D&D General Harshest House Rule (in use)?

[TwoSix]

Well, in my game all the above is 'Background' and is something that the player would create and write up before the game.

"How does the calendar work, so I can define my character's birthday in my background" is a worldbuilding question.

I mean, it seems like your game would be divided into 2 phases. First, there's one-on-one sessions with players where they ask questions or read notes to establish as much background information as possible. Second, there's actual play at the table.

 

[bloodtide]

I just have to ask: what does "playing a game" mean. To me, asking and answering questions is the core game loop for most of a session. So what does playing the game look like to you?

I know most RPGs have the game play where the players just endlessly say "DM tell me stuff" and the DM is all like "Yes, player". My game is not like that.

Other games: "DM my character knows stuff tell me stuff". DM stops the game and tells the player whatever they want to know.

My game: A player sees 'The Dark Forest' on the map and wants to learn more about it, they have many things they can try. The two most direct are: 1)By Role Playing their character "the acting as if they were the character kind" they could interact with an NPC and ask them questions. 2) Go to the Dark Forest and see what happens.

"How does the calendar work, so I can define my character's birthday in my background" is a worldbuilding question.

This should be a Session Zero question, yes.

I mean, it seems like your game would be divided into 2 phases. First, there's one-on-one sessions with players where they ask questions or read notes to establish as much background information as possible. Second, there's actual play at the table.

I don't think I'm the only one in the world that does Session Zeros or set-up before a game.

 

[SteveC]

I know most RPGs have the game play where the players just endlessly say "DM tell me stuff" and the DM is all like "Yes, player". My game is not like that.

I'm genuinely interested: what is it like then? If you were playing a scene, what would it sound like? It sounds very different than I am familiar with, so I'm interested to hear about it.

 

[bloodtide]

I'm genuinely interested: what is it like then? If you were playing a scene, what would it sound like? It sounds very different than I am familiar with, so I'm interested to hear about it.

I'm not sure what your asking about? What scene?

 

[SteveC]

I'm not sure what your asking about? What scene?

Ah, many people play RPGs in scenes. It seems you don't. So if I were to listen in on part of your RPG session, what would it sound or look like?

 

[Seramus]

I'm genuinely interested: what is it like then? If you were playing a scene, what would it sound like? It sounds very different than I am familiar with, so I'm interested to hear about it.

If I understand correctly, they want the character interacting with the world as much as possible. You wouldn't ask the DM what your character knows, you would actually talk to NPCs or go to the place and explore personally. There's no "Blood, what do I know about the mayor?" Instead there is "I walk up to the nearest guy that looks talkative and ask him who the mayor is and what they are like."

I'm not sure how in-game libraries work.

 

[TwoSix]

I don't think I'm the only one in the world that does Session Zeros or set-up before a game.

No, that's true. You just must have to do a terrifying amount of pre-game prep.

If a DM told me, "Your character only knows things that you, the player know" I would be asking pages and pages of questions about anything my character might have read or encountered in their first X years of life.

 

[bloodtide]

Ah, many people play RPGs in scenes. It seems you don't. So if I were to listen in on part of your RPG session, what would it sound or look like?

People in a deep hard core immersive role playing game where everyone is acting out their characters in a simulated world.

 

[bloodtide]

If I understand correctly, they want the character interacting with the world as much as possible. You wouldn't ask the DM what your character knows, you would actually talk to NPCs or go to the place and explore personally. There's no "Blood, what do I know about the mayor?" Instead there is "I walk up to the nearest guy that looks talkative and ask him who the mayor is and what they are like."

Yes. You can also talk to the mayor. As said my introduction period is long. So I'm not going to "goohha" (good) players in the first couple weeks of game play.

I'm not sure how in-game libraries work.

I give the real player real books to read

 

[SteveC]

People in a deep hard core immersive role playing game where everyone is acting out their characters in a simulated world.

I know what that means, but ... what does that mean for you? I could easily explain how I run a session with an example, but I think you're doing something very different. I suppose I should give up as I think we're playing a very different game, which I hope you have fun with.