Is there any genre or theme that the TTRPG medium does not work for?

[payn]

Due to licensing, I'm never gonna see an Atlus Shurgged TTRPG or a "A Libertarian Walks into a Bear" Faisco deck.

Dibs on "Ma Chalmers" for PC.

 

[TheSword]

But historical fiction is not historical fact. If you want historical fact, you would read a history textbook, not a novel.

There’s different levels of fact. Wolf Hall and it’s sequels is extremely well researched. Certainly the dialogue and the perspectives are fiction but the events are not. And the first two are extremely well considered. Nonetheless it’s a good example fiction filling the gaps.

 

[Reynard]

I think the key word here is "true". As I said, yes, its not exactly easy to get an RPG out of nonfiction. I just don't see why you should try and lump a variety of documentary in with fiction in the first place.

"True" isn't a qualifier. The genre is True Crime, and that genre isn't just a historical telling of an event. The whole point of the genre as an entertainment mode is to draw the audience in and get them theorizing and engaged. There is no better way to do that than through an RPG.

In fact, the more I think.about it,True Crime is a pretty perfect RPG genre. The GM chooses a (preferably obscure, but pretty detailed evidence wise) crime and the players take on the roles of amateur investigators trying to solve it. They do research and interview witnesses and the GM feeds them details and clues in response. Ultimately the players present a theory, which may or may not align with what the police think.

 

[Theory of Games]

I'm going to win this. For all the little people.

I have a genre ttrpgs can NEVER do: Silent films. Cannot be done!

 

[payn]

I'm going to win this. For all the little people.

I have a genre ttrpgs can NEVER do: Silent films. Cannot be done!

Isnt that just play by post?

 

[Bedrockgames]

"True" isn't a qualifier. The genre is True Crime, and that genre isn't just a historical telling of an event. The whole point of the genre as an entertainment mode is to draw the audience in and get them theorizing and engaged. There is no better way to do that than through an RPG.

In fact, the more I think.about it,True Crime is a pretty perfect RPG genre. The GM chooses a (preferably obscure, but pretty detailed evidence wise) crime and the players take on the roles of amateur investigators trying to solve it. They do research and interview witnesses and the GM feeds them details and clues in response. Ultimately the players present a theory, which may or may not align with what the police think.

I went to the movies to see True Grit and there wasn't a single bowl of grits!!!!!!!!!!

 

[John Dallman]

Another sub-genre that is not impossible, but is hard: time travel.

 

[Bedrockgames]

Another sub-genre that is not impossible, but is hard: time travel.

I nailed it!

 

[CandyLaser]

Another sub-genre that is not impossible, but is hard: time travel.

Timewatch does time travel quite well, IMO, and Continuum does it very thoroughly. There's also Time & Temp, in the more indie-affiliated space, and of course there's a GURPS supplement or three on time travel as well.

 

[Theory of Games]

Silents film was a dunk but I'll add a foul shot: P O E T R Y.

You just can't RP rhymes and stanzas and verses.