What criticisms do you have for current or previously used systems?

[Wolfpack48]

This is the third in a series of polls gauging the overall temperature of the community and how well they are enjoying the games they play. Thanks for all the great responses so far, they have been incredibly enlightening!

This third question drills down and expands on some of the previous feedback and looks at the issues you have or had with your current or past roleplaying systems. The poll is anonymous and generic, so don't worry about what other folks think. There is no to need elaborate any further in the comments unless you want to.

This question is multiple choice -- choose as many items as apply to the criticisms you have with your current or past system(s). Some of these have already been stated in comments for the previous polls, but now we'll have a chance to quantify those comments. You'll note that there is no specific system attached to any of these criticisms -- the objective is to gain a broad overview of the activities of systems that are failing to meet the expectations of individuals. The list is quite long, and I am positive it is not comprehensive! Be sure to select Other if you want to add an item in comments.

Clarification 1: If you have critiques about multiple systems that are fairly alike, you can list them together here. However, if you find the criticisms of each system to be substantially different, prioritize the one where you have the most complaints or the one you would like most to improve, whichever best suits your situation.

Clarification 2: This question is about criticisms you personally have about the system(s), not what your l your overall group thinks. Again, the poll is anonymous.

If you have a more complicated take or additional criticisms you want to elaborate on, feel free to comment below!

 

[Emberashh]

My biggest criticism that could be pointed broadly is the over-emphasis on story, and the subsequent devaluation of compelling gameplay. I don't think it's a coincidence that while the OSR typically is well balanced for the former, the two games I like best from that sphere (DCC and Blackhack) are often considered "not" OSR by some purists.

Also why I think Ironsworn and Fellowship have been the only PBTA style games I've ever enjoyed.

Beyond that, I also deeply resent on a visceral and even vitriolic level whenever any game is pushed and described as conversations, and it relates to the above. That idea is complete excrement and I detest it with all the venom I can muster.

(And I'll also explicitly say I have no interest in arguing that with anyone. It's here for the sake of the topic)

 

[aco175]

Seems like the poll could be with what you play now instead of ever played, but still well defined.

 

[Wolfpack48]

My biggest criticism that could be pointed broadly is the over-emphasis on story, and the subsequent devaluation of compelling gameplay. I don't think it's a coincidence that while the OSR typically is well balanced for the former, the two games I like best from that sphere (DCC and Blackhack) are often considered "not" OSR by some purists.

Also why I think Ironsworn and Fellowship have been the only PBTA style games I've ever enjoyed.

Beyond that, I also deeply resent on a visceral and even vitriolic level whenever any game is pushed and described as conversations, and it relates to the above. That idea is complete excrement and I detest it with all the venom I can muster.

(And I'll also explicitly say I have no interest in arguing that with anyone. It's here for the sake of the topic)

I just added 2 more - overemphasized story and overemphasized realism at the bottom. Good adds!

 

[schneeland]

This one is a bit difficult, because my criticism greatly varies per system. I'll think a bit about it, but off the cuff it seems like I could check a lot of boxes, and the result wouldn't be meaningful (even if I limit it to systems I have played for longer periods of time), as e.g. things that bothered me with D&D 5e are different from those I took issue with when playing The Sprawl.

 

[Wolfpack48]

Seems like the poll could be with what you play now instead of ever played, but still well defined.

Yep perfectly good to rate your current system!

 

[Wolfpack48]

This one is a bit difficult, because my criticism greatly varies per system. I'll think a bit about it, but off the cuff it seems like I could check a lot of boxes, and the result wouldn't be meaningful (even if I limit it to systems I have played for longer periods of time), as e.g. things that bothered me with D&D 5e are different from those I took issue with when playing The Sprawl.

Yep, if it helps, zero in on a system you especially had difficulty with or one you would want most to improve.

 

[Wofano Wotanto]

The phrasing on "Inaccurate challenge ratings" is really specific to D&D, and not even all editions of D&D. Should we assume it means "guidelines for combat encounter balance produce inaccurate results" or something along those lines? That's a distinct problem from the more generic "Balance issues" later one, although there's obviously often some overlap.

That said, I focused on just the one system that's dominated my RP gaming for the last few years over multiple campaigns. I dinged Sentinel Comics for five problems, only one of which was a deal-killer and that took over a year of steady play with the same characters to actually register. The rest were niggling problems at worst.

Another possible category might be something like:

"System breaks down with highly experienced characters"

That would cover the common complaints with high-level play in D&D as well as other games that don't rely on a leveling system, which can have issues as well as skills climb ever higher, horizontal growth swamps you in abilities and talents, etc.

 

[Wolfpack48]

The phrasing on "Inaccurate challenge ratings" is really specific to D&D, and not even all editions of D&D. Should we assume it means "guidelines for combat encounter balance produce inaccurate results" or something along those lines? That's a distinct problem from the more generic "Balance issues" later one, although there's obviously often some overlap.

Yeah that could probably be a more generic term but unfortunately can’t edit now. That definition sounds good. It was pretty specific to certain editions of D&D so not sure how many other systems have this issue.

 

[Wofano Wotanto]

Yeah that could probably be a more generic term but unfortunately can’t edit now. Thar definition sounds good. It was pretty specific to certain editions of D&D so not sure how many other systems have this issue.

Getting the balance right on encounter building guidelines is kind of a widespread problem across the whole hobby. There are so many variables that even fairly reliable ones (I'd call 4e D&D one after the "math fix" dropped around MM2/Essentials) aren't perfect, and some systems don't even bother trying to provide some about how dangerous a given fight might turn out to be. Never been able to decide which is worse - a horribly inaccurate encounter building guide, or not having one at all. But they're both pretty bad.