Quote from: flyingmice;974667I am old. I find it hard to believe anyone would watch that shit EVEN WHEN I KNOW IT FOR A FACT. My mind does not want that to be true of the world.

Pretty much my feeling. My kids like to watch videos of people opening blind bags of toys. I'm like, what about seeing someone else experience that is interesting? I could see the joy in watching a friend open a birthday present you gave her, but watching a total stranger open a package of a toy they aren't even going to play with (they all seem to be adult collectors)? I wish my wife had never shown them the first one.

I needed something to listen to at my last job.  Long.  And lots of it.  I listened to a bunch of critical roll.  Maybe 50 episodes.  

I really like their charcter back stories and intros.  Or I like how each character has a strong sense of who they are, they have some history, some reason to be adventuring and a few links to other members of the party.  

I realise this is the opposite of DCC 0 level funnel but I like how Critical role does it.  Actually I think every player should listen to the first 10 minutes or something of that show so they know what a back ground is.

Quote from: Headless;974710I needed something to listen to at my last job.  Long.  And lots of it.  I listened to a bunch of critical roll.  Maybe 50 episodes.  

I really like their character back stories and intros.  Or I like how each character has a strong sense of who they are, they have some history, some reason to be adventuring and a few links to other members of the party.  

I realize this is the opposite of DCC 0 level funnel but I like how Critical role does it.  Actually I think every player should listen to the first 10 minutes or something of that show so they know what a back ground is.

Okay, this makes me curious. Maybe I'll check them out.

Quote from: Headless;974710I needed something to listen to at my last job.  Long.  And lots of it.  I listened to a bunch of critical roll.  Maybe 50 episodes.  

I really like their charcter back stories and intros.  Or I like how each character has a strong sense of who they are, they have some history, some reason to be adventuring and a few links to other members of the party.  

I realise this is the opposite of DCC 0 level funnel but I like how Critical role does it.  Actually I think every player should listen to the first 10 minutes or something of that show so they know what a back ground is.

I disagree. I like the 0 level funnel from DCC or how HackMaster, Aces & Eights, and Palladium do it: random.

I enjoyed the first arc of the audio podcast The Adventure Zone, but mainly for the goofy voices and joking around of the participants. I also liked the earnestly game dad playing D&D for the first time with his adult sons. The game itself seemed authentic but in the GM-scripted tradition of play. I eventually switched to other stuff for my commute but I could see going back.

Quote from: Ulairi;974577When I say rules over story what I mean is result of play over "story" and by that I mean: the players making decisions and how their decisions impact the game via the rules. Like what Skarg mentioned above if a player says: I go up to the guard and try to flirt with him to let us into the castle.... is much more interesting to me (and the results determined within the rules of the game/world) than hearing some community college drama major prattle on.

Both bore me to fuckin tears. I only watch/listen to actual plays to get a sense of how a game plays.

I love that people are streaming games (and talking about/reviewing/etc). I can't for the life of me understand why this could ever be a bad thing. You don' like? Don't watch!

given the prevalence of shitlord bollocks that seems to pervade Youtube, I'd much rather watch a haphazard game of DnD hosted by jobbing actors or former porn stars.

That's what makes Youtube so good (apart from the shitlord bollocks).

It's interesting to see how games play as well. See how people handle the system - or see just how other gamers roleplay.

Hmm, I haven't done this yet, perhaps I should. I occasionally watch video game play-throughs of games I remember but never got around to, and now no longer have the patience to grind out (a lot of 8-bit and 16-bit games I missed fill here). Also I could watch Street Fighter games endlessly as a spectator. And I do visit my friends when they are playing a tabletop RPG even though I am not a player in the game (I have my reasons); I find listening in live and bantering part of the fun.

Yet would I like it if I didn't know the people and couldn't banter with them live? I don't know. I do know that I'd find the descriptive part and player in-character interaction probably the best part.

I know I could really care less about listening to half-assed, fumble-bum tactics described in strict game terms. That sounds about as boring to me as listening to someone rattle off the audio play-by-play of Speed Chess matches. If I wanted watch strategy and tactics there's better games for me to do that, (video games nowadays do have cpu v. cpu, and PvP online recording). It's been ages since I've seen a tabletop party organize into an efficient tactical machine, let alone one also with interesting cinematics that could hold my interests for an hour on end.

As for learning how a system plays... Eh, I'd rather read it, read reviews & forum advice on it, and or just fumble along with a test RAW play, rather than hear about it in soulless mechanistic terms.

Quote from: Biscuitician;974772I love that people are streaming games (and talking about/reviewing/etc). I can't for the life of me understand why this could ever be a bad thing. You don' like? Don't watch!

Yeah, I think it's a good thing too. But I don't really watch them because I don't think games are all that interesting for the most part. Where youtube does shine for me is game reviews. I watch them all the time. But people who review games tend to take it more seriously.

If poker can become a spectator sport, then I suppose anything is possible.

Personally, I can listen to a condensed AP on a podcast, but it's much harder to pull off on video.  But I do think short demos for any type of game can be worthwhile.

Quote from: Voros;974748Both bore me to fuckin tears. I only watch/listen to actual plays to get a sense of how a game plays.

I don't think you watching my group play would interest you. Watching yours wouldn't interest me. I don't think even watching gives me a sense on how the game plays because, at least from what I saw from CR, they really aren't running the rules as written. It's more about being dramatic or comedic on camera.

Quote from: gwb79;974852If poker can become a spectator sport, then I suppose anything is possible.

Personally, I can listen to a condensed AP on a podcast, but it's much harder to pull off on video.  But I do think short demos for any type of game can be worthwhile.

I know in the late 90's early 2000' poker became a big fad and being on TV but is suffered from a lot of the same issues. The straight poker stuff I'm sure has some audience but it's not that large.

I can't sit through more than 60-seconds of most live-game casts. I liken it to people in gamestores or conventions telling me about their characters. I simply don't give a fuck. Mainly because I find they almost always play the kind of game in a manner I would never play or run as a GM.

The other side of it is I believe that playing an RPG isn't a spectator-sport. I don't allow people to watch my games, you're either playing or you're not there. It's distracting. I can't tell you how many times there's some new player that asks if their girlfriend/boyfriend can sit and watch and I tell them: fuck no. But they can play. Otherwise fuck no.

When I've watched some of these gamecasts, I often feel that there is an element of group-mugging for the camera, or it's just boring play - or worse: both.

Edit: I have watched some actual plays to see how a system works. I wasn't paying attention much to the game itself.

Our group also has stopped allow significant others/kids sit in and watch. More than happy to have them roll up a character and sling some dice.

Quote from: tenbones;974858The other side of it is I believe that playing an RPG isn't a spectator-sport. I don't allow people to watch my games, you're either playing or you're not there. It's distracting. I can't tell you how many times there's some new player that asks if their girlfriend/boyfriend can sit and watch and I tell them: fuck no. But they can play. Otherwise fuck no.

I can understand that, but I allow people to watch if they want.  I spent some time watching other people play in my early GM days, and it was very instructive from the perspective of, "This is how not to do it."  Though I suppose technically I wasn't so much watching the game as watching the players' social interaction centered around the game.