Stop Reading, Start Playing

Today's Short Thoughts on Gaming..

Way too many gamers are hung up on rules. When folks start nitpicking into rules all the time my patience wears thin.

Roleplaying games are, obviously, games. Games need rules, sure, but rules aren't everything. Games need goals, they need context, and they need challenges. I've learned, after settling comfortably into my favorite rulesets, that the real excitement lies beyond just rules.

Lately, what genuinely draws me in is crafting the world itself, the setting. For me, it's become far more rewarding to dive into the rich details of the setting, figuring out how to make it immersive and compelling. That's the stuff that gets my creative juices flowing.

But there's more. Clear goals and interesting challenges make the game truly engaging. Recently, I've been having a blast setting up scenarios, giving players clear objectives, and then peppering their paths with obstacles and conflicts. Watching them navigate through these scenarios and overcome challenges is incredibly satisfying as a GM.

Here's my advice: shift your focus. Forget the rulebooks for a minute and start imagining the gameplay experience first. Picture your world, your perfect world, vividly. Consider what overall goals players might pursue and the kinds of hurdles they'll need to clear along the way. Only after you've figured all that out should you worry about finding the right set of rules to support it. Trust me, your games will be better for it.