its like she waved her magic wand and somehow turned me into nothing

[enthusiastick]

A few months back I started regularly attending Story Games Boston, a weekly open gaming night run by a handful of local guys. The group meets Wednesday nights at the new and improved pandemonium_bks in Central Square. People congregate starting around 7 PM, and by 8 o'clock the introductions are generally out of the way and we get down to it. General attendance is around 8 people, and on an average night that gets broken into two groups of 4 who then go on to play some sort of one-shot story-based game. Several of the guys involved are actually local independent game developers. We play a lot of Primetime Adventures, and talk a lot about Dogs in the Vineyard and Wushu, and debate the merits of Prose Descriptive Qualities versus Cinematic Unisystems. Its pretty much geek heaven for someone like me.

It isn't going to survive in the long term, at least not in its current incarnation. The guys who started it up were interested in it as a sort of experiment, I think, and also a way to meet people. But there are limitations to the format. Being open to anyone who shows up keeps us from being able to do much of anything that can't be fit into one three to four hour gaming session. Changes are clearly on the horizon, and the group is already discussing them openly. There's been a holiday-related dip in attendance, and I think when the dust settles in 2007 things will have been shaken up somewhat. I'll continue to be involved, of course, because its right up my alley and because I really like some of the people I've met. And I hope the core of that group survives in some way or another, because I'd hate for yet another roleplaying outlet in my life to simply peter out.

Which brings us to the heart of the matter. Being involved with the Story Games group has got me thinking about the kind of games I enjoy, and about the kind of stories I want to tell. The three-man Exalted game is on an unofficial hiatus right out of the starting gate, an all too common experience with games I put together. I'm hoping I might be able to breathe some life into it in the new year, but if not I'll just pick up and try running something else. This time I'll have the tools and knowledge I've gained from Story Games at my disposal. Which is good; in addition to being full to the brim with new ideas about the stories themselves I also have some hope that character creation for whatever sort of game I run won't be quite so arduous this time around. I'm gaining new respect for diceless and low-crunch systems. I mean I always liked them in theory, but I never really knew how smoothly they could function until I saw a few in action. Now I may never roll big fistfuls of dice again, at least not in a game I'm running. We'll see.

So let's about the type of game I'd like to run. If nothing else this will benefit sleetfall, who stays with me every time a gaming project of mine fails due to interpersonal strife or neglect. I owe him a story arc that actually keeps going long enough to achieve a little momentum. I owe it to myself, too. Broadly speaking I think we can divide the styles of games that capture my imagination into three style traits. They are:

1. Epic (Explore the World). The characters in an epic game are supposed to be heroes. The game world itself is the sandbox, and the characters concentrate on going out and interacting with it. They start out small and build up to powerful, forging alliances and gaining enemies. On a long timescale they're generally expected to save or change the world, or to die in the attempt, and then the story is over. Lord of the Rings is an epic story, and as a result this is the style of play I associate with D&D. Generally when I try and run Exalted it focuses on the epic. Exalted is particularly fun to me because the sandbox is so large and diverse, and because its themes and tropes have particular appeal. But really you can run an epic game in just about any system; what's important is that the focus of the story is on the characters exploring the world around them and overcoming obstacles within it.


2. Mystic (Explore the Self). The characters in a mystic game are supposed to be seekers. Philosophy and religion are the sandbox, and the characters concentrate on discovering the nature of reality, truth and the soul. They start out everday people but generally gain access to some eldritch power, either due to an external influence or discovering something within themselves. On a long timescale they're generally expected to unlock the mysteries of the universe, engage in some conflict for control of reality itself, and then die or retire to the role of mentor for the next generation. The Matrix is a mystic story, and this is the style of play I associate with Mage: the Ascension and Mage: the Awakening. If Mage is the middle of the road, then games like Dead Inside make up one extreme and games like Nobilis make up the other. What's important is that the focus of the story is on the characters exploring the worlds within themselves and articulating what they believe.


3. Dramatic (Explore the Character). The characters in a dramatic game are supposed to be characters. Everyday life is the sandbox, and the characters concentrate on getting by, building and maintaining relationships with the people around them. They start out naive, generally immature and selfish, and then come of age as both internal and external conflicts affect their emotional landscape. On a long enough timescale they're expected to mature and learn that you're never really happy unless you're happy with yourself. Firefly is a dramatic story, and I have recently discovered that Primetime Adventures plays this style better than anything else I've encountered. This is also often the style of completely freeform RPs of the sort run online in e-mail lists, chatrooms and blog communities. What's important is that the focus of the story is on the characters interpersonal relationships, on what they feel and how they grow and change over time.

Now as I stated these styles aren't mutually exclusive. Any good roleplaying game probably contains elements of all three, but the order of their priorities is generally pretty transparent. And gaming in my experience only goes well when people know and agree on which element is primary going in. And I find it goes best when people know which element is secondary and which tertiary.

Personally I tend to oscillate between being mostly focused on epic games and mystic games, which is why I've gone back and forth between trying to run Mage and trying to run Exalted. Ultimately I long to run a long-term game with a heavily mystic focus. I have been inspired by pax_malificus's Mage game (a mystic game with a dramatic secondary focus) and, since I didn't get to see it through, will likely go on trying to imitate it until the day I die. Frankly it takes a specific sort of player to get really into that style of game, however, because it requires periods of long in-character metaphysical discussions, often in the absence of anything that could be construed as action. And that's wankery, ultimately, I admit that. But I also like it a lot.

I'm going to run a new game next year, whether or not Exalted spins up again. There are only two questions, really. Who will the players be? And what style of game do they want to play?

Comments

[euchaotic.livejournal.com]

Now normally I'm just a lurker of my friends page, admittedly as sparse as that may be, and I've made, what, like two or three really crappy posts but maybe- just maybe- I camp this page just to see when you're in the mood for gaming 'cause goddamn if I won't throw down for whatever you run.

Whether it be the infamous Vulture, or the ill-fated elf mage (of whom I don't even remember the name), I, Euchaotic, will (hopefully :P) always be considered a core gamer of yours. Even if we seemingly go months without talking. I've really gotta work on that, heh. I, therefore, proudly raise my hand and offer myself as friend, player, and guinea pig with whatever system you may choose to run.

So first question down. Secondly, I would prefer an epic game, as you describe it. Although heavily character driven, and with no mutants with plants grafted to their skin :P. You know I want to develop The Vulture, so I'll leave it at that.

With any luck I hope to have an invitation extended to me for this new gaming venture, and hope to see you soon.

[pooka-madness.livejournal.com]

Jason I'm always in the mood for gaming. I'm hopelessly addicted. Its just a matter of whether or not I'm actively pursuing it at any give moment.

I am unsurprised that you've selected epic as your preferred style. And, of course, of the three I listed I find epic games the most difficult to run. Such is life, I'll work it out.

You will, of course, be invited. And yeah, it'd be good if I heard from you at times other than when I'm dangling the possibility of gaming and/or beer in front of your face.