General RPG DiscussionDiscussion of all RPGs and non-system-specific topics. DM/GM/player issues, settings, etc. Rules discussion belongs in one the forums below.
Games crunchier then D&D I don't play, nor ones whose bent is simulationist. Besides that I play a wide swath of games, though mainly non-fantasy. Fantasy in general is less appealing then other genres for me so just use one system D&D for it.
I'll play; WoD (all different sub-games), Call of Cthulhu/Trails of Cthulhu, Cthulhutech, Shadowrun, Spirit of The Century (still need to try that one out), Eclipse Phase (when it comes out), etc.
__________________ Secret Member of... *blink, blink* Damn you amnesia!
Several, but it usually has less to do with the game than the people who compose its fan base.
Frex, any game whose fanbase or publisher proselytizes like their way is the only way to play ensures that I never look at their stuff (or, if I've already purchased it, ensures that I sell it quickly and never look at it again).
Similarly, any game whose fanbase or publisher creates an entirely new form of hobby slang to slam other games ensures that I never look at their stuff (or, again, if I've already purchased their product, it ensures that I sell it quickly).
Finally, any game whose fanbase or publisher goes on the defensive when a third-party forms their own opinion of the game rather than falling into line and spouting ad copy verbatim. . . well, same deal. Those are people I don't want to associate with.
Those three things right there have kept me from playing more games than anything else. It's a personal choice that boils down to gaming with s or not gaming with s. Some games draw them like flies. I choose to avoid those games.
I'd probably play nearly anything as a one-shot or the like (the exceptions being odious non-starters like FATAL), though there are certainly games that would be low priority.
For an ongoing game, there are plenty of games I don't have any real interest in playing -- AD&D (1 or 2e), OD&D, Rifts, most d20 Modern flavors that involve lots of gunplay & the like, Aftermath, classic Traveller (with no character advancement/experience rules), to name a few. I've tried or played most of those, and had more fun with other games.
Though with the right GM and group, I'd happily play any of those.
__________________ - Bob Huss
[H]e's dead and poisoned and possibly insane on another plane. It's a very stylish death, but a definitive one. - Piratecat
My current won't play ever list includes GURPS, Riddle of Steel, D&D 2E, and Powergrid (not an RPG, but still on my list). I'm tried them all, some for way too long, and I have other things to play.
I have a longer "won't consider a campaign but might play a one shot" list which includes among other things 4E and many of the D&D retro-clones.
Systems:
1E and 2E: The game moved on and I did too.
Most 'Simple' systems (C&C True20): I prefer more crunch and tactical choice in my games
LARP and such: Not into drama and getting into my character that much.
Races:
Gnomes: Why?
Elves: Fanboys annoy me, the whole elven attitude does too.
Monsterous races: Sometimes fun, but overall just power tripping.
Females: I'm a guy, not a gal. Only guys in my groups. It is weird.
Genres
Horror: Don't like horror movies either.
Evil: Too much of that in real life
Political games: Ditto
Games with sex: Ditto
I generally prefer simpler games, with a bit of a lean towards the 'roll'
Games that I can't get a feel for when I look through their rulebook. Inomine (spelling?) was one of those. Everything was abstract art from what I saw and I had ZERO idea what the game was about when I looked through it, and the fluff was in story format so I couldn't just read a straightforward introduction. Vampire skated this, but I played in it and ran it anyways.
Games where you are the villains, murderers, xenophobes, and so on. I'd say Warhammer 40k with it's Empire of Humanity falls under this, but I'd love to try the setting as a rogue trader. I've participated in evil D&D campaigns and they always end in disaster (as a player I've intentionally brought about the doom of several of the groups).
Games that have settings that are "realistic" sans the RPG rules. Games where you play secret agents like 007 (Batman in a tux), military group fighting in some real-world war, and so on.
What are these sex-heavy games others refer to? Other than the joke FATAL, I've never seen nor heard of 'em. meh, I'd not play those either.
__________________ <Pretentious, poorly spelled, and poorly worded saying goes here>
I don't LARP; Vampire, all that jazz. Never have, never will.
Small note, for those who may not know - LARP does not equate to Vampire/WoD. Nor does it equate to running around in the forest tossing beanbags shouting, "Lightning bolt!"
Other than FATAL, I don't think I've ever seen a system that I will utterly refuse to play under any circumstances. However, I have seen groups with whom I will not play, under any circumstances.
In general, my enjoyment of a game is more strongly defined by the people playing than by the choice of rule set.
I'd probably play nearly anything as a one-shot or the like (the exceptions being odious non-starters like FATAL), though there are certainly games that would be low priority.
Well said.
There are few games I woudn't play- F.A.T.A.L. and RaHoWa (its tough to justify a black guy playing an RPG whose central theme is being a white guy hunting down minorities) principle among them- but many I wouldn't GM.
Vampire. The whole idea of playing a vampire in that style completely turns me off. I might consider playing a vampire hunter, though...
I'm open to at least try just about anything else, though in some cases, as with 4e or TNE, it'll be half-hearted because I don't much like the game system.
__________________ Bill D
"There's a fine line between a superpower and a chronic medical condition."
- Doctor Impossible
Who am I to decline an offer to play an RPG? With so many years spend mastering and so few days playing, I'm just starved. Heck, I even played Decipher's LotR under a terrible game master in a completely dysfunctional group. But that, admittedly, was a stretch.
I won't play World of Darkness, Paladium, Star Wars d20 (I'm okay with Saga), any anime themed game, "silly" games (Toon, Paranoia, or any system warped toward goofiness), ridiculous games like FATAL and Synnibarr, any LARP, any MMORPG, or AD&D 1E and 2E. (I'm getting ready to play an extended adventure in 4E, and I expect that I'll afterward be adding 4E to the list, but can't say for certain).
There's probably stuff I forgot, but those are things that came to mind immediately.
__________________ Jeff Wilder, San Francisco Bay Area If your sig is longer than your posts, your sig is too
long. Nobody reads it, they just get annoyed by it. And if you bore me, you lose your soul to me. - Belly
Inominae, BESM 1 or 2e, NWOD, Monte CooK world of darkness (though elements from it are neat, the setting is lame), D&D 4e, any d20 derivative that expands the basic level of play path 20th level without using epic rules. For instance a game that insists to have base classes go to 25th level with nothing beyond. Anything where the players cant make their own characters, DMs who dont like an aspect of the published campaign setting and choose to write it out, such as an eberron game with no psionics cause the DM doesnt like it. Playing in games where the DM bans things after the game has started. Thats a quick way to make me quite. Ban things first, so I know I cant do it before the game starts.
Im sure there are alot more.
Right now, with my limited gaming time, I'll only play/run 4e D&D. With more time available for gaming, I would possibly open up to more options, but system-wise, this is pretty much what I prefer.
From an asthetics point, my group and I like the same stuff, so there's not much I'd give exception to...though I wouldn't be down with any Final Fantasy ripoff crap. God, I hate that game and don't want any of it touching my D&D.
__________________ "..Death greets me warm; Now I will just say goodbye.."
Generally I'll play anything besides DnD or super nich indie press games where the whole game is focused on playing only one thing. Though to be fair I'd still play Shab-Al-Hari Roach. I also tend to stay away from fantasy in general, and it is a genre that requires a good pitch for me to be interested these days.
A really good group/idea though could maybe get me to play DnD, maybe.
I'll easily play D&D 3rd or 4th Edition, and if I trust the group I'd be willing to play older editions for a nostalgia trip. I've never played, but would like to, Mutants & Masterminds. I'm not sure I'd put any games on a "never play" list (except the obvious ones like FATAL), but you'd have to work harder to interest me in games not on my "fav list".
When playing games I'm comfortable with, if the DM and/or players start reminding me of my junior high RPG experiences . . . I'm out the door!!!
__________________ Brian Zuber
Proud Member of ENWorld since 2000 (under several lost screen names). Gaming since the mid-80s!
Favorite Settings: Love all of the official settings, Mystara is my nostalgia fave! Trying to create a homebrew that blends the best elements of the various settings. Favorite Edition: Can't decide between 3rd Edition and 4th Edition, like them both!
The unholy trinity of bad RPGs: F.A.T.A.L., RaHoWa, and Hybrid
Wraith. I enjoy "dark" sometimes. I don't enjoy "absolutely bleak and hopeless".
Wraeththu. I still laugh/cry when I remember this game exists. Aggressively offensive to both straight and gay men, as well as any woman who isn't a stereotypical yaoi fangirl, and even then only a certain kind of that stereotype.
Sorcerer. It might be an unfair assessment, but I flipped through one book and felt like I was reading Timecube.com. Damn.
Blanket mention of any of the obvious racist, sexist, blatantly deplorable games I haven't heard of yet. I'm sure there's plenty of horrible stuff out there I've yet to see.
I could play Dark Heresy,but only if it was played up for laughs, with everyone hamming it up and things being generally over the top. It's the only way I could function in that setting, even if the mortality rate would likely be even higher.
Last edited by Mikaze; 28th May 2009 at 11:34 PM..
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