Official ICE Forums
Gamer's Corner => General Discussion => Topic started by: Colin-ICE on May 14, 2015, 12:31:55 PM
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I've played with all different kinds of players over the years and wondered what people enjoyed most about playing tabletop roleplaying games and what kept them coming back to the hobby?
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I think you need to allow more than one response per vote, since there are at least two reasons in there that keep me coming back to RPGs. I like the creative aspect, which is likely why I GM far more than I actually play (about 90% GM, 10% player). The problem-solving aspect is also great fun, but at the heart of it I'm more of an "immersion" player. Nothing gets me out of a game faster than a poorly-constructed setting or thin character system.
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It's an excuse to get together with like minded friends and blow stuff up with out the trouble that comes with using actual explosives.
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I would have to say that I enjoy 5 out of the 7 options above.
MDC
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I voted with the people. A good gaming group can make all the system, setting, and mathematical foibles seem fun no matter what. In my experience a lot of folk have returned to tabletop gaming from video games for just this kind of environment.
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Other: Unbridling my and my friends' imaginations. This is the game I dreamt of before I even knew it existed. Anything you can conceive you can act out.
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I chose other because it is a bit of all of them, though also what Alten sayed; it is about imagination.
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Erm... Voted "Other" because...
I enjoy creating adventure stories with my friends through the medium of a game. That means I like creating characters and then doing stuff with them, using the rules as a vehicle for the action.
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I voted other because some of the options are true for me, and some others were not there.
I GM because I love making up the stories, NPCs and then seeing them interact with the PCs. I enjoy the collaborative story telling that takes place when you describe a situation, and the characters react to it in the most unexpected way, then I have to somehow describe what happens next.
Also, it is a great excuse to spend time with friends.
On the rare occasions I get to play as a PC, I enjoy creating the character, watch it evolve, and also the puzzle solving.
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In all fairness people, he did ask what is the BEST thing.
Really, unless you can enjoy your RPG's just as much without a live group, I suspect the root of the answer really is the social aspect of the group...
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I really love character creation and world building. So much as to often roll up the odd character that comes to mind. I love making whole words from scratch and find it to be an excellent creative outlet. Since I was little, running my first games with rmc, I always made homebrewed worlds with custom maps and unique plot lines...some better than others. Though I did recently -the last two years or so- play in the shades of darkness setting, it still ended up heavily altered. Some of my favorite games are the first session where we talk about character ideas!
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As a sidenote: For MMORPGs there is a character theory chart like explained in the Bartle Test (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartle_Test) article on Wikipedia. Some of it might also be applicable to normal RPGs, e.g. the general types of players and their typical goals.
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As far as I'm concerned, I enjoy world-building, creating characters and writing stories. As such, I don't like playing and almost only GM, enjoying having players
beta-testingproviding other opinions about my world, and making it evolve in directions I didn't predict.
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note that number crunching/math gets zero votes. We RM fans obviously do not mind it as much as some, yet we still would prefer not to.
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You know, I love creating the characters, world, story, etc... but I actually would rather play than be a GM (which is why if I win the lottery I'll become a full time RPG designer!).
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I am the opposite. I would rather GM than play most of the time.
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Bad accents, talking like a damn fool and hanging out, all while being (hopefully) a bad muther...SHUT YOUR MOUTH!
...or instead of Hero (tm), a bumbling idiot with unlucky dice/negative karma. It's gonna be your turn sometime, but that one players turn ALL the time.
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Tale telling pure and simple.
I love GMing .... really can't remember the last time I played and the ability to set a scene/plot/setting/location that has come from my head and then watch my players deal with it ,,,, and collectively tell a story in the process .... Pure GOLD!
Sadly living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as I do, doesn't really provide the best of options in terms of getting a group of gamers .... :-[
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I'm a day dreamer. I love the gaps between gaming sessions just anticpating what will come next and how my character will react and cope.
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You forgot one option:
Camaraderie and fun.
rmfr
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note that number crunching/math gets zero votes. We RM fans obviously do not mind it as much as some, yet we still would prefer not to.
This is very true.
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You forgot one option:
Camaraderie and fun.
rmfr
I think the poll is to determine where the fun comes from, so that can't be an option.
As for camaraderie, that option would be
I enjoy the real life people I play with more than the game
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I think the poll is to determine where the fun comes from, so that can't be an option.
As for camaraderie, that option would be
I enjoy the real life people I play with more than the game
Emphasis mine.
I wholeheartedly agree. Most of the time I have played FtF, only about 50% of the time is spent actually RPGing. The other half is spent in camaraderie.
I guess I should have elaborated that the "fun" part of "Camaraderie and fun" is the actual RPGing.
Perhaps a rewording: Camaraderie and RPGing.
rmfr
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I have always enjoyed becoming my character and escaping from the real world. Now where were those orcs that were in the break room! ;)
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;D ;) http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/278/whats-the-deal-with-dungeons-and-dragons (http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/278/whats-the-deal-with-dungeons-and-dragons)
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That's an interesting article. I don't know whether to laugh or be offended. (I think I will go with laugh.)
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That's an interesting article. I don't know whether to laugh or be offended. (I think I will go with laugh.)
I was offended and quit reading after about the fourth or fifth paragraph.
rmfr
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It was written in 1980, what do you expect? lol
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Yeah, geeks hadn't yet taken over the world in 1980. Now, looking at the role of computers, smartphones, and the internet in our lives, and the decline of newspapers, television, and radio, I think it's fair to say that's changed....
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Yeah, geeks hadn't yet taken over the world in 1980. Now, looking at the role of computers, smartphones, and the internet in our lives, and the decline of newspapers, television, and radio, I think it's fair to say that's changed....
And I have to agree with this assessment.
rmfr
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The geek has, indeed, inherited the Earth.
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An example of the prevalence of geek culture:
I was in a Firehouse subs (love them!) the other day, waiting on my order. They had ESPN on the telly. When ESPN (I don't remember the specific show that was on) started to go to break they put up a bunch of artist renditions of different athletes as superheroes. Then they did something I don't think I would ever have thought possible on ESPN: they went to a floor shot of Comic Con. Comic Con on ESPN. Incredible.
I think, nowadays, if you went into just about any high school in America and asked any kid there who their favorite superhero was, they would have an answer. It wouldn't matter the click; jocks, nerds, soc's, goths, any and everyone of them would likely be able to immediately tell you who's their favorite superhero. Back in my HS days, most of them would have: A) laughed at you, B) look at you like you were diseased/crazy, C) punched* you in the face, or D) All of the above, if you asked them that question. Love this time.
*And probably taken your lunch money.
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I enjoy all of the above, except the number crunching as I'm not great at math. I did Calculus and other classes in school, but only because they forced students in my group to do so. If it wasn't for my friends explaining stuff and then checking my work, I would of never passed those classes.
I love the character creation. Designing a character to exploit my GM's world and then realizing it in game. I love fighting the monsters and such. But it is more fun to see how my group works to overcome the new situations my GM throws at us.
Initially I got into D&D and it and it's groups were fine. But a friend introduced me to RM and every time I am stuck playing D&D again it is like being handcuffed to a bad system. Even though they do a great job marketing it to the masses.
I had no idea what I would love about RP groups when I started, but I ended up friends with most of my group for over 20 years. Through that group I also learned about Everquest when it first came out and got to enjoy playing MMO's with the same guys I played tabletop with. Over that time we got to hand down these games to our children and spouses.
So all of it is great, and loved by me. Except the number crunching. But fortunately my son is fantastic at math and handles the quick calculating for the entire group. But in the end the big surprising love for me was the friendships, that lasted much longer than I could of ever hoped for. And our group has people of several different races, and the professions run from Doctor, IT professionals to unemployed.
In hind sight RP games were one of the best things I ever got into.
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In hind sight RP games were one of the best things I ever got into.
Absolutely, and whole-heartedly agree.
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I tend to GM, just love worldbuilding and NPC/adventure design. Its also about the group: after a hiatus of 15 years, we've been playing via Skype (from 5 different locations across Australia and NZ) for about 15 months now and having a whale of a time.
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I cannot agree more. When I found D&D years ago I was just of of Navy boot camp. We found that playing was a great way to spend time underway. Each one of us brought a book and we all had paper and pen. Long days of patrol was livened up by a 2 times week game.
The only time I did not play was during the two years I devoted to getting my PhD. Even then i went to a local convention when it ran.
When I first marriage disintegrated I went to the local convention about 3 months later and told a friend of mine I was in love...love at first sight. Well that person is now my wife and we have 4 kids, all of whom play some sort of game. My eldest actually judged a game at the Jr Con setting at the last convention at the ripe old age of 11.
So you could say that gaming has been VERY good to me.
-BP
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I cannot agree more. When I found D&D years ago I was just of of Navy boot camp. We found that playing was a great way to spend time underway. Each one of us brought a book and we all had paper and pen. Long days of patrol was livened up by a 2 times week game.
While in the Marine Corps I remember playing on some ships. I think one time it was in the laundry room? Or near there. Fun times.
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I was on several Submarines. We set up in Sonar Axillary Space. Nice and out of the way. But I am sure the voice calling out "Troll!" might have put off some of the folks. A lot of the crew played some form of RPG.
-BP
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I enjoy the story telling part. Which is why I like to GM 99% of the time. Probably equal to that is getting together and hanging out with friends and like minded people and having a good time.
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I enjoy the story telling part. Which is why I like to GM 99% of the time. Probably equal to that is getting together and hanging out with friends and like minded people and having a good time.
Most of my players love the story I weave. They feel they are helping write the story. This is why I GM more than play a character. But when I get to play a character most folks tell me I totally get into it.
-BP
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Hmm.. all options in someway..
20 Years as gamemaster and 20 years of Rolemaster behind of me, and still going on! :)
I have about 70 books for Rolemaster and still trying to find some what i dont have yet..
This is best way to take some distance for real life..
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Welcome to the forums Belgerond. Been RPGing since 1978 myself. Been playing RM, MERP, and HARP since 1984!
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Welcome to the forums Belgerond. Been RPGing since 1978 myself. Been playing RM, MERP, and HARP since 1984!
Thanks! I didnt even know at Rolemaster is still alive. I thought at we are oldschool..
I just find this forum and i was trully supraised in positive way! Here is lot of talking about beta testing new Rolemaster.. Can you tell me is there a new Rm edition in production?
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Yes.
There are multiple boards for the RM Beta2 product. You can download the current revision (not final yet) for free, playtest it and give us your feedback.
There are going to be 4 books:
* Arms and Character Law
* Creature Law
* Spell Law
* Treasure Law
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Thom,
Wher are the free RM Beta downloads? I would like to try them out. :)
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They are linked in the sticky posts at the top of each of the beta2 boards, e.g. http://www.ironcrown.com/ICEforums/index.php?topic=15947.0 (http://www.ironcrown.com/ICEforums/index.php?topic=15947.0)
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Thanks jdale.