Recent content by Theory of Games

Excellent!

I never mentioned people having to change their playstyle for someone else. My comment focused on players being tolerant of different playstyles. Also when I mention playstyle it comes from the 7-8 ttrpg playstyles identified by WotC and explained by Robin D. Laws.

"Spotlight time" works fine in tabletop rpgs as long as (1) "spotlight time" is a thing the group wants to do, and (2) the GM and the players are working together to accomplish it. It takes group communication, like most things. Points-wise, I can't imagine why Batman wouldn't have as many as...

Yeah I love how with the Rules Cyclopedia you can play with or without the optional rules for balancing combat. Having the option is great design.

Well I mean "keep your head down" is a trad lifestyle for low-level mages when combat starts. I've been in games where the low-level PC was the session hero. The odd superhero rpg is the one that doesn't handle differing power levels well. Maybe GURPS Supers because the system is trying to be...

Again I can't think of a popular tabletop rpg that makes it difficult for characters of differing power levels to engage in combat. Most of them accommodate varied levels. Take D&D: since the earliest of days there's been situations where a party levels together (somewhat) then one of the...

I wasn't arguing anything. I'm asking questions in order to gain a better understanding. And I would never dismiss AW's rules from a design viewpoint. It's an innovative game. My issue is the sex moves are tasteless and shouldn't be in such a creative system at all.

When it comes to prep normally it's better to have too much than too little. And GMs tend to be very creative people so they will always be working on something (adventure design, campaign design, character design, rule design, yadayadayada). Writers are the same way: they keep a pad or an app...

Hmmmmmm. Are they for sexual activity?

Such a great old game! I haven't played it in a very long time but I found some of what you're looking for: https://forum.rpg.net/index.php?threads/lets-talk-about-fgus-bushido-errata-house-rules-etc.806132/

Most tabletop RPGs allow for this. It just takes a group agreement that the powerful characters won't step on the little folks. I really can't think of a system that doesn't embrace characters of different power levels.

Which leads to my next question: How does one know outside of subjective "feelings" that an aspect of an rpg deserves criticism? Like, if I don't like that Apocalypse World doesn't have rules for underwater knife fights, I can be critical of that but does the game really need rules for...

Hey! I get to toot the horn again: Different players can have different playstyles. Some people like combat. Some like social interaction. Some like puzzles. Some like saving bystanders from danger. Some just like hanging out with friends. So many flame wars and BS arguments originate with...

The survey is system-agnostic but records complaints people have with certain systems? Makes no sense. It's collecting complaints for the sake of collecting complaints. You definitely cannot design or critique rpgs with the information because there's no clear designation of anything. Other than...

Have you ever used evil or neutral characters? Not very liberal IMO. That and all the human, demihuman and monster cultures the PCs run into can be very anti-liberal. Guess it depends on the setting, right?