Starting an RPG game doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking, but it usually is with one of the game groups I’m associated. It’s always a question of what roleplaying game do we want to play, how often are we going to play, and who is going to run the game.
We all have our preferences, with some participants being more passionate about certain options than others. There are criticisms about how certain systems run and even more criticisms when contemplating a setting. Combat takes too long with one system, but another one doesn’t seem to fit into the setting. To be clear, take a more generic rules system that seems to fit well with modern roleplaying games and try to incorporate it into a fantasy rpg setting. Some rules just do it better than others. For some reason Savage Worlds comes to mind. Before you correct me and put me in my place, I know Savage Worlds can do just fine in a fantasy setting, but it seems better to use one of the supplements to do so versus using the core rules. Again, this could be argued.
Then there’s the question regarding how long a game session should be. Should they be 12 hour marathons or short 4-6 hour sprints?
The campaign. Should it be ongoing to have no end, or should it have a start and end point even if it’s only in the GM’s head?
It’s times like these that make one want to do a survey for the group. “How would you rate your play type on a scale of 1 -5…”
We’re driven by many factors when choosing the rpg game we want to play. It can be mood. It can be that you’ve played the same rules system for 5 years and want to try something fresh and new. However, learning a new system can be fun, it can also be daunting and time consuming. “Wait a second while I look that up…….ummm….” Those pauses in game play can certainly halt game flow in its tracks.
How do you handle choosing the right rpg game?
I picked up Castles and Crusades – Players Handbook 4th printing, published by Troll Lord Games, from my friendly local game store the other day. The role-playing game has been out for some time, but I passed it over for other tabletop role-playing games. I had heard what some may call ‘old school gamers’ play the game. Old school referring to game types that are very similar to either original Dungeons and Dragons box sets, or 1st Edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons when armor class went from 10 to negative 10 and negative 10 being best, saving throws vs certain properties, and skills were only really part of the thief class.
