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TTRPG Genres You Just Can't Get Into -and- Tell Me Why I'm Wrong About X Genre I Don't Like
- Thread starter MNblockhead
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Ruin Explorer
Legend
I think this is an interesting juxtaposition because I've seen the latter distortions cause people to have different views re: the former.
A specific example would be I have a friend who doesn't like to watch horror movies, or play horror videogames, but seems to really enjoy running certain kinds of horror adventure in RPGs - admittedly they're more towards the gothic/grandiose or "cosmic horror" end of things, and I think part of that is that the RPGs involved usually aren't built for horror (i.e. D&D or w/e) and the "distortions" as you put it give him enough distance or a different perspective so that the horror themes and elements don't stress him out in the way they do in a movie or game. Probably helps that he's the DM but he's also played CoC and stuff.
(As an aside, I'm not fully sure CoC should be counted as a "horror RPG", because mechanically it barely engages with horror at all. All the horror is in the setup/adventures/enemy choices - and often those aren't actually very horrifying for various reasons. Whereas other RPGs actually mechanically engage with horror. Also after 30+ years I'm sorry but SAN is just not a good mechanic for horror especially not one-shots. Contrast it with say, Mothership's three saves (Fear, Sanity and Body, all intentionally low), rising Stress mechanic (which rises fast enough to be relevant in a one-shot), and Panic checks, all of which do build on and engage with horror mechanically in a very effective way. A lot of the horror is still in the setup but it much more mechanically supported and driven.)
I always found this second-funniest aspect of Lovecraft, because yeah, like who cares? I get that when the other entities are malign and inimical to humanity that is actually an issue and can be legit horrifying, but several of his stories are more like "OMG we're not the main attraction!? ARGH!!!!" and it's like, why is that scary lol? I really liked the cone-people. They seemed chill!
The first-funniest is one of his stories where he was so racist he described someone as dangerous and subhuman because he was Scottish, which really just showed how truly dedicated to racism the American WASPs of the 1930s and earlier were.
That said I don't have any problem with cosmic horror so long as I'm not supposed to be horrified by that particular aspect of it, and it's not replicating xenophobia/racism. But I do note the very scariest CoC stuff I've played was all non-Mythos entities (Baba Yaga etc.).
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The Soloist
Hero
Superheroes and Lovecraftian RPGs.
Wasn't a reader of superhero comics growing up. I find some of the movies entertaining but I have no inclination of playing a superhero. My group is not into superhero either. I would play in pulp hard boil mask vigilant set in the 40s-50s like The Spirit.
I used to hate CoC viscerally but have grown tolerate it. I have to make a conscious effort when we play it with my group. I'll never love the genre. I find Vaesen far more interesting because it's rooted in folklore. Having the Great Old Ones behind everything is boring. Any setting or RPG that includes that is a no go for me. That includes 40k.
Wasn't a reader of superhero comics growing up. I find some of the movies entertaining but I have no inclination of playing a superhero. My group is not into superhero either. I would play in pulp hard boil mask vigilant set in the 40s-50s like The Spirit.
I used to hate CoC viscerally but have grown tolerate it. I have to make a conscious effort when we play it with my group. I'll never love the genre. I find Vaesen far more interesting because it's rooted in folklore. Having the Great Old Ones behind everything is boring. Any setting or RPG that includes that is a no go for me. That includes 40k.
Ruin Explorer
Legend
But 40K doesn't have that lol. I mean, plenty of reasons to dislike 40K, but seriously the Ruinous Powers are not, in fact, behind everything, indeed, that's kind of the greatest lie they (and the Imperium of Man) ever told, which is to claim that they are.
Reynard
aka Ian Eller
I always kind of Marvel at people who have never been struck with deep, existential dread when contemplating the size and age of the universe. How can you not be diminished to a whimpering mass by the endlessness of it all when you a such a finite, insignificant thing?
The Soloist
Hero
Rick Priestly, the creator of 40K sites Lovercraft as one the his inspiration. It is there. We don't have to agree.
Heilemann
Explorer
I’ve always found that it’s not the genre, it’s the group. Paranoia with the wrong group? Excruciating. With the right group, you’ll laugh until you cramp up. Some of my all time favorite games back in the day were in Paranoia, and it all came down to a group of friends who just had one another’s number.
Comedy is the hardest genre, but horror is close behind. If the group isn’t willing to buy into the genre, it’s not going to work regardless of anything else.
As with so many here, Superheroes is probably the genre I’m the least interested in; I have a hard time looking at superheroes and not seeing the dark side of unstoppable people who are somehow above the law (see also: The Boyz). I’m much more interested in something like Alteregomania (or the Powers comic) than a straight supers game; but with the right group I’ll happily do it…
Comedy is the hardest genre, but horror is close behind. If the group isn’t willing to buy into the genre, it’s not going to work regardless of anything else.
As with so many here, Superheroes is probably the genre I’m the least interested in; I have a hard time looking at superheroes and not seeing the dark side of unstoppable people who are somehow above the law (see also: The Boyz). I’m much more interested in something like Alteregomania (or the Powers comic) than a straight supers game; but with the right group I’ll happily do it…
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That’s such a great point. Our group’s been playing a lot of different games lately and we’ve taken to people just bowing out for certain games that they just know they’re not going to be into. It’s so much better than showing up and not being engaged or interested.
The Soloist
Hero
Indeed. My group wanted to play L5R. I agreed but after one session I felt constrained by the samurai code, what you can and cannot do, who you can speak to, etc. It's not something I enjoyed. I left amicably until the end of the mini-campaign.
GrimCo
Hero
Superheroes with caveat. I can do low powered street level heroes and anti heroes. I can do KickAss/The Boyz type heroes. But mainstream Marvel/DC? Nope. I don't wanna run it, don't wanna play it.
Slice of life, teen drama, romance - nope. And i genuinely like slice of life anime, but playing it, not interested. Same with drama/romance stuff, except i'm not fan of it in other media.
Who did it murder mystery - it depends to much on player skill, not character skill. Ones that move from player skill, they go to colaborative storytelling side.
Slice of life, teen drama, romance - nope. And i genuinely like slice of life anime, but playing it, not interested. Same with drama/romance stuff, except i'm not fan of it in other media.
Who did it murder mystery - it depends to much on player skill, not character skill. Ones that move from player skill, they go to colaborative storytelling side.
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