The games we play

[morsla]

I've been thinking about roleplaying games, and why I play them - partly motivated by a post sylver_spiders made a few weeks ago. I think the vast majority of you lot play games of one sort or another, and I'm always intrigued by the different things people get out of them.

I really enjoy the social aspect of gaming. It's a good excuse to get together with friends on a regular basis, be creative, and eat loads of food. The creative aspect is the biggest attraction though - there are other reasons to gather friends and cook vast quantities of food, but games get people bouncing ideas around and creating stories.

Second on the list, then, is the telling of stories. Last week, aeliel and I wrapped up the third act of an Exalted game that we've been running since early last year. Along the way we saw heroes rise out of warring city-states as conflict reshaped the world. Gods meddled and clashed, alliances were forged and betrayed until the original champions passed into the legends of future generations. Only a small part of the story came from the original structure, where we gave agendas and personalities to the gods, rulers and heroes of the setting. The real story happened once we turned that over to the rest of the group, and then ran along to keep up. Whether I'm running or playing in a game, I like exploring the background that other people use to breathe life into their characters.

I've begun to appreciate a well-crafted game, too - particularly as mousebane and bishi_wannabe have introduced new titles over the years. There's something satisfying about watching as a game deftly shapes a particular type of story "out of the box," without needing to add half a dozen rules to get the desired effect. I'm talking about the steadily rising tension that Dread brings to a survival horror game, Prime Time's screenplay-style scene framing, or the violent struggles for redemption that make Dust Devils so good at handling Westerns. Most of my favourite games don't have a whole lot of rules, but those rules are simple and elegant.

Last on the list would be tactical and strategic play - manoeuvring and problem solving. I love this stuff, but it's not the main reason I play these games. Miniatures games like Warmachine let me deal with tactical problems to my heart's content, so that I can spend roleplaying sessions immersing myself in the characters, the setting, and the company of the fine folks sitting around the table. And enjoying the food, of course :) I'd be a shadow of my current self if miss_rynn and umbra_mentis decided to stop baking things to bring along on Wednesday nights...

Comments

[hespa.livejournal.com]

Rats, why do I read these things right when I want to go to bed?

Note to self: come back to this post and post something actually relevant! 'Cos this is a topic close to my heart at the moment...

[morsla.livejournal.com]

Please do :)

Penny for yer thoughts?

[umbra-mentis.livejournal.com]

I'll admit to loving the social aspect - I think it gives you a chance that you don't get outside of RP to see the most creative side of people as well as giving you an insight into their inner landscapes. I feel I know the people I RP with to a much greater degree than I do other friends simply because you're sharing a collective world and idea. While the game is an important reason for me to be there I'd definitely have to say it's the connecting with people that keeps me going more than anything else.

Plus there are nachos :)

[morsla.livejournal.com]

That's true - while lots of other situations can bring those people together, you interact on several different levels in a roleplaying environment. Seeing the end product of that creativity is one thing, but being part of the creative process is something else - it's more of a candid glimpse at what's happening behind the scenes.

I really like making nachos, too :) I think I'll treat them as an endless work-in-progress, always needing some sort of tinkering for next time. I still don't think I've managed to get them right, so clearly I need more practice.