Play the Game

We discussed how game rules change the nature of the game, and the implication that some rules are better for simulating certain types of play and game experiences. As a result, there are arguably rules that are objectively better for role playing games and others that are better for narrative interactive storytelling, or for boardgames. Some rules flat out fit the mechanics of certain universes better than others.

We also discussed how it’s a fair cop that Traveller players spend a lot of time trying to perfect the system instead of playing the game (though the utter mess the system has become tends to lead you down that path.

There’s even a lot of discussion on how necessary 1:1 time is for RPGs, when the real point, as someone who came into this hobby via Avalon Hill wargames (the very first one I owned was Starship Troopers) is that you absolutely need to keep track of time - something that D&D, especially in the WOTC iterations, completely lost the ball on - but how you choose to do it is based on the kind of game you want to play, and in turn affects the game you end up playing in ways expected and unexpected.

In the end, they are all games. Some are objectively better than others overall. Some of those are better in terms of how they lend themselves to the experience you have as the player.

In the end, if you’re a game player, pick your rules and play.

While we’re at it - this one is worth listening to.

While you’re at it:

If you like good books, the guys at Pilum Press have a discord server. Drop in, and if you haven’t yet, pick up a copy of everything they have at their website.

If you’re more into games, check out the Autarch Discord server as well. There you will find discussions on ACKs, Ascendant, and a number of other non-Autarch RPGs and games like Traveller and D&D.