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Why use D&D for a Simulationist style Game?
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<blockquote data-quote="Tony Vargas" data-source="post: 6349036" data-attributes="member: 996"><p>Or at least is aware of the bizarre range of definitions out there. (I'm not going to do any of these justice or anything, just a quick outline.)</p><p></p><p>An actual, literal, *simulation* is only concerned with accuracy, it doesn't have to be fair or fun or anything like that. Think computer model of global warming. </p><p></p><p>Process-sim is a style of gaming in which you focus on the "how" of what your characters are doing and the realistic/self-consistent consequences thereof.</p><p></p><p>'simulationism' treats the rules of a game as if they were an accurate simulation, and explores what those de-facto laws of physics imply about the world and its denizens. </p><p></p><p>Genre fidelity or genre emulation is an attempt to simulate a genre (like fantasy, in an FRPG) or genre conventions, rather than simulate any actual (or even imagined), consistent, 'reality.'</p><p></p><p>Verisimilitude or realism is the selective simulation of reality in some cases, and of fantastic genre elements in others. For instance, to construct a self-consistent world like those described in a genre, but one where cause & effect (as modeled by simulationist-style rules) override genre convention.</p><p></p><p></p><p>I think the question was likely about process-sim, though.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Bottom line, though, a literal simulation is not a game, and unlikely to have the qualities that can make a game enjoyable (balance, fairness, or playability or being easy to learn and/or having depths to master, among other things). Games that partake of the qualities of simulations may have to sacrifice the qualities that would otherwise make them better games to do so (depending on how far they take the simulation aspects, obviously, but also depending on what they're simulating - circular though it may sound, for instance, a simulation that simulates a game may be a pretty good game).</p><p></p><p>So, if someone tells you "D&D is a bad simulation" shrug and console yourself that it leaves it room to be a good game. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Tony Vargas, post: 6349036, member: 996"] Or at least is aware of the bizarre range of definitions out there. (I'm not going to do any of these justice or anything, just a quick outline.) An actual, literal, *simulation* is only concerned with accuracy, it doesn't have to be fair or fun or anything like that. Think computer model of global warming. Process-sim is a style of gaming in which you focus on the "how" of what your characters are doing and the realistic/self-consistent consequences thereof. 'simulationism' treats the rules of a game as if they were an accurate simulation, and explores what those de-facto laws of physics imply about the world and its denizens. Genre fidelity or genre emulation is an attempt to simulate a genre (like fantasy, in an FRPG) or genre conventions, rather than simulate any actual (or even imagined), consistent, 'reality.' Verisimilitude or realism is the selective simulation of reality in some cases, and of fantastic genre elements in others. For instance, to construct a self-consistent world like those described in a genre, but one where cause & effect (as modeled by simulationist-style rules) override genre convention. I think the question was likely about process-sim, though. Bottom line, though, a literal simulation is not a game, and unlikely to have the qualities that can make a game enjoyable (balance, fairness, or playability or being easy to learn and/or having depths to master, among other things). Games that partake of the qualities of simulations may have to sacrifice the qualities that would otherwise make them better games to do so (depending on how far they take the simulation aspects, obviously, but also depending on what they're simulating - circular though it may sound, for instance, a simulation that simulates a game may be a pretty good game). So, if someone tells you "D&D is a bad simulation" shrug and console yourself that it leaves it room to be a good game. ;) [/QUOTE]
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Why use D&D for a Simulationist style Game?
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