Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Campbell" data-source="post: 7384773" data-attributes="member: 16586">Here's what I find entirely frustrating about this conversation: I cannot speak to how  [MENTION=23751]Maxperson[/MENTION] runs his game or  [MENTION=29398]Lanefan[/MENTION] runs his game unless they clearly speak to the principles that determine how they frame situation. I get that you guys identify with the orthodoxy, but that profession does not seem to line up with any particular text. There has also been indications at least from  [MENTION=23751]Maxperson[/MENTION] that seem to run counter to orthodox play. Also the reluctance to address the actual social environment that exists at the table is something I find vexing. No matter how much we choose to ignore them the very real social pressures that exist at our tables inform and influence the way we play these games. We see this in the way  [MENTION=29398]Lanefan[/MENTION] has indicated more goal focused players have been pressured to abandon those goals in games he has played in and run. How am I suppose to address my criticism when my criticism of the orthodox play culture is met by those who pledge fealty to the orthodox culture, but are not part of it as I understand it and have experienced it respond with not in my game?The other frustrating thing for me is the continued insistence that matters of technique, principles, and play environment should not matter to players in the face of continued criticism of alternative play techniques, principles, and social expectations that divert from mainstream thought. I see only an insistence that no meaningful expectations should be brought to play.I will take this moment to explain why this stuff matters to me: as far as I am concerned what is theoretically permitted at the table does not matter. What matters to me is what each participant is socially free to do, what behaviors they are socially rewarded for, what we are socially free to object to, and how we are expected to respond to one another. It does not matter if I can theoretically declare an action if no one else will accept it. It does not matter if there is freedom of action if the social expectation is that we should be following the GM's adventure to the T. It does not matter to me if a player can declare a bunch of stuff about their character if no one else cares and the GM is socially free to treat a player character character as if they landed from an alien spacecraft in all the ways that matter.For the type of play that I like the most what I want is a sense of vigorous collaboration. I want everyone to bring something to the table and for us to find out together what everything really means. It's important to me that we all play with integrity and passion because the moment demands we do so.  The most fundamental requirement is that we are all fans of each others' characters and that our focus is on them. Nothing is more crucial. I don't care about individual creativity. I care about shared creativity. The interesting part is when we get to mess with each other's stuff.</blockquote>

Verification