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Linear vs. Gestalt vs. Emergent Play
Very interesting post from Brand. One of the reason I really like the "Gestalt" kind of game (as he defines it) is because of the players I know -- assuming you're all setting out to tell a story (granted, not always the case) -- what better way to harness the creative power of so many cool people than a game where everyone has the right and ability to influence the setting and story?
Interesting stuff.
Okay, I haven't done a lot (read: any) gaming of pretty much any kind in the last few weeks, due to a couple important writing deadlines, so instead I'll tell you what I'm pining for.
WoW. Since starting up the Blood and Thunder guild on Farstriders server with Grezzk as a way to group up all the characters being run by myself and the NYC guys, I haven't been able to do very much play, due to the deadlines I already mentioned. This means this has been the first week where Grezzk hasn't dinged at least two levels since I started playing. Ditto Kayti the paladin, who got a cool new axe that's gathering dust.
Mountain Witch. All posting for that game is on hold until I'm done, so it's languished a bit -- I'd like to wrap that game up with one or two 'normal' gaming sessions, using a text chat tool. I think that would let us wrap things up nicely.
Shadow of Yesterday: Petrana -- I see a lot of good stuff for that game, potentially. Scheduling problems keep pushing our second 'real' sessions further and further out, however.
Mortal Coil -- my brain keeps coming back to running a Mortal Coil game -- something about the dynamics of that diceless system... it just calls to me.
Primetime Adventures -- this just seems like something where, once we play it, we'll slap our foreheads and say "why did we wait so LONG?"
And for come nice old-school tactical battle crunch... I want to play some AGON.
So... there. Wistful longing for now... and gaming later! (I hope.)
Have Games Will Travel: Focuses specifically on the responsibilities of players to engage in the game and shout out when they're not having fun. Long broadcast, but good stuff.
What gets me thinking: 300 movie trailer.
What I'm thinking: AGON: Competitive Roleplaying in Ancient Greece
Inspiring: Agon: Index of Actual Play threads.
Greeks... vikings... I don't really care about the genre, but damn I'd like to play this. I mean a full-on, full-day run of tactical monster smashing.
City of Heroes Champion Server Olympics
That's just... awesome. Seriously. Would that the actual CoH devs came up with ideas this good.
Indie Press Revolution: CRN Games, maker of Shadow of Yesterday
The Durham 3 talk about Secrets in Gaming -- very specifically, in the first couple minutes they talk about secrets in Shadow of Yesterday, which makes it REALLY relevant for the players in the Petrana game. To whit: if you have a 'big secret thing' that you're character's all about, and you don't tell anyone about it, there's no way to get awarded for it by the game system, which is how 'big things my character is all about' are measured.
Just in general, though, I think it's an excellent discussion of how to HAVE secrets as character, NOT have them as players, and still ENJOYING them in the game.
Generally, as a 'nothing up my sleeve' player/GM, I like this approach a lot, I support it -- I like having that kind of open discussion and open work on character Secrets -- we're using that level of openess in The Mountain Witch, to an extent, and I think it helps everyone socket into the game. Also, discusses GM-secrets and how to approach that.
It's just a good podcast. Recommended.