Buying games to better enjoy live plays?

[MNblockhead]

The amount of time I spend listening to live plays is probably a bit less than half of the time I spend preparing for, running, or playing in games. I tend to stick with live plays using systems that I am familiar with. I like live plays that engage and generally stick to the rules. Not only can it help me learn a new system, but because the mechanics used are part of the enjoyment for me.

I've listed live plays of systems that I didn't own, which inspired me to try the game at conventions and even buy the core rules. Usually, I have an intention to eventually run games in that system, but practically, there are some that I'll likely never get around to doing so. Yet, I find that familiarizing myself with the rules and lore of game system to better follow and enjoy a live play using that system to be its own lonely fun.

Curious how common it is for people to buy TTRP material as part of their enjoyment of live plays with no intention (or at least near‑term plans) to run games in that system.

 

[MGibster]

I don't listen to live plays very often. When I do it's typically to get an example of an interpretation of how a particular game or scenario is run. I listened to LA by Night to get an idea of how Vampire 5th edition is played and another for Twilight 2000. I'm trying to think if I've listened to a live play just to get a sense of how a scenario worked, but I'm drawing a blank. I've never listened to a live play and went out to purchase the game so I could follow along.

 

[Kromanjon]

When I do listen to live plays I usually get bored pretty quickly unless the group playing is very funny. As far as rules go I think most live plays don't use the rules enough, spending most of their time roleplaying, to get a feel for a system. At the same time this brings to mind all the times I've heard people say that they will only watch live plays using a certain system (like those saying they'll quit watching CR unless they keep playing D&D). This sounds crazy to me. Watching live plays only because of the rules just seems like only watching porn that uses the right lighting equipment. I do, however, get the point that a live play might be a way to see a system in play, but as I said in the beginning I tend to get bored long before they start using the rules enough to learn them.

 

[aramis erak]

Curious how common it is for people to buy TTRP material as part of their enjoyment of live plays with no intention (or at least near‑term plans) to run games in that system.

I seldom enjoy live plays, but the Dial the Gate vidcast ep 8 where they demoed Stargate was amazing... Largely because most of the players (5 of 6) were stargate cast playing the nearly completed rules....
David Hewlett (Rodney McKay), David Blue (Eli Wallace), Alexis Cruz (Skarra), Julie McNiven (Ginn), Rainbow Sun Franks (Aiden Ford)... and the other David playing was the host of the vidcast/podcast.
Rainbow didn't seem to be having fun, but Julie expressed amazement at how fun RPGs are. Hewlett, Blue, and Cruz are experienced RPG players, as is the host. The GM was one of the design team.
None of them were playing the roles they played on the shows. Hewlett is the hyperactive player who can't keep his seat... Cruz and Wallace both were tactical. Julie got both into character and into tactical thought.

I wouldn't turn away any of them from my table after seeing them play...

I enjoyed running the game. I definitely got my money's worth.

 

[MNblockhead]

When I do listen to live plays I usually get bored pretty quickly unless the group playing is very funny. As far as rules go I think most live plays don't use the rules enough, spending most of their time roleplaying, to get a feel for a system. At the same time this brings to mind all the times I've heard people say that they will only watch live plays using a certain system (like those saying they'll quit watching CR unless they keep playing D&D). This sounds crazy to me. Watching live plays only because of the rules just seems like only watching porn that uses the right lighting equipment. I do, however, get the point that a live play might be a way to see a system in play, but as I said in the beginning I tend to get bored long before they start using the rules enough to learn them.

It can be hard to manage, but some live plays do a good job providing entertaining improv while also engaging and discussing the rules.

Godsfall in its early seasons was good at this, the DM would make and explain a ruling quickly without turning the game into a slog and would do cut ins to explain where he was wrong about the rules. They spent an insane amount of work editing it, so it was far less disruptive than it sounds like. I am fed up with creator because of a terribly managed Kickstarter, but the early seasons of the podcast were a good way to learn 5e in the early days of that system.

The absolute best in managing crunch with a thespian play style, IMO, is The Glass Cannon Podcast's Rise of the Runelord's Pathfinder campaign. One of the players (not the GM) was the designated rules lawyer, and they would occasionally break out into a rules lawyer segment. It helped that the player had a very solid understanding of the PF1e rule system and that the entire cast were funny and entertaining about it. There was a DM v. players dynamic that actually managed to be entertaining, instead of cringe. At the same time their was some excellent role-playing/acting, mostly humorous but occasionally very moving. It was a great, long lasting live play campaign. None of their other campaigns were able to hook my interest like the first one, which was just the perfect recipe for me.

I'm currently listening to the Grim Podcast of Perilous Adventure's play through of the WFRP4e The Enemy Within campaign. It has the feel of a group of (very entertaining) friends letting us sit in on their campaign. They somehow manage to capture the frustration of a DM trying to interpret rules in response to player shenanigans in an way that is not disruptive to the story. It is my favorite WFRP live play, though it may be a bit too slapstick for some folks.

 

[MNblockhead]

I seldom enjoy live plays, but the Dial the Gate vidcast ep 8 where they demoed Stargate was amazing... Largely because most of the players (5 of 6) were stargate cast playing the nearly completed rules....
David Hewlett (Rodney McKay), David Blue (Eli Wallace), Alexis Cruz (Skarra), Julie McNiven (Ginn), Rainbow Sun Franks (Aiden Ford)... and the other David playing was the host of the vidcast/podcast.
Rainbow didn't seem to be having fun, but Julie expressed amazement at how fun RPGs are. Hewlett, Blue, and Cruz are experienced RPG players, as is the host. The GM was one of the design team.
None of them were playing the roles they played on the shows. Hewlett is the hyperactive player who can't keep his seat... Cruz and Wallace both were tactical. Julie got both into character and into tactical thought.

I wouldn't turn away any of them from my table after seeing them play...

I enjoyed running the game. I definitely got my money's worth.

I'll ahve to check that out, but if it is only available on YouTube, I doubt I will. I mainly listen to it when doing chores, at the gym, or during my 10 hours of driving I do every other weekend. I need something that I can follow and download on Pocket Casts.