, Gordon C. Landis, M. J. Young, Walt Freitag, Caldis.

3/2/2004 Trevis Martin: Comparitive data thread: Reward and Reward Mechanics.
Hi everyone, I found myself interested in the comparing of dwarf stats in the Dwarfs, Dwarves and Small People thread and I think it would be a good thing to…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Trevis Martin, Mike Holmes, M. J. Young, Lxndr, Michael S. Miller.

3/2/2004 Zak Arntson: Characterization of Monsters?
This is split from Are non-humans neccessary in FRPGs?. To keep this thread on topic (the race threads keep diversifying, which is no bad thing, so long as new…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Zak Arntson, jdagna, pete_darby, John Kim, Mike Holmes, Jack Spencer Jr, Ron Edwards, Scourge108, Sean, james_west, M. J. Young, timfire, jrs, Valamir, erithromycin, b_bankhead, Latigo, quozl.

3/2/2004 ShaneNINE: Suggest a game system for me PLEASE!
First, I'm not a regular here so I'm not up on all the vocabulary and lingo y'all use. So bear with me. Please, please, please, for the love of all…
In RPG Theory
Participants: ShaneNINE, ethan_greer, John Kim, HMT, Mike Holmes, RaconteurX, Nuadha, cruciel, adamsmith, Lorenzo Rubbo-Ferraro, Ron Edwards, Shreyas Sampat, clehrich, Peter Nordstrand.

3/2/2004 Sean: Tarot-based mechanics
Weekend before last my buddy and I were playing around with a supplemental tarot-based mechanic for our game. We're still hammering out some details for how the major arcana work;…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Sean, quozl, John Kim, Paul Czege.

3/3/2004 John Kim: System for a Star Trek Game?
After good responses to Chris' Setting seeks System thread, I thought I'd pose my own dilemma. So I am planning a new campaign which will be based on…
In RPG Theory
Participants: John Kim, AnyaTheBlue, RaconteurX, Valamir, komradebob, newsalor, Nuadha, Doctor Xero, Mike Holmes, clehrich, lumpley, jrs, Alex Johnson, cruciel, erithromycin.

3/3/2004 komradebob: A product fantasy-One Consumer's POV
I have a fantasy that one day, I'll walk into a game shop and find a very special gaming product one a shelf. The product is sort of like this:…
In RPG Theory
Participants: komradebob, timfire, quozl, ethan_greer, M. J. Young, Jack Spencer Jr, Alex Johnson, Michael S. Miller, contracycle, brainwipe, Paul Czege, Walt Freitag.

3/4/2004 AnyaTheBlue: Teenage Isolation and RPGs
This is kind of an off-topic post, but I'll try and make it as relevant to the Forge as possible. First, a pointer: Why Nerds are Unpopular One of…
In RPG Theory
Participants: AnyaTheBlue, John Kim, Loki, Noon, Scourge108, M. J. Young, Christopher Weeks, Sean.

3/4/2004 cruciel: Mixing Genres
First, the definition of the naughty word. Genre A category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, marked by a distinctive style, form, or content. Mixing Genres Taking elements…
In RPG Theory
Participants: cruciel, arwink, clehrich.

3/5/2004 Noon: True GM Vs players, with infinite GM elephants/resources
Ah, I don't know why I bought the AD&D monster manual and GM book. At first it was the crappy artwork to laugh at...but now they mezmerise me. Not in…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Noon, jdagna, Ron Edwards, Valamir, Walt Freitag, Scripty, timfire, anonymouse, JamesSterrett.

3/5/2004 Autocrat: Skills, the grouping and arranging of - Responses?
Alright then, second attempt, this one a little more detailed..... hopefully! SO, my questions are; *If playing this system, how do you think you would find the rules outlined below?…
In RPG Theory
Participants: Autocrat, montag, Shreyas Sampat, Walt Freitag, M. J. Young, komradebob, John Kim, cruciel, Eero Tuovinen, Rich Forest.

3/6/2004 hix: Establishing a Social Contract
A couple of recent threads here and in the Heroquest forum have started me thinking about the preparation phase for a game. Assuming that everyone in a hypothetical group was…
In RPG Theory
Participants: hix, Ron Edwards, Valamir, Mike Holmes.

3/7/2004 komradebob: Why so little Scenario Oriented Design?
Hello: I got a lot of great responses to an earlier thread, but I wanted to start this new one, to get feedback to a core question that occured to…
In RPG Theory
Participants: komradebob, Valamir, ethan_greer, Jasper, John Burdick, Eero Tuovinen, JamesSterrett, John Kim, Michael S. Miller, Andrew Norris, contracycle, brainwipe, willofgod.

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