atanakar
Hero
From were I'm sitting, after reading countless forums threads over the years, I see three axis that form the role playing experience.
The A-B axis (story) which opposes the traditional adventure VS sandboxing.
The M-N axis (gm style) that opposes improvisation VS director.
The Y-Z axis (player type) which opposes the spectator players VS co-creator players.
Each RPG group is located at a different coordinate inside this 3D model. The location is determined by the social contract passed between the participants at the beginning of the campaign.
The beauty of it, is that a DM might have different approaches with several groups - inducing a different coordinate in the model. The same thing applies to players. In one group a player may want to be a spectator-player and in the other part of the co-creators.
There is also a fourth dimension, which may or may not influence how you play and perceive RPGs. I call it the «social media twilight zone». In this dimension we meet the Old School Gate Keepers and the Narrativist Proselytes who duke it constantly. Each claiming their way is the best way.
Anyone who been around long enough knows that a bad gaming experience can and WILL happen regardless of which system you play. I’ve seen horrible things happen in both types games. Why? Because a RPG session is a human experience first and foremost.
There are myriads of possible coordinates in the RPG universe. Find what suits you in the «now», and have fun. Your tastes may vary with time or with different groups. If you are not having fun, try something else. No gaming is better than bad gaming.
____
Maybe this is not new, maybe someone already wrote an article about this. I don't know. All I know is that no model last more than 5 minutes.
Hope it helps a few people to put some perpective, zoom out of the intense discussions, to take a breather and look at things from afar.
The A-B axis (story) which opposes the traditional adventure VS sandboxing.
The M-N axis (gm style) that opposes improvisation VS director.
The Y-Z axis (player type) which opposes the spectator players VS co-creator players.
Each RPG group is located at a different coordinate inside this 3D model. The location is determined by the social contract passed between the participants at the beginning of the campaign.
The beauty of it, is that a DM might have different approaches with several groups - inducing a different coordinate in the model. The same thing applies to players. In one group a player may want to be a spectator-player and in the other part of the co-creators.
There is also a fourth dimension, which may or may not influence how you play and perceive RPGs. I call it the «social media twilight zone». In this dimension we meet the Old School Gate Keepers and the Narrativist Proselytes who duke it constantly. Each claiming their way is the best way.
Anyone who been around long enough knows that a bad gaming experience can and WILL happen regardless of which system you play. I’ve seen horrible things happen in both types games. Why? Because a RPG session is a human experience first and foremost.
There are myriads of possible coordinates in the RPG universe. Find what suits you in the «now», and have fun. Your tastes may vary with time or with different groups. If you are not having fun, try something else. No gaming is better than bad gaming.
____
Maybe this is not new, maybe someone already wrote an article about this. I don't know. All I know is that no model last more than 5 minutes.
Hope it helps a few people to put some perpective, zoom out of the intense discussions, to take a breather and look at things from afar.
