OMFG! RC D&D is a storygame!

J Arcane · January 15, 2008, 02:39:50 PM

So we found a copy of RC D&D amongst my buddies stuff the other day, and I figured I'd give it a read. Imagine my horror when there, on the opening pages for all the world to see, lies the following text:

QuoteWhen you play the D&D game, one player will become the Dungeon Master (also known as the DM or referee). He or shee will create the world and setting in which the adventures will be taking place and will create a variety of characters to populate the world. The DM will also develop situations taking place in that world and will then run adventures--acting as the main narrator of the stories in which the other players' characters will participate.

The other players will create characters--the heroes of the DM's story.

SHOCK! HORROR! Clearly this "Aaron Allston" is nothing more than stealth Swine(tm), a pretender to the throne of true D&D, perverting it's true glory for his own vile storygaming ends.

And Dirk Remmecke, shame on you for having been involved in such an evil and pretentious product as RC D&D. For that, you must take twenty "Hail Gygax"s and return on the morrow with all proper penitence.

Pierce Inverarity · January 15, 2008, 02:44:47 PM

5/10.

Seanchai · January 15, 2008, 02:56:35 PM

Quote from: Pierce Inverarity5/10.

Yeah. Really, I don't think the love of the Cyclopedia comes from any non-story aspect, but rather it's lack of rules. It's D&D, but doesn't have minutae out the wazee.

Seanchai

J Arcane · January 16, 2008, 01:03:37 PM

You people are no damn fun anymore.

DeadUematsu · January 16, 2008, 04:24:41 PM

Actually, RC D&D has some aspects of a story game but they're the playable ones (i.e., a clear structure of progression and an end game)

James McMurray · January 16, 2008, 04:31:40 PM

Quote from: J ArcaneYou people are no damn fun anymore.

I'm sorry. We grew as people, but we grew apart. It's not you, it's me. I hope we can still be friends?

RPGPundit · January 16, 2008, 08:51:47 PM

If anything, that's not a storygame, its a throwaway line alluding to story-based gaming; ie. the gaming philosophy of White Wolf's games.
They are in fact almost diametrical opposites.

RPGPundit

Kyle Aaron · January 17, 2008, 12:05:50 AM

I thought a "story-game" was where everyone gets to contribute to the "story." Whereas,

"The DM [is] acting as the main narrator of the stories in which the other players' characters will participate."

is more like "railroading" than "story-game". The PCs don't get to "make" the story, they just get to "participate" in it.

Tim · January 17, 2008, 01:25:34 AM

Quote from: RPGPunditIf anything, that's not a storygame, its a throwaway line alluding to story-based gaming; ie. the gaming philosophy of White Wolf's games. They are in fact almost diametrical opposites.

Why do you describe it as a 'throwaway' line?

It's clearly stated that the players are participating in the GMs game and then the same notion is immediately repeated even more explicitly (and, in my opinion, stomach-churningly) as "The other players will create characters--the heroes of the DM's story."

Sounds as if they meant what they said and said what they meant, to me. That attitude was certainly common enough in the D&D community at the time.

J Arcane · January 17, 2008, 01:34:14 AM

I would also point to the section on character background as a particularly awful bit of gameplay advice. That whole bit about basically bending over for the dickhead DM who's trying to write your entire backstory for you just so he can railroad you straight into a prescripted plot event was pure and utter refuse.

So it's not limited to just one "throwaway" line, though as the book is mostly just a massive rules dumping ground, it's still blissfully sparse.

Kyle Aaron · January 17, 2008, 02:30:58 AM

So, more encouragement of railroading, then.

Which is not "story-games" as I understand them. But that commie mutant traitor AndyK needs to come in and tell us, really.

Koltar · January 17, 2008, 02:37:22 AM

How many years ago was that published??

That just reads like the typical "explaining-this-shit-to-the-beginners" sort of introductory text that a LOT of games do.

Nothing to see here ...move along now ...nice car acccident at the next intersection for viewing....

- Ed C.

J Arcane · January 17, 2008, 02:42:33 AM

Quote from: Kyle AaronSo, more encouragement of railroading, then.

Which is not "story-games" as I understand them. But that commie mutant traitor AndyK needs to come in and tell us, really.

I will concede that "Swine game" or somesuch is probably more accurate local nomenclature, both because it's probably true, and because I'd rather not invoke the SG wave again, as the last one took months to clean up.

droog · January 17, 2008, 05:28:43 AM

Heh heh heh....

Kyle Aaron · January 17, 2008, 07:12:19 AM

Quote from: J ArcaneI will concede that "Swine game" or somesuch is probably more accurate local nomenclature, both because it's probably true, and because I'd rather not invoke the SG wave again, as the last one took months to clean up.

But... the text of RC quoted so far isn't about "story-gaming" at all, it's just plain old GM railroading.

I'm just not feeling the great and shocking revelation.