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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Barastrondo" data-source="post: 5683501" data-attributes="member: 3820">Potentially. But then again, Game of Thrones is a fairly deconstructive take on the heroic epic. Twisting around expectations people have of doorstopper fantasy epics, backing them up with reasons that are familiar to us as modern readers -- it does these things. It could be done pretty badly to be sure, but it could also be done pretty straight-faced with a like-minded group (assuming nobody at the table considers sword and sorcery a sacred and inviolate institution, f'rinstance). In some ways I saw similar things happen with Mage: the Ascension. The default game has similar themes of corruptive civilization and seeking a purer, older, more spiritual way, but there were always fans who asked "Wait, the 'bad guys' in this game are the ones promoting globalized communication and penicillin?" Deconstruction of the Technocracy/Traditions conflict quickly followed, symbols were rearranged, and equally impressive chronicles came about.RPGs can be used to explore scholarly questions, but the interesting bit is that they frequently come about due not to a lofty intention ahead of time, but due to actions in the game. A game that never intended to explore the question of liberty vs. security might find itself hip-deep in the question after the players kill a bunch of slavers and free some slaves, just because somebody asks "Okay, what comes next for these people?" -- and the group genuinely is interested in the answer.</blockquote>

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