Anyone familiar with Atomic Sock Monkey's Prose Descriptive Quality system? I am planning on running a pick up game at my local gaming store using PDQ/Questers of the Middle Realms. I will be using Hollows Last Hope/Crown of the Kobold King.
Monkey, Ninja, Pirate, Robot?
Dead Inside?
Truth & Justice?
The Zorcerer of Zo?
Anyone? (listening to crickets)
PDQ#?
Swashbucklers of the 7 Skies?
Still nothing?
Hey, watch your PDQ's!
Wow. That is old school.
I have not had a chance to play JotSS. I have run one session of Truth & Justice which is the super hero version of PDQ. I would like to run some more games of PDQ, but I am not sure I could convince my current group to give it a try.
I am thinking of offering to run it next time someone does not show up and we decide to cancel. I think I could run a game, spur of the moment like that. Character generation should be pretty easy.
The only one of those I've heard discussed is Truth & Justice. It definitely didn't sound like my cup of tea, but the review I heard was mostly positive.
It definitely didn't sound like my cup of tea...
It certainly slaughters a host of sacred cows.
My impression was that it barely qualifies as a game (by my definition of "game"). I can't comment on what sacred cows it slaughters, since I haven't played it.
My impression was that it barely qualifies as a game (by my definition of "game"). I can't comment on what sacred cows it slaughters, since I haven't played it.
Interesting. Do you consider Tic Tac Toe a game?
My impression was that it barely qualifies as a game (by my definition of "game"). I can't comment on what sacred cows it slaughters, since I haven't played it.Interesting. Do you consider Tic Tac Toe a game?
Barely, in the sense that between two halfway-decent players the outcome is pre-ordained. I'm not sure what that has to do with Truth & Justice, though.
Maybe I'm misremembering how Truth & Justice works, but it seemed more like "guidelines for telling an interesting story", known by some as "magical tea party". It's entirely possible I'm completely mistaken, of course.
Barely, in the sense that between two halfway-decent players the outcome is pre-ordained. I'm not sure what that has to do with Truth & Justice, though.
I suspected it was the overall simplicity of Truth & Justice that caused you to label it not a game. Tic Tac Toe was the first, simple 'game' that came to my mind, so I was using it to try and get an idea where you were coming from. Fail
Maybe I'm misremembering how Truth & Justice works, but it seemed more like "guidelines for telling an interesting story", known by some as "magical tea party".
How is any role playing game different? Are they not all guidelines for telling interesting stories?
Some guidelines are viewed as parachute sized Muumuu's... others are viewed as tight fitting strait-jackets.
Maybe I'm misremembering how Truth & Justice works, but it seemed more like "guidelines for telling an interesting story", known by some as "magical tea party".How is any role playing game different? Are they not all guidelines for telling interesting stories?
Well, using D&D rules one could easily end up with a not-particularly-interesting story (e.g. "a group of young adventurers sets out to seek their fortune and they are eaten by wolves within the first ten minutes" -- although some people might find that to be a refreshing change of pace!).
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So...telling non-interesting stories qualifies a system as a 'game'?
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So...telling non-interesting stories qualifies a system as a 'game'?
No, your question was "Are they [e.g. RPGs] not all guidelines for telling interesting stories?" not "How is D&D a game whereas Truth & Justice isn't a game?", so I answered the question you asked.
If it helps, here's how I feel on the issue:
- "I'm going to tell a story" = not a game
- "Let's make up a story together using certain restrictions" = barely a game
- "Let's play 5 games of Scrabble and join them together using a framing story" = definitely a game
Sorry to take your thread off-topic, sir...
Sorry to take your thread off-topic, sir...
Oh, no worries. Sorry I was so obtuse.
Even when I played D&D, it fell more into your second point there than your third. I guess a lot of the confusion here is player style vs. system encouraged style.
PDQ, which Truth & Justice is based on, is very narrative driven. There are still numbers, dice and task resolution. It just is not concerned with a five foot step and how much more damage a long sword should do compared to a dagger.
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Just downloaded it and it looks very interesting to me. I can easily use it to run a game, especially a quick pick up game.
As far as what is a game, I honestly do not consider any RPG to be a real game, as I, personally, define it. RPGs are social entertainment. There is no winner or looser, no rules for who wins and when.
As far as RPG systems go, to me, the system is completely irrelevant. I can tell a good story and have a good game based upon any rule set. I do find rulesets that are rules heavy (any d20 system since 3rd edition among others) to be the most difficult to run. I believe in a very few simple rules and allowing the GM to adjudicate situations based upon the needs of the group and story. Rulesets like d20 can ALMOST be run by computer and could do away with the GM altogether. In fact, it can ALMOST do without the player as well! lol
So systems like this PDQ are VERY promising to me. Once again the GM and players become relevant to the game.
I can easily use it to run a game, especially a quick pick up game.
That is one of the appeals to me. I think any of the PDQ offerings would make a great introductory RPG. I have only run one session, so I wonder how sustainable it would be.
I think it also makes a great travel game. You could write up a character on the back of a business card and carry a couple d6's with you.