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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Golroc" data-source="post: 9103357" data-attributes="member: 7042497">I'm somewhat baffled at the focus on systems and philosophies, and whether one or the other is or is not good at this or that. I've always found the main determining factors for how good of an experience a role-playing session is are the people involved. Their chemistry, their skills, their expectations, their effort, etc. Some people will be able to leverage a certain system and/or philosophy - some will be hindered.I know it might seem overly relativist - even nihilistic - to simply dismiss the importance of systems and philosophies, in the manner I'm doing. But I actually think the people involved are so much more important. Even something as banal as enthusiasm for a certain system can matter tremendously. Does this means system is irrelevant? No, because learning more about out what systems match what people under what circumstances has great value. But normative judgements on the merits of specific system or approach fall very short, I think.To me, a conflict related to player agency is a conflict primarily related to the people involved and their expectations and interactions. Solving such a conflict is a social challenge, not a challenge of philosophy or game systems. Being aware and informed about the potential reasons for a conflict are important, so I'm not saying discussing what player agency is, is irrelevant. But I am saying that the knowledge gained is merely a tool to be used when resolving a likely mostly social and interpersonal challenge.</blockquote>

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