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Author Topic: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion  (Read 3320 times)

RoseHeart

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #30 on: February 16, 2022, 12:55:40 pm »

Quote from: roseheart
I am [not a great forum game host], but I am better than I was last year, and the year before that.

For the record, I think I am a very good host, even if not one of the 'greats' yet. Especially for the category of variety.



I think I've hosted more successful sessions and proceedurals than just about...anyone; in entirely different genres of game mechanics. Plus all the experiments the ones that maybe didn't finish, but many of them were still liked and I hear brought up. SquadCraft by crazyabe. ZL by those players. I like to Kitbash, I like to create, I like to do a little of both.
« Last Edit: February 16, 2022, 01:18:00 pm by roseheart »
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NUKE9.13

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #31 on: February 16, 2022, 01:12:31 pm »

Quote from: roseheart
I am [not a great forum game host], but I am better than I was last year, and the year before that.

For the record, I think I am a very good host, even if not one of the 'greats' yet. Especially for the category of variety.
...I don't think I edited that quote deceptively. The full text of that paragraph:
Quote
I read your Cthuluian SG Nuke, I never looked down on you. And paper, I'm using systems you created in one of my current games, I respect you guys as game designers, even though you make it so clear, even without the talk of monetization or donations, you think I am a trash forum game host. And you know what? I am, but I am better than I was last year, and the year before that. And I bet you wern't born at your current level. Which makes it really surprising you then turn around and constantly peg my hosting abilities every time you can, I'm surprised it didn't happen here.
I guess technically you confessed to being a "trash forum game host", not a "not great forum game host", but to my mind neither has the meaning of "very good forum game host".

I mean, to be clear- I don't think I ever accused you of being a trash forum game host, or really made any attempt to insult you about your game-hosting ability*. And even if I had, that isn't relevant to the point of the post I made- I was just using the quote as a jumping off point for a productive discussion.

*I mean, I tend not to enjoy the sort of games you run, but that doesn't mean you're a bad host- different strokes for different folks.
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RoseHeart

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #32 on: February 16, 2022, 01:21:47 pm »

how does one improve at running forum games?

Well if you specialize, you will advance faster. In comparison to you and Paper, I am trash at Arms Races and to some degree, longrunning narratives.
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NUKE9.13

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #33 on: February 16, 2022, 01:34:35 pm »

how does one improve at running forum games?

Well if you specialize, you will advance faster. In comparison to you and Paper, I am trash at Arms Races and to some degree, longrunning narratives.
Hmm. I mean, I've run all of two Arms Races. MoP has run many, true, but even his first was pretty darn good (it had a shaky start, admittedly). I think there's more transference of skill between genres than you're suggesting.
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RoseHeart

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #34 on: February 16, 2022, 02:41:37 pm »

I think there's more transference of skill between genres than you're suggesting.

Oh absolutely. Also I am not being very fair on myself, since I've never tried to host an arms race. ;)

That transfer of skills, and bringing unique solutions to complacent problems is a large part of why I am a "generalist-specialist". It's fun. And a bit adventurous.
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Chevaleresse

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #35 on: February 16, 2022, 08:05:56 pm »

That's. . . a very disingenuous way to approach that discussion, and kind of defeats the point of self-depreciating.
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Iris

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #36 on: February 16, 2022, 08:39:57 pm »

Roseheart, I think I'm confused. What point are you trying to make, exactly?
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EuchreJack

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #37 on: February 16, 2022, 08:43:34 pm »

At this point, I think Roseheart would just like us to join a forum game without destroying it...

IamanElfCollaborator

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #38 on: February 16, 2022, 09:03:35 pm »

The honest question to ask is, how he has so many forum games left ruined, when he's spent maybe a fraction of the time some of us have with far less ruined games in our wake, with his approach that seemingly works until it doesn't. I'm not trying to be insulting, but it seems rather disingenuous to simultaneously claim you're a jack of all trades and claim you're also a specialist while also claiming you're not that great.

As for transferrence of skills, I agree with NUKE here, to a large extent you need some level of writing skill, showmanship, willingness to adapt to what your players want, and willingness to understand when an experiment has gone horrifically wrong. Or hilariously, in which case run with it and see where it leads you.
« Last Edit: February 16, 2022, 09:05:13 pm by IamanElfCollaborator »
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Man of Paper

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #39 on: February 16, 2022, 09:07:26 pm »

Roseheart wants to simultaneously have everyone bask in his glorious skills as a general specialist team strategist and all around swell fella while also being lauded as the underdog.

You’ll notice that they have only ever taken things out of context to cherry-pick the discussion they want to have while remaining tangential at best to the original point, unless it’s about paying them for their really demanding efforts running forum games that the players tend to regulate themselves in. It’s the only time he actually focuses on a point. Otherwise it’s just twisting everything anyone says to make himself look like a reasonable dude who is the victim of hardcore internet bullying.

The point I think roseheart has been making without realizing it is he’s full of himself and thinks he’s better than the rest of us because of his ability to solve complacency problems or whatever the hell he was going on about. That specifically baked my beans, because he acts like the games he’s done aren’t just the barest reskins of games he and others have done before. Meanwhile “specialists” like me who apparently have the creative depth of an apple pie and actually regularly change or introduce mechanics to solve actual issues in the genre they prefer must be lesser than he. There’s also the silly assumption he made that we “specialists” haven’t played or run other styles of games before, because the only time any of us exist is when roseheart blesses us with his attention.


EDIT: And let me make this abundantly clear. I do not think simple games or reskinned games are bad. What I have a problem with is acting like the type of game you run makes you somehow superior in some way, and acting as though there’s regular crazy groundbreaking changes brought on by them specifically when they’re not any different from any of the rest of us schleps.
« Last Edit: February 16, 2022, 09:22:09 pm by Man of Paper »
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NUKE9.13

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #40 on: February 16, 2022, 10:54:39 pm »

To stay on topic, it occurs to me that there is a trick that will definitely make anyone a better forum game host, one which I know not everyone knows (slash realises the importance of); bullshitting. By which I mean, the ability to act like you have a plan. If someone asks you a question about your game, you never say "I don't know". Even if you don't have an answer already, make one up. Worst case scenario, you have to walk it back later ("On reflection, I have decided to modify this mechanic"), but that's better than letting players know you aren't fully in control.
This is easier than it sounds. Players will fill in the blanks by themselves a lot of the time. You just need a convincing framework that implies there is a fully realised game underneath.

To be clear to anyone participating in my games, I'm offering this as advice to others, I would never employ it myself. Trust me.
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EuchreJack

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #41 on: February 17, 2022, 11:41:46 am »

Suggestion: Everyone stop talking about Roseheart.  >:(
Personal attacks are against the forum rules, and we're veering dangerously close.

Back on topic, endurance and timing are vital components to running a forum game.  Knowing when to post, when to let the players play among themselves, and when to bring them back on topic.  Forum games aren't a sprint, they're a marathon.

Man of Paper

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #42 on: February 17, 2022, 11:49:45 am »

What is it with people in these threads going “hey how about we move the convo away from (x) immediately after someone tries to do exactly that?
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TamerVirus

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #43 on: February 17, 2022, 11:54:50 am »

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RoseHeart

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Re: Forum Games & Roleplaying General Discussion
« Reply #44 on: February 18, 2022, 12:00:26 am »

The honest question to ask is, how he has so many forum games left ruined
I've only abandoned 1 game in the past 2 years, having hosted more than 15 in that time.

The game I abandoned was Tropeman, because it became violent, and I had to stop and reflect on what boundaries I needed to set for player actions, and what I felt comfortable with. It was a learning experience Hoss.

By in-large, the ones who talk shit about about me aren't the ones playing my games. Just other, judgemental hosts trading gossip like Pokemon cards for a pathetic sense of self assurance.

Perhaps, a rumor that initially started when I did fail, fall, falter and it made someone feel good, because until that moment they saw something, and they felt threatened by me.

"What a relief!"

I've been doing fine, since I stopped being homeless!
« Last Edit: February 18, 2022, 01:20:09 pm by roseheart »
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