The Six Cultures of Gaming

[nevin]

I thought folks might be interested in this well-written article explaining a taxonomy for different kinds of RPG play both contemporaneous and historically. I found it fascinating, even if I might quibble with a detail or two, and realize that most players probably straddle these different categories, it is useful lens, I think - a point of self-reflection on what a person wants/expects from a game.

Six Cultures of Play

A blog about roleplaying games and theory focused on Mythras, Dungeons and Dragons, and OSR games.

retiredadventurer.blogspot.com

I never visited this site before. Just happened on a link to it, but the writer's style is up my alley, clear but rigorous. Will definitely check out more.

Interesting read, think I fit the OSR in his groups but ironically it's the way I've been playing since 1ed.

 

[Arilyn]

People already form cliques. We do it so easily. Just divide up a random group of people into red and blue, and competition and group allegiance form really fast. So yes, there is danger that players might say
"I'm a Nordic Larper and sneer at your Trad game," but it could equally help a player think, "Ah, the disconnect I'm having is I'm bringing my OSR expectations into this Story Now game, so I should readjust." Probably not think exactly that, but it gets the idea across.

And most players do play in a variety of ways, but analysis can maybe help broaden horizons?

 

[el-remmen]

"I'm a Nordic Larper and sneer at your Trad game," but it could equally help a player think, "Ah, the disconnect I'm having is I'm bringing my OSR expectations into this Story Now game, so I should readjust." Probably not think exactly that, but it gets the idea across.

Yes! Looking back at my history playing RPG with different people and groups, I wonder if having clearer language (even if it isn't perfect) to discuss expectations of play style/culture and figure out if we could find a way to move forward or just play different games, or go our separate ways would have helped navigate those interactions.

 

[loverdrive]

People already form cliques. We do it so easily. Just divide up a random group of people into red and blue, and competition and group allegiance form really fast. So yes, there is danger that players might say
"I'm a Nordic Larper and sneer at your Trad game," but it could equally help a player think, "Ah, the disconnect I'm having is I'm bringing my OSR expectations into this Story Now game, so I should readjust." Probably not think exactly that, but it gets the idea across.

And most players do play in a variety of ways, but analysis can maybe help broaden horizons?

Maybe. But I still think that it'd be better if we stopped pretending that all of these approaches can be put it one category.

I mean, there is no overlap between OSR and narrativist games. Best practices are incompatible, mistakes are different and advice that one may give or receive can be good or absolutely terrible depending on who is asking.

In Russian-speaking TTRPG world, OSR gang is sitting in their own cute little camp and everyone understands that when unless we specifically talk about OSR, there's no need to bring up that "neutral referee" or "player advocating for their characters" stuff.

 

[Umbran]

We can work on cleaning up misconceptions once groundwork has been laid.

"We" don't have to clean up discussions gone wrong.

This isn't an admonishment to not do it - it is a reminder of what one should keep in mind while you do it.

 

[MichaelSomething]

Would labeling the cultures classes be better? That means you can multi class!

 

[Campbell]

I think culture works fine, but scene also works and have used it in the past. Indie scene, OSR scene, etc.

 

[hawkeyefan]

Would labeling the cultures classes be better? That means you can multi class!

Yeah, but then you have to like split your XP up by the number of classes that.......oh wait, now I get it!

 

[Maxperson]

People already form cliques. We do it so easily. Just divide up a random group of people into red and blue, and competition and group allegiance form really fast. So yes, there is danger that players might say
"I'm a Nordic Larper and sneer at your Trad game," but it could equally help a player think, "Ah, the disconnect I'm having is I'm bringing my OSR expectations into this Story Now game, so I should readjust." Probably not think exactly that, but it gets the idea across.

And most players do play in a variety of ways, but analysis can maybe help broaden horizons?

I fall into 3 of those categories to some degree. I find it hard to sneer at any of them when I'm in 60%

 

[Fenris-77]

Would labeling the cultures classes be better? That means you can multi class!

Or lineages! Or ... meh, this ran out of steam being funny quicker than I expected.