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Author Topic: Is the local Theory Forum for bitching and moaning?  (Read 1990 times)

J Arcane

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Is the local Theory Forum for bitching and moaning?
« Reply #45 on: February 16, 2007, 06:51:54 PM »
Quote
Outside of fora devoted to individual games, I haven't found a place better suited than theRPGsite to discussion of design and practice within or near "traditional" or "mainstream" RPG paradigms. But there are two things that keep screwing that up. One is, as Tony said, the fact that people see "Theory" and think it's a place to bring in outside grievances and bitch about the Forge. The second is that other people see "Theory" and think it's a place to continue Forge-type discussion. As I said, this makes discussion of actual craft very difficult because the foundational assumptions of "RPGs in general" are just too diverse. It's wearying to have to preface every post with a disclaimer that defines "what is an RPG for the sake of this discussion".


And this is partly why both the "design-by-post" thread ideas I've been kicking around starting have remained quarely in the "idea in my head that occasionally pops up" category  The other of course is the usual procrastination.

I want a game design forum WITHOUT the theory.  Like Art of Game Design used to be back on RPGnet long ago, but with more actual traffic and people posting to it.

So basically, the threads I've been considering have been held back because I didn't feel there was presently an appropriate place to put them.

I don't give two flaming shits about theory.  I think the entire concept of "RPG theory" itself is the most idiotic nonsense I've ever heard.  And I don't care to have to step around a bunch of pretentious bullshit just to talk about whether the probability curve of my die mechanic is going to be alright, or whether this particular skill seems to powerful, or whatever.
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James J Skach

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Is the local Theory Forum for bitching and moaning?
« Reply #46 on: February 16, 2007, 08:53:28 PM »
For me it's really a crap shoot.  Sometimes a theory issue can have a mechanical underpinning or effect.  My first thread here was about trying to pin down the mechanical impacts/issues/goals of "conflict resolution" and how it really truly differed from "task resolution." I still love that thread.

And I had a great time talking about Stances, if for no other reason than to get a glimpse into how other people approach the table.

But what I really enjoy the most are the mechanical discussions like rewards or skill/attributes or hot points or damage reduction.

At times I think theory is good for understanding how different people play.  It hasn't been very good at translating that into design theory, IMHO (as E. often points out). It's why I was interested in the Design Patterns book that we discussed here a while ago.  If something like that can be written without bias for or against a certain approach to playing, it could be a bridge to understand how certain designs facilitate or work against certain styles of play - strictly as a guideline sort of thing (as there always seem to be exceptions).
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RPGPundit

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Is the local Theory Forum for bitching and moaning?
« Reply #47 on: February 17, 2007, 01:07:41 PM »
Quote from: J Arcane
And this is partly why both the "design-by-post" thread ideas I've been kicking around starting have remained quarely in the "idea in my head that occasionally pops up" category  The other of course is the usual procrastination.

I want a game design forum WITHOUT the theory.  Like Art of Game Design used to be back on RPGnet long ago, but with more actual traffic and people posting to it.

So basically, the threads I've been considering have been held back because I didn't feel there was presently an appropriate place to put them.

I don't give two flaming shits about theory.  I think the entire concept of "RPG theory" itself is the most idiotic nonsense I've ever heard.  And I don't care to have to step around a bunch of pretentious bullshit just to talk about whether the probability curve of my die mechanic is going to be alright, or whether this particular skill seems to powerful, or whatever.


You know, it is the "game design" and "theory" forum. They don't need to be linked. You could just put a big preface at the start of your thread saying "NO THEORY, just help with mechanics".

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