Unpopular opinions go here

[Cadence]

For me, if you have to have digital tools to play it’s an overly complex and crunchy game. That said, the “necessity” of the online tools for 4E is somewhat overblown.

Right, I played 4E not using anything electronic and assume others did to. The 4E thing made me think of the question, but I apologize for not making it clear I was not meaning to imply 4E wasn't a ttRPG.

If I run or play Rime of the Frost Maiden using Fantasy Grounds, does it stop being a TTRPG experience?

Does a median DM and set of players need to use a computer screen and computer calculations to run it? Or is it also doable with say miniatures and/or theater of the mind and/or sketching things out on paper when needed?

If typical groups need a computer to do something passably, it feels to me like it at some point it has stopped being a ttRPG. I just don't know where that is.

The example above of a phone app to do wierd RNG doesn't seem disqualifying of being a ttRPG to me. (I can imagine a game in the 80s being packaged with a little thing you could push a button on to get the RNG having been a thing).

 

[payn]

The sub-genre is underrated. I know many folks think its a diluted aspect of something, but I think its just a helpful categorical tool.

 

[Reynard]

If typical groups need a computer to do something passably, it feels to me like it at some point it has stopped being a ttRPG. I just don't know where that is.

I can imagine a TTRPG designed only for use a specific VTT. I think that would still be a TTRPG. But, say, GM mode in DOS2 or Sword Coast Legends wouldn't be, but I can't say precisely why.

 

[Cadence]

I can imagine a TTRPG designed only for use a specific VTT. I think that would still be a TTRPG. But, say, GM mode in DOS2 or Sword Coast Legends wouldn't be, but I can't say precisely why.

Designed where only one VTT had the license to it? Or designed where one really couldn't play it without that VTT?

I think I would like the later classed as something different - maybe vRPG, as opposed to cRPG ?

 

[MGibster]

Is there a point where a game needing electronic help to be easily played in its basic form makes it no longer really a ttRPG?

Let me introduce you to Enforcers which is a science fiction superhero game that was released in 1987. The game touts itself as "the easiest, fastest, most flexible super-power role-playing game" and "creation point character generation in minutes." Lies. LIES!!! You had to calculate square roots as part of character generation. There was a LOTUS spreadsheet formula in there at a time when few people had computers at home.

 

[Cadence]

Let me introduce you to Enforcers which is a science fiction superhero game that was released in 1987. The game touts itself as "the easiest, fastest, most flexible super-power role-playing game" and "creation point character generation in minutes." Lies. LIES!!! You had to calculate square roots as part of character generation. There was a LOTUS spreadsheet formula in there at a time when few people had computers at home.

I never saw that one. I remember one of the formulas in V&V though... one place on google has it as:

([S/10]^3+E/10) x body weight/2, where S is Strength and E is Endurance

Anyone who passed pre-algebra could do it with a sheet of paper, but why? Finding the square root by hand would be a lot more time consuming!

 

[Reynard]

Designed where only one VTT had the license to it? Or designed where one really couldn't play it without that VTT?

I think I would like the later classed as something different - maybe vRPG, as opposed to cRPG ?

Now we are circling back to the definition of "TTRPG." I think it's a game where a bunch of people pretend to be elves with largely open choices.

 

[payn]

Let me introduce you to Enforcers which is a science fiction superhero game that was released in 1987. The game touts itself as "the easiest, fastest, most flexible super-power role-playing game" and "creation point character generation in minutes." Lies. LIES!!! You had to calculate square roots as part of character generation. There was a LOTUS spreadsheet formula in there at a time when few people had computers at home.

Was it based on The Eliminators? Im the type to roll up Fontana "the river rat" for my PC.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Now we are circling back to the definition of "TTRPG." I think it's a game where a bunch of people pretend to be elves with largely open choices.

A role-playing game is what is created in the interaction between players or between player(s) and gamemaster(s) within a specified diegetic framework.

In terms of both getting it in one sentence, and excluding videogames, it works.

 

[Cadence]

Now we are circling back to the definition of "TTRPG." I think it's a game where a bunch of people pretend to be elves with largely open choices.

A role-playing game is what is created in the interaction between players or between player(s) and gamemaster(s) within a specified diegetic framework.

In terms of both getting it in one sentence, and excluding videogames, it works.

It feels like the tt part of ttRPG should mean something if it's going to be an even vaguely meaningful descriptor?