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Message: <blockquote data-quote="payn" data-source="post: 9866062" data-attributes="member: 90374">I think playstyle is important and the distinction of calling them opinionated isnt necessary. Part of the design evolution of RPGs is also the terms for folks to understand them. 20 years ago, understanding the difference between a generic do anything system like Savage Worlds was seen as the standard. A bespoke system was truly seen as "bespoke". I think attitudes and tastes have changed over the years as designers have gotten better at making intended playstyle games. Today, I feel like folks will understand in short order what an intended playstyle is of a game. If they cannot, then thats a failure of design and presentation by the publisher.Alien by Free League leans into the idea of being in a stressful situation. The PC's focus sharpens, but they also are prone to panic states. The mechanics do a good job of reinforcing the idea, feel, and execution of the intended experience.I think this is going to be subjective, but most 5E reskins (D20 if using the way back machine) often miss the mark. Using the familiar D&D system isnt a problem in of itself. I think the failure point is using a general system meant to do a lot, in a specific way to genre emulate. Like, Carbon 2185 ends up feeling like D&D with computers instead of Cyberpunk. Absolutely. I think a designer needs to know what they intend the system to do, and they need to communicate it to their players. Its a major key component to success and adoption of any RPG system, IMO. When I think of games that flail and fade out, its usually due to folks not "getting them". That could be through poor communication or it could be from lack of design focus. Either way, I think playstyle intention is a necessity for a designer, both specifically and generally. YMMV.</blockquote>

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