Player vs. player - or "The golden rule of roleplaying"

In our last game, the issue of player vs. player action came up. More specifically, one player said that his character did a mind control on another players character. This wasn't appreciated by the other player, who was open with it, so the first player changed his course of action.

The incident, however, got me thinking (and spurred some discussions on the groups Wave about the game). Several solutions were presented, like making that particular character immune to Domination etc, however, I think that those kinds of things should be settled outside of the game.

Now, the easy way is to say that "no player vs. player actions whatsoever". I think, however, that there is a deeper lesson to be learned. First of all, I'd like to separate character vs. character from player vs. player. Instead of making the situation a contest that one of the players win, make it a collaborative effort. First suggest (humbly) something along the lines of "It would fit the story and my character, and is a part of his downwards journey, if he tried to Dominate you in this particular situation. Would that be ok with you, and how would you like to play this out?" If, and only if, the second player agrees, the scene can be played out. The rules can still be used to decide if the power works, but the two players work together to make the scene interesting. This way, even though the character looses control, the player doesn't.

You can then add in a "give-and-take" approach, like the player running the controlled character can say something like "yes, you control my character for a little while, but in the process, he get's an insight into your mind, learning something from you", or something along those lines. But remember, this is an example of what can be done in addition to the above collaborative work.

The important part is that both players enjoy the situation and finds it interesting. In Swedish traffic law, there is the basic rule that basically states that "All drivers should at all times do as mush as possible to avoid accidents". That is the most important law, and all other laws are specifications and concrete rules about how to uphold/ fulfill that first law. That way of thinking could be applied to roleplaying games as well, written something like this:

"All players should at all times work towards making the game as 

enjoyable as possible for all participants"

That, my dear friends, is what I would call the "Golden Rule of Roleplaying"

Cabincon 2010

So, this weekend was time for the annual (and second) little retreat with our gaming group. We went out to a cabin, next to lake Vänern, the largest lake in Sweden. The idea is to play some games full time for a weekend, and to try out at least something new. The games this year was a DnD3.5-game (the demonweb pits), a Star Wars Saga-game, where we played separatists running from the newly formed Empire, and finally a game of Legends of Anglerre. This last game was the game most new to all of us.

A longer review will follow, but the weekend all in all was a blast, we had a very good time, and we enjoyed the games. I myself has been talking about trying out a fate game for some time, and I wasn't let down by the game as such, and the rest of the guys seemed to enjoy it as well. So, in one shape or another, we will try it out again.

So, what's next.. well, currently we are doing a Reign-game that will last a couple of months more. After that, there's talks about either Mouse Guard or Starblazers. Reviews will follow.

When it comes to new games, the ones that I'm closest to buying right now are Dresden Files and Smallville. There are other games out there that has my interest, but those two are the main ones. If you also include supplements, Greg Stolze just released the Progenitor-book, which seems very interesting, and this weekends game made me more determined to get the Legends of Anglerre companion. Propably as a PDF, but it may come as a print copy as well. With that said, the iPad has lessened my need for printed books slightly. They do look nice in the book-shelf though :-)

For my own projects. There are a few, including some ideas for a book, the writing on my games continues, and I also have some ideas about a longer article concerning relational maps. Consider it a continuation of my articles about Mapping out an adventure (part 2, part 3, part 4)

Can RPG's be used for all genres?

Lately, one question has been nagging me more and more. What if not all genres are suitable for RPG's?

So far in life, I've been more or less convinced that most genres could be simulated in a roleplaying game, given a decent rules-set, good gm-ing and well written adventures. Now, I'm not that certain anymore...

For instance, the occasions where I really feel that I'm in an action packed session.. well, they are few and far between. Same thing goes for when I'm playing super hero games (which, admittedly, was a while ago). I don't have the same impact, the same geist as when I read the comics or watch the movies. Mind you, I'm not saying it's bad, just not the same.

So... maybe... When I run or play a roleplaying game.. maybe I shouldn't try to emulate genres from other media, but rather from rpg's themselves. Maybe the game in itself is unique enough! I don't need my super hero rpg be like the comics or the movies. Instead, the rules and the form gives other aspects, other experiences that are enjoyable. To find these, perhaps, I shouldn't look at other media, but instead look more closely at what I enjoy to play in a roleplaying game.

What a novel idea! ;-)

Damn Green Ronin!!!

For those of you that read my previous post, I just decided on this years gaming budget. My thinking was that "well, there's nothing more intereting on the horizon anyway".

The following day, Green Ronin dropped this bomb, revealing that they have a license to produce a DC Heroes RPG.

There goes my budget...

My gaming-budget this year

Darn... it's only May (and beginning of May at that), but it seems my gaming purchases for this year are already planned. It has been an interesting year so far, and there are a number of games that will get my hard earned money (and some already has).


Games and game-books already purchased are

• Wild Talents 2nd edition + Wild Talents Essential Edition
• the Day after Ragnarok
• Reign Enchiridion
• add to that a small number of PDF's to the Gumshoe-system and savage worlds (mostly)

In addition to that

• I've preordered Icons! (the new super-hero game by Steve Kenson)
• I will preorder the Dresden Files
• Purchase Legends of Anglerre as soon as possible.

It seems like my new systems of choice are the ORE-system and various Fate-incarnations. So far, I consider them elegant, nice and modern systems that are open to swift and easy playing, without to much preparation time, at the same time as they cover a lot of ground/ areas.