4 ms·

That seems silly to me. If the rules are just "do whatever you feel like, I guess, with the GM deciding what works", why even have rules? Compare to, for examp

by zyxley 11y ago

That seems silly to me. If the rules are just "do whatever you feel like, I guess, with the GM deciding what works", why even have rules? Compare to, for example, Nobilis, which allows assorted flexible impossibilities but is crafted to encourage certain effects on both theme and the actual flow of gameplay.

pavel_lishin 11y ago
In the end, what the GM decides is what happens anyway - so it's more of a matter of how restrictive you want your rules - suggestions - to be.
WalterSear 11y ago
>If the rules are just "do whatever you feel like, I guess, with the GM deciding what works", why even have rules? If the DM can't make an entertaining story without 'rules', then why even have a DM? I've hosted RPGs with nothing but a pencil, paper and some dice.
- zyxley 11y ago
  The point I'm trying to make is that the rules should, in some way, actively encourage results in line with the game's thematics. For example, Dogs in the Vineyard encourages/threatens players with the risks and rewards of escalating conflict, Nobilis tries to get you to reenact a game version of the Sandman comic, and Vampire: the Masquerade rewards you for treating normal humans like pawns and playthings.
  - WalterSear 11y ago
    Fwiw, the Maelstrom system did exactly that. It's essentially a historical fiction role playing game, so high fantasy tropes and the like are meant to be discouraged. Magic-as-luck-manipulation allows just enough freedom to be entertaining, while maintaining the milieu of the game. It also makes for very creative magic, since you are essentially handing the magician player an opportunity to effect the plot directly, in however they so imagine (and the DM and the dice permit), rather than giving them a gun with so many bullets in it, ala D&D.
- a-saleh 11y ago
  I have yet to play a DM-less RPG, but so far I have heard good thinks about the implementation in NightWiches :) On the other hand it seems to be quite scripted.

by zyxley 11y ago

pavel_lishin 11y ago

In the end, what the GM decides is what happens anyway - so it's more of a matter of how restrictive you want your rules - suggestions - to be.

WalterSear 11y ago

>If the rules are just "do whatever you feel like, I guess, with the GM deciding what works", why even have rules? If the DM can't make an entertaining story without 'rules', then why even have a DM? I've hosted RPGs with nothing but a pencil, paper and some dice.

zyxley 11y ago
The point I'm trying to make is that the rules should, in some way, actively encourage results in line with the game's thematics. For example, Dogs in the Vineyard encourages/threatens players with the risks and rewards of escalating conflict, Nobilis tries to get you to reenact a game version of the Sandman comic, and Vampire: the Masquerade rewards you for treating normal humans like pawns and playthings.
- WalterSear 11y ago
  Fwiw, the Maelstrom system did exactly that. It's essentially a historical fiction role playing game, so high fantasy tropes and the like are meant to be discouraged. Magic-as-luck-manipulation allows just enough freedom to be entertaining, while maintaining the milieu of the game. It also makes for very creative magic, since you are essentially handing the magician player an opportunity to effect the plot directly, in however they so imagine (and the DM and the dice permit), rather than giving them a gun with so many bullets in it, ala D&D.
a-saleh 11y ago
I have yet to play a DM-less RPG, but so far I have heard good thinks about the implementation in NightWiches :) On the other hand it seems to be quite scripted.