The Food Analogy

[Reynard]

To be constructive in a way I think fits your ask, what about if the analogy was instead of a meal but a Cold Stone Creamery-like premium build-your-ice-cream shop.

The Barista prepares all of the options available/the GM puts together an adventure. And the Customers over the summer determine what they are going to get each time, with what topping and mix-in, cones, waffles or cups which then needs to be skillfully mixed and topped by the Barista/the Players decide what to do and the GM weaves a session from their actions over the course of an adventure.

I mention "over the summer" because a flaw in the ice-cream analogy for a single visit would be all of ice creams not tasted. While we all know that just because something is prepped doesn't mean it'll be used, but hopefully more of it is used then not.

Actually, now that I said that, just adding a time element to the original analogy might make it better. A whole adventure isn't a single encounter/meal, it's multiple entrees, appetizers, desserts and sides. So if each scene/challenge in an RPG is equivalent to one of those, and the chef over time is adjusting menus based on what their family likes, that I think would strengthen it.

That makes sense, although it is definitely more granular than I would bother going with. The thing about analogies is that they don't usually benefit from overthinking (because all analogies break down). You end up talking yourself out of the analogy, which seems counterproductive.

 

[Reynard]

To be constructive in a way I think fits your ask, what about if the analogy was instead of a meal but a Cold Stone Creamery-like premium build-your-ice-cream shop.

The Barista prepares all of the options available/the GM puts together an adventure. And the Customers over the summer determine what they are going to get each time, with what topping and mix-in, cones, waffles or cups which then needs to be skillfully mixed and topped by the Barista/the Players decide what to do and the GM weaves a session from their actions over the course of an adventure.

I mention "over the summer" because a flaw in the ice-cream analogy for a single visit would be all of ice creams not tasted. While we all know that just because something is prepped doesn't mean it'll be used, but hopefully more of it is used then not.

Actually, now that I said that, just adding a time element to the original analogy might make it better. A whole adventure isn't a single encounter/meal, it's multiple entrees, appetizers, desserts and sides. So if each scene/challenge in an RPG is equivalent to one of those, and the chef over time is adjusting menus based on what their family likes, that I think would strengthen it.

I forgot to say: I do like the ice creme parlor analogy, especially for something like a player driven sandbox. That is, there are lots of options and any given player is likely to find something they want, but the group is still going to have to try stuff only a flavor or two at a time. Maybe they make a big shared sundae every time they sit down? Is that torturing the analogy too much?

 

[RenleyRenfield]

I have to disagree. Because "preparation" in this case is "the primary making of the meal", and in an RPG that can't be anything but actual play -- where it all comes together. GM prep is more like shopping for ingredients and meal planning. It's getting everything you need for that, but it is not that.

I am gonna back this statement up here. I think @Blue is correct.

When I GM, and I am being treated like "the chef" I am not having fun. Because it means players "made me cook and serve it all up" They then pushed buttons, ate the plot and contributed nothing but consume and review.

BUT... when I am with 'the kitchen crew' and we are all cooking - I am having soooooo much fun! Sure, I stocked the fridge with the game system, and I prepped the ingredients with a plot of sorts. But they RUN with it, they MAKE it into something special and I am just playing, at most, head chef, keeping ideas flowing, keeping burners on, pots full of pressure and so on.

I think the food analogy of @Reynard works, but it works better if we are all the kitchen (and if we are making a podcast, then the viewers are the customers eating our food).

I like game where a bunch of the night the players or the dice added net-new ideas to the game, and added plots where none were before. I am not talking about that one oddball player who always wants to run off and do side stuff, I mean genuine "oh, I thought we were gonna just bargain for better domains, but now we are plotting to overthrow the Prince now, and you are making bargains that are really dangerous but...ok let's see where this goes!"

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

So many Play-to-find-out RPGs, such as all of the various PbtA and FitD ones, show that this is incorrect.

Here I must admit total unfamiliarity: I have 0 exposure to “play-to-find-out” RPGs, so no knowledge of their mechanics.

Sorry, I was calling out the logical fallacy of circular reasoning.

An analogy is defined as being a comparison of two otherwise unlike things based on resemblance of a particular aspect. IOW, it can be more or less “accurate” or “suitable”; it cannot be “correct”. No circular reasoning exists.

To be constructive in a way I think fits your ask, what about if the analogy was instead of a meal but a Cold Stone Creamery-like premium build-your-ice-cream shop.

Which is still a food analogy.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

When I GM, and I am being treated like "the chef" I am not having fun.

That’s not a universal POV, though. Based on physique alone, most would (accurately) assume I like eating food. But I love cooking food almost as much as eating it.

…Oddly, this echoes my perspective as a GM. Which explains why I have several unused campaigns planned for different systems, just as I do for PCs.

 

[bsss]

GMing IS, in fact, a lot like cooking -- and that means GMs range from "toss it in the microwave" to "Michelin Star Chef" in the effort they put in and skill they show. Preparing some games is more like making classic breakfast -- simple but when done right, oh so satisfying -- while others are like quality BBQ -- lots of work and it takes real time, but the results are stupendous -- and yet others have evoke complex recipes with exotic ingredients.

Players, too, fit easily into the food analogy. Some have dietary restrictions. Others are willing to try anything. Some bring their own salt shaker to the table, while others critique every bite.

My take is that everyone's a chef and we're all agreeing on how to collaborate on a series of meals. But since everyone has the same objective, just different tools, and what a meal is differs (a combat today, a social scene tomorrow, a whole dungeon next week), it doesn't come out as a very useful analogy.

I also agree with others that I do not think of players as mere consumers. Everyone contributes and everyone feasts on the collaboration.

 

[Jacob Lewis]

I think I know this one...:

• Fighters are the red meats, Paladins are the white meats. Barbarians are meats charred over an open flame.
• Clerics are potatoes, Druids are vegetables.
• Rangers are fish, Monks are all other seafood.
• Wizards are lasagna, Sorcerers are pasta. Warlocks are pizza.
• Rogues are cheeses, condiments, and dressings (they get into everything).
• Bards are asparagus.

 

[Reynard]

My take is that everyone's a chef and we're all agreeing on how to collaborate on a series of meals. But since everyone has the same objective, just different tools, and what a meal is differs (a combat today, a social scene tomorrow, a whole dungeon next week), it doesn't come out as a very useful analogy.

I also agree with others that I do not think of players as mere consumers. Everyone contributes and everyone feasts on the collaboration.

I don't really buy that, based on many years of experience with many people. Sure, sometimes it is fully collaborative, but I think that is very much the exception. Most players (again, IME) are not passive, per se, but they definitely eat the meal more than they prepare it. And that's not a bad thing. Too many chefs spoil the soup, and all that.

 

[RenleyRenfield]

That’s not a universal POV, though. Based on physique alone, most would (accurately) assume I like eating food. But I love cooking food almost as much as eating it.

…Oddly, this echoes my perspective as a GM. Which explains why I have several unused campaigns planned for different systems, just as I do for PCs.

I loooove food. I love eating food. Food is life. I love cooking food for others. I even butcher and process my own meat, make my own brats... yumm!!

But my perspective, hence why it is all phrased " I " ... is for me, not for anyone else. And I can say for me, that the most fun I have, is when players are 'cooking'.

Especially with cat grease.

For me... Best moments at a table are when the players are gaming and roleplaying and an hour goes by and they are having blast and I get to just enjoy the spectacle. (maybe chip in a little here and there, time to time).