I really like having elements of Horror in any game, but it's a seasoning that I feel I can toss into whatever genre.

Quote from: Theory of Games;1087162Superheroes because the genre is all genres in one.

Post Apocalypse feels a bit that way to me as well. Rifts, Earthdawn, Gamma World, Eclipse Phase... they're all post apocalyptic and wide open to strange tangents and weird incursions. I'm less interested in the Mad Max variety, but something Fallout-flavored can go all over the place as well... "Oh look! A secret government facility that was building a stargate!"

I'd say it's a split between Fantasy and Supers, depending on what I've played recently and how burned out I am on it. When i do want to hit Supers after Fantasy, it's mainly because of Fantasy's tendency for the zero to hero, with more time spent on the zero part.

I guess if I were to pick one it would be (human-focused) swords-n-sorcery fantasy. More Leiber/Howard/Moorcock than Tolkien-style or "standard D&D setting" style.

I also like ancient/medieval historical (e.g., Marian Romans in the Pictish wilderness), or ancient/medieval pseudo-historical fantasy (Danes on an Iceland where trolls and giants and dragons are real). And I like Lovecraftian horror (e.g., Call of Cthulhu). And I like swashbuckling (e.g., Flashing Blades). And I like Tolkien-style high fantasy, although if I'm going to do that, I prefer to just use Middle Earth as the setting. And I like post apocalyptic, either in the "survival" mode (e.g., Morrow Project), or in the "gonzo" mode (e.g., Gamma World). And I like relatively modern warfare (e.g, Behind Enemy Lines).

But do you ever feel unsure what "Sword & Sorcery" is as a tabletop roleplaying game? There ARE a lot of those games, expressed in many ways. It looks crazy to write but, is there ONE FORM of D&D , or, what D&D is to the hobby? Is the genre ONE THING, or is it far more diverse --- maybe more diverse than a flurry of games can depict?

It's curious that the OSR can flourish at the same time 5E expands across venues D&D hasn't touched in nearly 40 years. Is our game evolving to be THE GAMING EXPERIENCE, or is it just good marketing? I'm a good enough chess player to understand D&D is a whole other level of game. I stopped playing video games years ago because the AI will never eclipse what we get from tabletop RPGs.

I mused, way back in 1983, that tabletop RPGs present a level of game that STANDS ALONE.

Are we there --- or are we waiting?

Science Fiction, mainly because of a long-running series of homebrew sci fi campaigns within my circle of friends from college.

1) Science Fiction (Traveller, Cepheus Engine, 2300AD)

2) Science Fantasy (d6 Star Wars)

3) Mecha and Cyberpunk (Jovian Chronicles and R Talsorian Games Mekton and Cyberpunk)

After 38 years playing D&D and other fantasy games, I'm just burned out on the fantasy genre.

1) Science Fiction (Traveller, Cepheus Engine, 2300AD)

2) Science Fantasy (d6 Star Wars)

3) Mecha and Cyberpunk (Jovian Chronicles and R Talsorian Games Mekton and Cyberpunk)

After 38 years playing D&D and other fantasy games, I'm just burned out on the fantasy genre.

Quote from: Theory of Games;1086866Favorite Tabletop Role-playing Genre? And why?

Rather than attempt some fancy pants literary explanation, I'll go with Thundarr. I dig the swords, sorcery and super-science layered onto a post-apocalyptic dystopia.

Can't pick. I like too many different generes.

Quote from: Theory of Games;1087511But do you ever feel unsure what "Sword & Sorcery" is as a tabletop roleplaying game?

That would be a good thread topic!

I find S&S very subjective.

1. Fantasy, usually the "everything including the kitchen sink" variety, and I can thank Expedition to the Barrier Peaks for that.  "You got your sci-fi chocolate in my peanut butter fantasy" not only sounds obscene but is a pretty apt description.  But I want it chunky - Spelljammer doesn't work very well for me because the sci-fi/fantasy are blended together too much - magic-powered spaceships?  Meh.  "What about Shadowrun?"  I like Shadowrun.  Tech stuff is powered by technology, magical stuff is powered by magic.

2 & 3. Tie (or very close to it, with 2 and 3 changing positions based on my mood that day) between horror and sci-fi.  I say "horror" and that pretty much exclusively means "Call of Cthulhu."

Quote from: Chainsaw;1087811Rather than attempt some fancy pants literary explanation, I'll go with Thundarr. I dig the swords, sorcery and super-science layered onto a post-apocalyptic dystopia.

Gotta love the classics. OOKLA! ARIEL! WE RIDE!!!

Quote from: Theory of Games;1086866Spill it.

Is it Sword and Sorcery? Horror? Science Fiction? Historical? Sports? Mythic? Superheroes? Military?

And why?

I'll play nearly any genre. I'm just picky about what system is used.

Probably easier to mention the ones I am not particularly fond of: steampunk, cyberpunk, very high fantasy, hard scifi, god games.

I like post-apocalyptic, pulp adventure, black powder/pirate fantasy, western, low-ish fantasy/swords & sorcery, space opera, arabian nights.

Quote from: Theory of Games;1087511But do you ever feel unsure what "Sword & Sorcery" is as a tabletop roleplaying game?

No. But I don't try to define "swords-n-sorcery" for anyone except myself. I known what I mean by it, and what I like in my game. That's enough for me.

Quote...is there ONE FORM of D&D , or, what D&D is to the hobby...

I have no idea, and to be honest, I don't really care. I know what D&D is (and isn't), and what I like. Again, that's enough for me.