The difference between novels and RPGs

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

This occurred to me on another thread:

Novels are often about a world-changing event. RPGs are often about preventing a world-changing event. Discuss.

The idea is that in a novel, it is often about something really significant. This is often the case also in RPGs. However, if you want to continue after the event, a world-changing one presents a lot of problems for a RPG, so if you do one, it normally ends the campaign.

Cheers!

The novelist doesn't have to take into account how changing the world will affect the "players". He already knows, since the "players" are characters in his novel.

World-shattering events are, IMO, bad enough. Comic book companies have run into the same problem countless times. Fans tell them "they want something new" but everything new gets shot down because the fans are actually conservative in how much change they want to see.

Worse, however, are world-shattering events when you have Chosen of Mystra to save the world, rather than the heroes.

 

[Truth Seeker]

Well, to add to the theme of WORLD CHANGING events...a sidetrack piece. Rakshasa 67 at the Wotc forum, ran this number;Turning Anauroch desert into a sea, which includes a modified map of the area *well, heavy colored * And he has added what changes has occured also. Check it out.

 

[swrushing]

This occurred to me on another thread:

Novels are often about a world-changing event. RPGs are often about preventing a world-changing event. Discuss.

The idea is that in a novel, it is often about something really significant. This is often the case also in RPGs. However, if you want to continue after the event, a world-changing one presents a lot of problems for a RPG, so if you do one, it normally ends the campaign.

Cheers!

Actually i think most are about BOTH. a significant change occurs, which spurs people to action to prevent a bigger change. sauron rises and his army is one the move and the heroes spend lots of time trying to stop him by doing that whole ring thingy et al.