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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Campbell" data-source="post: 6298926" data-attributes="member: 16586">The Big Model has several problems, but I don't think they reside where people think they do. Chief among them is unfortunate terminology and the idea that for a coherent game that a creative agenda must be followed absolutely. We are all interested in games where we make meaningful decisions that will shape the arena of play - otherwise we would not be playing games. We are all interested in the details of the fictional play space - otherwise we would be playing some other sort of games. What is most contentious about the Big Model is an argument for exploring the emotional landscape of our characters and that this is something which we should model with game mechanics is the Big Argument behind the Big Model. It is staking a claim that games can be an emotionally satisfying experience beyond the thrill of victory or defeat. When talking about what came out of the Forge the important thing to me is to consider the context of their dissatisfaction. It wasn't really games like AD&D(1e). Rather it was stuff like the Dragonlance modules, Ravenloft, and games like classic Vampire and Ars Magica that promised emotionally resonant game play, but failed to offer meaningful consequences for player decisions. The point was to make games that meaningfully allowed this exploration of dramatic rather than procedural conflicts.Much like the Agile Manifesto in programming - it's not about not valuing what came before. It's about valuing other features more. There were good things that come from this:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A reemphasizing on actual play results that had been lost in many of the games of the 1990's</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Transparent rules text that explain how authors view the way their games are meant to be played.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A strong self publishing culture</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A movement away from "Good GMing" towards "Suitable GMing" - not every game or group should be run in the same way.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Considerations on the immediacy of consequences and player choices.</li> </ul>The important thing is to not to get lost in the theory and realizing that practical application of play techniques and processes is what matters.</blockquote>

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