Well, as often happens, I've been having an idea for a new game. Don't worry I'm sure it won't last but while it does Mr Wilson has to put up with my tortured ramblings. Poor chap.
Anyway one of the things that has always annoyed me about traditional RPG's is that they deny the urge to compete, the classic line is that RPG's are unlike traditional games in that there are no winners and no losers. Except of course this never seems to work, either the players compete against each other or against the GM and the system, by ignoring the issue can't cope. Heck the classic games are all about earning rewards and obvious displays of victory, what else do you call going up a level?
Sorry, rambling again, anyway on said new game idea I've been trying to focus on group story telling. Make the position of GM a moveable one that people can take over at points and stuff. Give everyone a framework to tell fun stories in a happy group.
Except of course there's the competing thing, so my thought is to actively build competition into the system, but make it the players (and whoever is GM this week) compete against the system itself. Of course they can compete against each other and there will be rules in place for that but if they work together they can do even better. This bit I'm not planning on pointing out, think of it as a learning experience.
I was wondering what people thought though. I'm a little out of touch in my current situation so feedback is always good.
Agon, a game about Greek
Submitted by Newt Newport on Fri, 06/07/2007 - 13:34.
Agon, a game about Greek Heroes, actively promotes competition as a system mechanic between the players in the manner you describe.
Also Burning Wheel, actively promotes character vs character where the players and GM agree this is the fun way to proceed. BW characters, especially in the convention Demo scenarios that the Author Luke Crane , are often set up to be in competition and conflict with each other.
This thread describes a two games of the same adventure of BW I ran at a con. In the second game, which is described near the end, the players decided to have their characters go up against each other
http://burningwheel.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3120
And of course theres that classic of Player vs Player and competiveness, Paranoia.
I like competiveness in roleplaying games, as long as its totally up front and agreed to by the players in advance. Otherwise you get players feeling hurt when their character gets done over by another pc.
Regards
;O)Newt
D101games -An Imaginary Company
Go for it Simon, competition
Submitted by JoE PrincE on Sat, 07/07/2007 - 19:44.
Go for it Simon, competition all the way!
Competitive RPGs include: Baron Munchausen, The Shab Al-Hiri Roach by Jason Morningstar, RUNE by Robin Laws, Beast Hunters and the oft quoted, seldom understood Capes.
Not to mention the central PvP aspect of CE's own Contenders and Piledrivers and Powerbombs
Plus about a zillion story games in development, including at least three of mine that are fully designed as games to be won.
Competition in games is inevitable at some level, it's bizarre that so many don't functionally build it into the system.
+++
JoE
+++
Prince of Darkness Games
Rock N' Role-Play....
I could send you Reel
Submitted by Iain McAllister on Mon, 09/07/2007 - 19:15.
I could send you Reel Adventures to look at Simon, in that there is no GM and the players play against the system, basically a board game like mechanic.
Cheers
Iain
Lead Developer Mob Justice RPG
'The Giant Brain' has launched.
Hmmm
Submitted by scimon on Tue, 10/07/2007 - 10:22.
I may do. I'm currently getting way too swamped with house buying stuff to think straight though.
Simon Proctor
Cognoscite aliquid novum cotidie