RPGA: Is it any good?
- Thread starter Pandion
- Start date
Piratecat
Sesquipedalian
Pandion said:
Interesting how a few events can color peoples' perceptions.
I've run about 300 RPGA games, and played in about as many. I tend to prefer "Classic" modules with pre-generated characters, which definitely takes a back seat nowadays to the "Living" campaigns where you develop your own character.
In my experience, if you're at a con both modules and GMs are on a classic bell curve. Out of 9 games, I find 1-2 are sucky, 1-2 are freakin' amazing, and 5 are okay to decent. I go to cons for those amazing games, though, because they make up for all the sucky experiences. The GM is an essential factor; a good GM can make a lousy module sing, and an inexperienced GM can make a great module only so-so.
Players are also a mixed bag. Play RPGA games at cons for a while, and you learn who the fun players are -- then you get at the same tables with them. I've met some superb friends this way.
For home play, only the module becomes an issue, and as I said the quality of these varies. Most seem to be pretty well edited, but a cut below professional quality. When I find an author I like, I try to order other things from that same person.
So to sum up, RPGA is great if you go to cons or don't have a regular gaming group at home. It's also great if you want to polish your GMing skills. It's not essential if you have a good home campaign. Whatever you do, just don't let a first impression (good or bad) color your perception of the RPGA as a whole. There's a lot of variation.
BrooklynKnight
First Post
I agree with PC. I've ran a number of RPGA Games, and i've played in a few. At Winter fantasy I went as a fulltime GM. Dungeon of the Hark was boooooooooooooooring. Everyone claimed it was a smash hit and they had a blast. Maybe its because I was sleepy from late hours, but I wondered what I was missing! And I even played in the special one that had the constructed 3d dungeon.
Of all the times I've run games, I think I've left the players satisifed. Everyone left with smiles on their faces. With RPGA adventures, you sometimes have to take them with a grain of salt because of editing or other issues, as long as the GM can think on his feet and compensate you'll have a good time. IF you get a guy who has his nose in the adventure the entire game, and doesnt try to immerse you as a player, either into the group dynamics (in or out of game), or into the story, you'll have a bad experience.
I hope you have good experiences with your RPGA games. If you get a few bad apples dont give up!
Of all the times I've run games, I think I've left the players satisifed. Everyone left with smiles on their faces. With RPGA adventures, you sometimes have to take them with a grain of salt because of editing or other issues, as long as the GM can think on his feet and compensate you'll have a good time. IF you get a guy who has his nose in the adventure the entire game, and doesnt try to immerse you as a player, either into the group dynamics (in or out of game), or into the story, you'll have a bad experience.
I hope you have good experiences with your RPGA games. If you get a few bad apples dont give up!
Elder-Basilisk
First Post
Piratecat sums up my experience in a lot of ways.
The RPGA games tend to be on the average to good side of con games. In my experience (at least in my area) I would guess that DMing quality and module quality don't dip below "below average" as often as non-RPGA con games. The players tend to be fun people who work together as a group as well. Vis a vis home games, I'll probably tick a lot of people off but I would estimate that the RPGA Living campaigns with a good or decent judge are about as good as a run of the mill home campaign. In the various campaigns I've played, several have been better than RPGA games and several have been worse. (Of those, two were bad enought that decided not to continue but there were a few others that were still enjoyable but generally, a session wasn't as enjoyable as the typical Living Greyhawk game). So, spectacular games are typically better than RPGA games (though with the right DM and the right module, RPGA games sometimes rise to the spectacular level) but the RPGA games are as good as most games.
As for the other uses of the RPGA, it's very useful for meeting new players and practicing and polishing DMing. In a local gaming group, it's very easy to fall into less than optimal habits simply because with 1 or 2 DMs and 4-5 players, there's only so many ideas that people will come up with. With the larger player and DM base, there are a lot more people to steal ideas from.
It's also very useful for getting games in when you're mobile. About a year ago, for instance, I moved to Canada to work on a Master's degree. Since I didn't want my only experience up there to be schoolwork, I was interested in getting a few games in as well. The best games I was able to find were the RPGA living campaigns. (I tried one home game but the people were somewhat freaky and we never got a second session organized anyway). Then, after I'd completed my classwork, I moved back home to finish a few papers and work on my thesis. By then, the home games I'd been a part of back home had collapsed (due to people moving, getting divorced, etc). However, I was able to continue playing my Living campaign characters. I was also able to find a home game with some people I met at an RPGA con. So, the portability of Living campaigns proved to be a big benefit to me.
The RPGA games tend to be on the average to good side of con games. In my experience (at least in my area) I would guess that DMing quality and module quality don't dip below "below average" as often as non-RPGA con games. The players tend to be fun people who work together as a group as well. Vis a vis home games, I'll probably tick a lot of people off but I would estimate that the RPGA Living campaigns with a good or decent judge are about as good as a run of the mill home campaign. In the various campaigns I've played, several have been better than RPGA games and several have been worse. (Of those, two were bad enought that decided not to continue but there were a few others that were still enjoyable but generally, a session wasn't as enjoyable as the typical Living Greyhawk game). So, spectacular games are typically better than RPGA games (though with the right DM and the right module, RPGA games sometimes rise to the spectacular level) but the RPGA games are as good as most games.
As for the other uses of the RPGA, it's very useful for meeting new players and practicing and polishing DMing. In a local gaming group, it's very easy to fall into less than optimal habits simply because with 1 or 2 DMs and 4-5 players, there's only so many ideas that people will come up with. With the larger player and DM base, there are a lot more people to steal ideas from.
It's also very useful for getting games in when you're mobile. About a year ago, for instance, I moved to Canada to work on a Master's degree. Since I didn't want my only experience up there to be schoolwork, I was interested in getting a few games in as well. The best games I was able to find were the RPGA living campaigns. (I tried one home game but the people were somewhat freaky and we never got a second session organized anyway). Then, after I'd completed my classwork, I moved back home to finish a few papers and work on my thesis. By then, the home games I'd been a part of back home had collapsed (due to people moving, getting divorced, etc). However, I was able to continue playing my Living campaign characters. I was also able to find a home game with some people I met at an RPGA con. So, the portability of Living campaigns proved to be a big benefit to me.
HiLiphNY
Explorer
I like the RPGA games, both running them and playing them. I HATE the RPGA administration process. Point/character tracking is often late or flawed, or both. It's so bad, that it often begs the question as to why does one play in the RPGA if the whole tracking system is flawed. Well, the answer is found in BK's post above. I also feel that the RPGA brings back the feel of the old school's GENCON tournament modules better than anything else I've experienced.
Ahhhh, the good old days. . . .
Ahhhh, the good old days. . . .
BrooklynKnight
First Post
They are improving. Thanks to funding anyway.
