Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

All RPGs, to a first approximation, are fantasies of agency. That is: your character can make a difference.

(If your character can't make a difference, it really isn't much fun.)

The strangest thing I see in today's young roleplayers is how they stick to a single system -- D&D 5e -- obsessively. Different systems are good at different aspects of storytelling, and the occasional attempts at universally-applicable rules (GURPS, I'm looking at you) tend to be mediocre at everything. A really good GM can overcome this, but you shouldn't need to depend on having a really good GM in order to have a successful game.

On the other hand, every lesson learned from this article is applicable across games and genres and media types.




For sure! System definitely matters, running tactical combat in PbtA won't work, just like trying to shoehorn relationships and inner turmoil into 5e.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: