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Pen and Paper Roleplaying Games (RPGs) Discussion / Grim and Dark Hilarity
« on: August 24, 2016, 02:34:38 PM »
I read the 'Symbaroum' (in English) and enjoyed the atmosphere and art.
If I were to play it, I would probably still joke around a lot. I think the fun of hanging out with your friends and making jokes shouldn't be seen as an interference with atmosphere, but as a way of establishing contrast with the more somber moments of game play. Gaming sessions in my group will often go like that, we act crazy most of the time, then something appropriately dramatic happens and things get intense.
When a die roll decides everything, when the stakes suddenly rise, when Hit Points are low, that's when the suspense happens and the mood is set. In a heartbeat the tone changes and everyone is 100% engaged. All the craziness, the off-game banter let us blow off steam, and that allows us to focus that much better when the shit hits the fan.
That being said of course you've still got some groups who will be more inclined to silliness than others. If I wanted to play a really intense, no-nonsense scenario I would explain to my group "This is how it's going to go down" and play for a limited time, rather than run a long campaign. I think too much intensity and mood setting often goes against the intended purpose and crosses over into making people jaded and more likely to get explosively silly at inappropriate times.
If I were to play it, I would probably still joke around a lot. I think the fun of hanging out with your friends and making jokes shouldn't be seen as an interference with atmosphere, but as a way of establishing contrast with the more somber moments of game play. Gaming sessions in my group will often go like that, we act crazy most of the time, then something appropriately dramatic happens and things get intense.
When a die roll decides everything, when the stakes suddenly rise, when Hit Points are low, that's when the suspense happens and the mood is set. In a heartbeat the tone changes and everyone is 100% engaged. All the craziness, the off-game banter let us blow off steam, and that allows us to focus that much better when the shit hits the fan.
That being said of course you've still got some groups who will be more inclined to silliness than others. If I wanted to play a really intense, no-nonsense scenario I would explain to my group "This is how it's going to go down" and play for a limited time, rather than run a long campaign. I think too much intensity and mood setting often goes against the intended purpose and crosses over into making people jaded and more likely to get explosively silly at inappropriate times.
