Games that wildly vary between groups

[Bullgrit]

I've seen through discussions here, that different people have had extremely different experiences with D&D through the years. Just to give some of the easiest (most obvious) differences:

For some, level advancement has been fast, but for others, it has been very slow.

For some, magic items have been common, but for others, they have been rare.

For some, PCs are super heroes, but for others, PCs are drudge mercenaries in the gritty dirt.

I'm not talking about intentional differences in campaigns -- like Forgotten Realms vs. Dark Sun. I'm talking about just how we played the game, thinking we were playing it normally.

Another for instance, some think classic D&D is all about dungeon crawls, and others played world-sized campaigns, or adventure paths.

Now, my question:

What other games give such a huge variance in play experiences? I mean, whether you like Monopoly or not, it's unlikely that your experiences with playing the game (over a long time, like we do with RPGs) is much different from someone else's experiences.

Is the variance in play experiences a benefit or flaw in an RPG?

Bullgrit

 

[billd91]

Benefit. No question. What other sorts of passtimes can provide such a variety of amusements for such little investment?

 

[ExploderWizard]

A benefit for certain. A game flexible enough to allow for customization for individual tastes cannot help being more awesome.

If everyone played the same game the same way how interesting do you think communities such as this one would be?

A monopoly forum without any house rules or new ideas would be pretty dry and boring (to me at least).

 

[Mallus]

Benefit. Absolutely.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Benefit, definitely. While I've played in certain styles in the past, I know there are others to explore-- and, in fact, I'm planning exactly for that.

Even when the rules stay basically the same same, the game can change enormously from campaign to campaign, or group to group. That's Good Value right there!

 

[Umbran]

Is the variance in play experiences a benefit or flaw in an RPG?

Benefit, most assuredly. The flexibility is, to my mind, one of the great things about an RPG.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Benefit, positive-adverbly.

 

[Bullgrit]

Don't forget the other question:

What other games give such a huge variance in play experiences?

Bullgrit

 

[ExploderWizard]

Are you asking about non-rpgs?

I suppose there are some miniature wargames that might develop "house rules" or variations that are fun for some groups and not others. Some guys in our area made up some custom rules for Warhammer 40K home games.

 

[billd91]

What other games give such a huge variance in play experiences?

Calvinball.