Doug McCrae
Legend
In his review of the rpg Chivalry & Sorcery in White Dwarf #5 (Feb/Mar 1978), Lew Pulsipher distinguishes between two styles of play, "simulation" and "game": "C&S is the fantasy role-playing expression of the wargamers who favour realism and simulation while D&D is the expression of playability fans who want a good game, not simulation."
Chivalry & Sorcery encourages acting-in-character. In text quoted by Pulsipher it recommends that "if a character is stupid, role-play and have him act stupidly". Pulsipher informs us that elsewhere in the rules "players are asked to think like medieval people."
Pulsipher thinks that this will appeal to "simulation fans" but not "competitive gamers". The latter
Pulsipher's analysis of different playing styles here and in the "D&D Campaigns" series is brilliant, explicitly distinguishing between game-, story-, and simulation-focused rpg play. He anticipates future similar analyses by two decades, GDS Theory appearing in 1997.
Chivalry & Sorcery encourages acting-in-character. In text quoted by Pulsipher it recommends that "if a character is stupid, role-play and have him act stupidly". Pulsipher informs us that elsewhere in the rules "players are asked to think like medieval people."
Pulsipher thinks that this will appeal to "simulation fans" but not "competitive gamers". The latter
participate in role-playing games to play an interesting game and be successful by their own standards, not to live out externally stimulated fantasies. Competitive gamers, as opposed to simulation fans, are unlikely to want to play a character as anything but their 20th century selves.
Pulsipher's analysis of different playing styles here and in the "D&D Campaigns" series is brilliant, explicitly distinguishing between game-, story-, and simulation-focused rpg play. He anticipates future similar analyses by two decades, GDS Theory appearing in 1997.
