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A defense of illusionism
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<blockquote data-quote="Snarf Zagyg" data-source="post: 9110264" data-attributes="member: 7023840"><p>A short while ago, I was in another thread when I made a brief aside about illusionism. Now, at the time, I made an analogy to magicians, and magic tricks, and how, generally, magic tricks (again, before you feel it necessary to point it out, other than Penn & Teller) are almost never explained by the magician. </p><p></p><p>At the time, I thought it would make a great seed for a general essay on the topic of illusionism. Of course, before I start any of my ... um ... brief writings on any topic, I like to do a little bit of research. And when doing this research, I found that someone else had already written a lengthy essay, largely covering the topics I wanted to cover, and even using the same analogy (and, alas, even discussing the incomparable Ricky Jay, my favorite magician). </p><p></p><p>So instead of largely restating what someone else has written, I will instead post a link to an essay that makes the points I wanted to make.</p><p></p><p>[URL unfurl="true"]https://medium.com/gameplaywright-presents/the-illusionists-lament-dramaturgy-and-illusion-for-the-best-in-rpg-play-97d348bcb16[/URL]</p><p></p><p>I recommend reading it <em>before</em> commenting. But the general gist of the essay is that <em>illusionism</em> isn't just a dirty word and an insinuation to be used in absolutist debates; instead, it's a technique that we all use, GMs and players alike, in all games (yes, even <em>those</em> games with shared authority over the narrative) and that instead of continuing to argue over the definition and to demonize the technique, it would be better to understand what is, and isn't, a proper deployment of these types of techniques in order to create a better and more meaningful experience for everyone at the table.</p><p></p><p>So, after reading the essay, feel free to use the comments to explain just how ... right ... the essay is in the comments. Because this is the internet, and I am sure this will happen!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Snarf Zagyg, post: 9110264, member: 7023840"] A short while ago, I was in another thread when I made a brief aside about illusionism. Now, at the time, I made an analogy to magicians, and magic tricks, and how, generally, magic tricks (again, before you feel it necessary to point it out, other than Penn & Teller) are almost never explained by the magician. At the time, I thought it would make a great seed for a general essay on the topic of illusionism. Of course, before I start any of my ... um ... brief writings on any topic, I like to do a little bit of research. And when doing this research, I found that someone else had already written a lengthy essay, largely covering the topics I wanted to cover, and even using the same analogy (and, alas, even discussing the incomparable Ricky Jay, my favorite magician). So instead of largely restating what someone else has written, I will instead post a link to an essay that makes the points I wanted to make. [URL unfurl="true"]https://medium.com/gameplaywright-presents/the-illusionists-lament-dramaturgy-and-illusion-for-the-best-in-rpg-play-97d348bcb16[/URL] I recommend reading it [I]before[/I] commenting. But the general gist of the essay is that [I]illusionism[/I] isn't just a dirty word and an insinuation to be used in absolutist debates; instead, it's a technique that we all use, GMs and players alike, in all games (yes, even [I]those[/I] games with shared authority over the narrative) and that instead of continuing to argue over the definition and to demonize the technique, it would be better to understand what is, and isn't, a proper deployment of these types of techniques in order to create a better and more meaningful experience for everyone at the table. So, after reading the essay, feel free to use the comments to explain just how ... right ... the essay is in the comments. Because this is the internet, and I am sure this will happen! [/QUOTE]
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