Skip to content

The Rhetorical Gamer

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Creations

Category: Game Design

Writing the Wrong Game

On August 24, 2020 By MichaelIn Game Design, Geek Thoughts, Writing About WritingLeave a comment

We all have that vanity project, right? The one that gathers dust on our hard-drives and old notebooks – a personal RPG that we’ll finish someday. I have one. Actually, funny story, I’ve created two vanity project RPGs in the past… but the BIG one, the one that keeps getting away… that’s still out there, …

Continue reading Writing the Wrong Game

Fantasy with Consequences

On August 5, 2020August 5, 2020 By MichaelIn Game Design, Geek ThoughtsLeave a comment

I have a problem. It’s a problem with fantasy, storytelling, and by extension, RPGs. I like consequences. This problem takes on a lot of forms. Character continuity, status quo issues, debates about agency and authority… and I’m sure more that I can’t even think of just now. But I’ve been playing some games, watching some …

Continue reading Fantasy with Consequences

Experience is the Point

On March 3, 2020March 3, 2020 By MichaelIn Game DesignLeave a comment

I saw a post the other day that mentioned a D&D game where the DM awarded experience points, not for doing stuff, but for playing in line with your alignment. It was touted as a good idea. A comment pointed out the issue that alignment is often subjective. The OP replied with, "Make it Objective." …

Continue reading Experience is the Point

Rattling Around Town

On February 21, 2020 By MichaelIn D&D, Game Design1 Comment

One of the most fascinating parts of gaming for me is the places that players call home. I'm always drawn to the cities, towns, and villages that populate our game worlds. Some of these cities are famous in their own right - just look at how Waterdeep has taken on central importance in the Forgotten …

Continue reading Rattling Around Town

Magic (is stupid)

On January 28, 2020January 28, 2020 By MichaelIn D&D, Game Design, Shadowrun, Star Wars, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Magic, in most role playing games, is stupid. I don't really know how else to put it. Magic is a very complex subject and as it tends to be a power that allows its wielders to exert control over reality; it creates significant hurdles to achieve a balance between fun and fairness, play-ability and wonder. …

Continue reading Magic (is stupid)

Player Determinism

On July 24, 2019 By MichaelIn D&D, Game Design, Star WarsLeave a comment

The phenomenon of Player Determinism is a strange one to my mind. I’ve found this post the most difficult to write of the three despite it being the one I’m most passionate about. Perhaps that is the problem after all? As with previous posts, I want to start with a general defining of my terms …

Continue reading Player Determinism

Phase Two: The Rise of DM Determinism

On July 16, 2019 By MichaelIn Conventions, D&D, Game Design, Geek Thoughts, ShadowrunLeave a comment

In my last post (sorry for the delay), I wrote about how D&D – played as intended – is a very specific kind of game. I touched on the idea that D&D expects the DM to be the ultimate, but neutral, arbiter of the game. The DM breathes life into the spaces the PCs explore …

Continue reading Phase Two: The Rise of DM Determinism

Approaching the Gaming Table

On July 1, 2019 By MichaelIn D&D, Game Design, Geek ThoughtsLeave a comment

I’ve been away from the gaming table for three months now. Even though I’ve been following the development of Shadowrun Sixth Edition and working on a few design projects, this is the first time since I was eight years old that I’ve really been an outsider to tabletop gaming. Those three months – and my …

Continue reading Approaching the Gaming Table

The End(s) of the Earth

On March 19, 2019March 19, 2019 By MichaelIn Game Design, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I can’t play the Civilization games. Call it a mental block, but when I see the different culture groups taken entirely out of context is too much to get over because those cultures wouldn’t be what they are without their historical and geographical context. Simply making the Canadians good at diplomatic endeavors is just lazy. …

Continue reading The End(s) of the Earth

Time Passing…

On March 14, 2019March 14, 2019 By MichaelIn Game Design1 Comment

I'm kinda fascinated with the subject of time in RPGs. It's a quirk of mine as a fan of the genre and a long-time GM. I'm fascinated by the way we use time in games - or ignore time in games. I've written about time in games before, but it's a topic I feel myself …

Continue reading Time Passing…

Posts navigation

Older posts

Archives

Powered by RANTS

  • Creations

Feeds

  • RSS - Posts
  • RSS - Comments

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 210 other followers

Website Powered by WordPress.com.
The Rhetorical Gamer
Website Powered by WordPress.com.
Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×