Jon Peterson: Does System Matter?

D&D historian Jon Peterson asks the question on his blog as he does a deep dive into how early tabletop RPG enthusiasts wrestled with the same thing.

Based around the concept that 'D&D can do anything, so why learn a new system?', the conversation examines whether the system itself affects the playstyle of those playing it. Some systems are custom-designed to create a certain atmosphere (see Dread's suspenseful Jenga-tower narrative game), and Call of Cthulhu certainly discourages the D&D style of play, despite a d20 version in early 2000s.

Does System Matter?

Dungeons & Dragons started out as a game with such an adaptable and open-ended set of rules that early adopters questioned whether any fur...

playingattheworld.blogspot.com

 

[TwoSix]

None of this should shortcut discussions about preferences, or recommendations about TTRPGs that are fun to play or particularly well-suited for doing X, Y, or Z. But sometimes Abe and Bob might both like seafood, and just not agree on Ye Olde Maine Lobster Shack. It doesn't make either of them wrong, or evil, or hating seafood. Human preferences are a heckuva thing; I mean, look just at the 5e threads and you will see an enormous number of opinions of people that are arguing over the same features in the same game, and whether those features are good or bad.

Obviously Abe and Bob should have eaten at the Cheesecake Factory.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Obviously Abe and Bob should have eaten at the Cheesecake Factory.

I'm too young to die and to old to eat off the kid's menu. What a stupid age I am!

 

[Fenris-77]

I'm too young to die and to old to eat off the kid's menu. What a stupid age I am!

If I had to guess, I'd put you somewhere between Applebee's and the Olive Garden.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

If I had to guess, I'd put you somewhere between Applebee's and the Olive Garden.

The greatest tragedy of America today is that there is an entire generation growing up that will never know the thrill of Bennigan's Ultimate Nachos.

 

[Fenris-77]

The greatest tragedy of America today is that there is an entire generation growing up that will never know the thrill of Bennigan's Ultimate Nachos.

I have the same feeling about Mothers Pizza. A staple of my childhood and perfect for any occasion slightly more important that warranting a trip to McDicks.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I have the same feeling about Mothers Pizza. A staple of my childhood and perfect for any occasion slightly more important that warranting a trip to McDicks.

Try explaining to a whippersnapper today that dining at the Pizza Hut was an EVENT. An EVENT! That was practically fine dining.

 

[TwoSix]

Try explaining to a whippersnapper today that dining at the Pizza Hut was an EVENT. An EVENT! That was practically fine dining.

Especially if you went with your free coupons from reading lots of books.

 

[Fenris-77]

Try explaining to a whippersnapper today that dining at the Pizza Hut was an EVENT. An EVENT! That was practically fine dining.

Yeah man, definitely not a hey, where do want to go for lunch? kinda deal. Going out for dinner was a big thing. For those truly earth shaking events like your Aunt's successful hip replacement there was the fabled Cracker Barrel.

 

[Ovinomancer]

Yeah man, definitely not a hey, where do want to go for lunch? kinda deal. Going out for dinner was a big thing. For those truly earth shaking events like your Aunt's successful hip replacement there was the fabled Cracker Barrel.

Hey, for me it was Quincy's. Man, I do miss those yeast rolls. Then, after awhile, Cracker Barrel was the deal. Now I have a chophouse ($80+ a plate) a little less than a mile away, alongside other higher end options. When I bought my house, it was labeled "rural." Progress!

 

[Aldarc]

Don't forget the classic "System doesn't matter, until the system has metagame currency or Fortune-in-the-middle mechanics or some other technique I'm not familiar with. Then system is really important!"

Well we don't have to worry about those systems mattering at all because the presence of any metagame mechanics means that it's not a "True RPG" anyway.

I'm too young to die and to old to eat off the kid's menu. What a stupid age I am!

Get a hold of yourself, man! You are never too old to order off the kid's menu!