[geeks] D&D 4e is here

[Nadine Miller]

On Jun 9, 2008, at 2:30 PM, jodys at helluin.org wrote:

> On Mon, Jun 09, 2008 at 11:57:39AM -0700, Nadine Miller wrote:
>> Couldn't agree more.  Having spent a large part of my game convention
>> time wading through people who confuse role-playing with pushing
>> miniatures around on a map ala "D&D", I'll stick to the margins with
>> games strongly oriented towards role-play like Eden's stuff (e.g.
>> Witchcraft, etc.), GOO's Tekumel: Empire of the Petal Throne, a  
>> little
>> known space opera-ish thing, and Warhammer (1e, preferrably, but I'll
>> play 2e with the right house rules).
>
> I've never been a convention gamer, so I probably have a different
> perspective. I've played some rules-light games that bog down in rules
> lawyering, DM fiat, and general unpleasantness. I've also played
> extremely fun games of Rifts, with no power-gaming, rules-lawyering,
> etc.
>
> I can't really think of a game that encourages role playing, per se.
> That, I think, is still firmly in the hands of the person running
> the game and everyone else at the table.
>
> D&D gets a bad rap because it is the popular and there are still a
> fair share of people who just want to move a little avatar around
> the table and smash orcs to pieces.


Rules lawyers are a PITA regardless of the game systems; that's why  
I'm very careful about committing to a campaign unless I know the  
people I'm gaming with.  I have less trouble with this at cons--you're  
committing to maybe 6-8 hours at worst (though I have walked out on  
one game which was a complete CF, but that's another story).

I'd have to disagree with the comment about systems encouraging RP or  
not.  But your "bad rap" comment is right on.  I just don't feel like  
wading through the rabble to get to the good stuff.  Kind of like  
using Solaris vs. Linux, or Macs vs. Windows.  Clearly other people at  
cons feel the same way, IME, as the "interesting" folks end up running  
into each other multiple times in the other less "mainstream" RPG  
sessions.  Things like Pumpkin Town, Hong Kong Action Theatre, HKAT +  
All Flesh Must Be Eaten mash-up (all PCs killed in the first 10 min.  
of the game), Unknown Armies, etc. have all been very memorable gaming  
sessions for me, even though I didn't know any of the folks I played  
with in most cases.

As an example, I went to an RPG meet-up in the DC area.  We went  
around intro'ing ourselves and what sort of games were were interested  
in.  It was ridiculously obvious by the time it was my turn to intro  
that I shouldn't have bothered attending.  In spite of folks' MU  
profiles, everyone in attendance was clearly a hard-core D&D player.   
I mentioned several systems I was interested in and the type of play I  
preferred; the blatant looks that suggested I'd grown a 3rd head  
confirmed my suspicions.

I've not played in a F2F setting for several years due to the dearth  
of people interested in something other than D&D.  All my recent games  
are run in IRC.

=Nadine=