Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
White Dwarf Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Nest
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions, OSR, & D&D Variants
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
EN Publishing
Twitter
BlueSky
Facebook
Instagram
EN World
BlueSky
YouTube
Facebook
Twitter
Twitch
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions, OSR, & D&D Variants
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
ChatGPT writes ”Missed Opportunities in Generic Tabletop RPG Campaign Settings”
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="harunmushod" data-source="post: 9542896" data-attributes="member: 7026983"><p>I copied your post back into ChatGPT and asked it for the same analysis on Basic Roleplaying. Here is is what it said:</p><p></p><p>Certainly! The Basic Roleplaying (BRP) system by Chaosium is an iconic generic RPG engine, but like other generic systems, its settings sometimes struggle to fully capitalize on the strengths of the rules. Here's an analysis of BRP's strengths, missed opportunities, and potential fixes</p><p>---</p><p></p><p><strong>Basic Roleplaying (BRP): A System with History but Inconsistent Thematic Integration</strong></p><p></p><p><em>The Problem:</em></p><p></p><p>BRP is a robust and adaptable system with mechanics rooted in its percentile dice core, making it easy to grasp and versatile for different genres. However, the settings accompanying BRP often fail to emphasize its unique strengths. Many BRP settings, like Magic World or Superworld, are functional but feel generic, relying heavily on players or GMs to add depth. Even its more iconic settings, such as RuneQuest’s Glorantha, can feel overwhelming due to an overabundance of lore with insufficient guidance for new players.</p><p></p><p><em>The Fix:</em></p><p></p><p>1. Emphasize Genre-Specific Mechanics: BRP’s percentile system shines when it integrates tightly with a setting’s themes. Future BRP settings could expand upon genre-specific mechanics to highlight these themes. For example:</p><p></p><p>A pulp adventure setting could add mechanics for dramatic stunts, resourceful improvisation, or escalating tension during cliffhangers.</p><p></p><p>A space opera setting might benefit from expanded ship combat rules or faction-influence mechanics that leverage BRP’s skill system.</p><p></p><p>2. Streamline Entry Points for Lore-Heavy Settings: Settings like Glorantha are rich in lore but can be daunting for newcomers. A "quick-start" region with limited factions, streamlined mechanics, and beginner-friendly narratives would make it easier for new groups to engage. Pre-designed adventures or “starter campaigns” could introduce key concepts without overwhelming players.</p><p></p><p>3. Add Modular Story Hooks and Generators: BRP would benefit from tools that help GMs quickly create compelling scenarios. For instance:</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Random event tables tailored to different genres.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Faction and NPC generators that tie directly into a setting’s core themes.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Conflict seeds" designed to kickstart player involvement in the world.</li> </ul><p>4. Introduce Dynamic Progression Systems: While BRP’s skill progression is straightforward, settings could incorporate mechanics that tie advancement to the narrative. For example:</p><p></p><p>In a noir detective setting, uncovering truths might lead to both personal growth and darker consequences.</p><p></p><p>A post-apocalyptic setting could use a resource scarcity mechanic where skill development is tied to survival achievements or alliances.</p><p></p><p>5. Highlight Emotional and Ethical Consequences: Chaosium’s other games, like Call of Cthulhu, excel at creating emotional stakes and moral dilemmas. BRP settings could take inspiration from this by including:</p><p></p><p>Faction reputation systems where player choices have tangible effects on alliances and world politics.</p><p></p><p>Rules for personal bonds, rivalries, or internal conflicts that evolve throughout a campaign.</p><p></p><p>6. Encourage Cross-Genre Play: BRP’s generic nature makes it ideal for campaigns that blend genres. A setting that combines fantasy with sci-fi or historical fiction with horror could include tailored mechanics for integrating disparate elements while maintaining a cohesive narrative framework.</p><p></p><p><em>Example Applications:</em></p><p></p><p>Fantasy (Magic World): Expand magic systems to reflect diverse cultural traditions within the setting. Introduce modular spell creation rules to give players greater narrative control over their magic use.</p><p></p><p>Superheroes (Superworld): Flesh out the social implications of superpowers. Introduce systems for public perception, hero-vs-villain rivalries, and the emotional toll of power misuse.</p><p></p><p>Historical Fiction: Add mechanics for managing historical accuracy vs. player agency, with rules for alternate history divergence.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>---</p><p></p><p>Why It Matters:</p><p></p><p>BRP is a system with a rich history and an intuitive core, but its settings often rely on players and GMs to inject life into the framework. By enhancing settings with narrative scaffolding, genre-specific mechanics, and emotional stakes, Chaosium could elevate BRP from a solid toolkit to a system that fully realizes the potential of its worlds.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="harunmushod, post: 9542896, member: 7026983"] I copied your post back into ChatGPT and asked it for the same analysis on Basic Roleplaying. Here is is what it said: Certainly! The Basic Roleplaying (BRP) system by Chaosium is an iconic generic RPG engine, but like other generic systems, its settings sometimes struggle to fully capitalize on the strengths of the rules. Here's an analysis of BRP's strengths, missed opportunities, and potential fixes --- [B]Basic Roleplaying (BRP): A System with History but Inconsistent Thematic Integration[/B] [I]The Problem:[/I] BRP is a robust and adaptable system with mechanics rooted in its percentile dice core, making it easy to grasp and versatile for different genres. However, the settings accompanying BRP often fail to emphasize its unique strengths. Many BRP settings, like Magic World or Superworld, are functional but feel generic, relying heavily on players or GMs to add depth. Even its more iconic settings, such as RuneQuest’s Glorantha, can feel overwhelming due to an overabundance of lore with insufficient guidance for new players. [I]The Fix:[/I] 1. Emphasize Genre-Specific Mechanics: BRP’s percentile system shines when it integrates tightly with a setting’s themes. Future BRP settings could expand upon genre-specific mechanics to highlight these themes. For example: A pulp adventure setting could add mechanics for dramatic stunts, resourceful improvisation, or escalating tension during cliffhangers. A space opera setting might benefit from expanded ship combat rules or faction-influence mechanics that leverage BRP’s skill system. 2. Streamline Entry Points for Lore-Heavy Settings: Settings like Glorantha are rich in lore but can be daunting for newcomers. A "quick-start" region with limited factions, streamlined mechanics, and beginner-friendly narratives would make it easier for new groups to engage. Pre-designed adventures or “starter campaigns” could introduce key concepts without overwhelming players. 3. Add Modular Story Hooks and Generators: BRP would benefit from tools that help GMs quickly create compelling scenarios. For instance: [LIST] [*]Random event tables tailored to different genres. [*]Faction and NPC generators that tie directly into a setting’s core themes. [*]"Conflict seeds" designed to kickstart player involvement in the world. [/LIST] 4. Introduce Dynamic Progression Systems: While BRP’s skill progression is straightforward, settings could incorporate mechanics that tie advancement to the narrative. For example: In a noir detective setting, uncovering truths might lead to both personal growth and darker consequences. A post-apocalyptic setting could use a resource scarcity mechanic where skill development is tied to survival achievements or alliances. 5. Highlight Emotional and Ethical Consequences: Chaosium’s other games, like Call of Cthulhu, excel at creating emotional stakes and moral dilemmas. BRP settings could take inspiration from this by including: Faction reputation systems where player choices have tangible effects on alliances and world politics. Rules for personal bonds, rivalries, or internal conflicts that evolve throughout a campaign. 6. Encourage Cross-Genre Play: BRP’s generic nature makes it ideal for campaigns that blend genres. A setting that combines fantasy with sci-fi or historical fiction with horror could include tailored mechanics for integrating disparate elements while maintaining a cohesive narrative framework. [I]Example Applications:[/I] Fantasy (Magic World): Expand magic systems to reflect diverse cultural traditions within the setting. Introduce modular spell creation rules to give players greater narrative control over their magic use. Superheroes (Superworld): Flesh out the social implications of superpowers. Introduce systems for public perception, hero-vs-villain rivalries, and the emotional toll of power misuse. Historical Fiction: Add mechanics for managing historical accuracy vs. player agency, with rules for alternate history divergence. --- Why It Matters: BRP is a system with a rich history and an intuitive core, but its settings often rely on players and GMs to inject life into the framework. By enhancing settings with narrative scaffolding, genre-specific mechanics, and emotional stakes, Chaosium could elevate BRP from a solid toolkit to a system that fully realizes the potential of its worlds. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
ChatGPT writes ”Missed Opportunities in Generic Tabletop RPG Campaign Settings”
Top