Let's Talk About "Intended Playstyle"

[Thomas Shey]

Terms have meaning in their context. That you refuse to acknowledge that meaning in order to argue with the term instead of discuss the subject is on you.

I think that's a little unfair. Words have connotational meanings even when they are used as terms of art. I don't think "opinionated" is an extremely strong case there, but there is connotational loading there and you can't entirely get away from that in general discussion even when the term-of-art is appropriate.

 

[Thomas Shey]

What would you consider an example of a game with a strong intended playstyle that is not opinionated?

How do you read games that have a genre/style focus, but not an exceptionally strong play methodology focus? Chill 3e is very much intended for structured supernatural hunting, and is really not set up for anything else (the skill list makes this very clear) but the actual play style within it isn't strongly focused (though its not really trad in its methodology).

 

[Reynard]

The vast majority of super hero RPGs that aren't heavily narrativist (Mutants & Masterminds, Marvel Multiverse, FASERIP). You can play those games more or less however you like, no matter what they say.

If that is the case, how do they present an intended playstyle? It isn't as if "supers" represents a monolithic playstyle.

 

[Thomas Shey]

If that is the case, how do they present an intended playstyle? It isn't as if "supers" represents a monolithic playstyle.

Broadly. They're games that are aiming at a broad Big-Two-and-similar style experience. While you find offshoots within those that are more idiosyncratic, you can make some general expectations as to what a typical superhero experience will look like (especially in team books).

 

[Micah Sweet]

If that is the case, how do they present an intended playstyle? It isn't as if "supers" represents a monolithic playstyle.

Most super hero games I've seen strongly suggest a four-color playstyle, but by no means do the mechanics push for such, at least not all strongly.

 

[Aldarc]

The "author's opinions" is not at all what "opinionated" means in this context.

That's generally what is meant, IMHO, by an "opinionated game." The author's voice and opinions come through in the text.

 

[Reynard]

That's generally what is meant, IMHO, by an "opinionated game." The author's voice and opinions come through in the text.

I don't know what to tell you. That is not what it means in the context of games. It means that it demands very specific play.