RPG Philosophy

[pyratejohn]

"That which does not kill us give us XPs." - Nietzsche

[Rocket Man]

I make this chief distinction between roleplaying and roll-playing, that the latter is founded on munchkinism, the former on knowledge.

--Baruch Spinoza, defending his highly political, low-action RPG campaign.

All men's gains are the fruit of adventuring.
--Herodotus, introducing his new dungeon.

[Mgellis]

Philosophy applied to GMs...

Cicero: It is better to be loved than feared.

Machiavelli: It is better to be feared than loved.

Kenneth Burke: It's not either-or; it's both-and.

[Rocket Man]

The things which...are esteemed as the greatest good of all...can be reduced to these three headings: to wit, Riches, Fame, and XPs. With these three, the player's mind is so engrossed that it cannot scarcely think of any other good.
--Spinoza.

[Furabo]

I must not meta-game.
Meta-gaming is the story-killer.
Meta-gaming is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my impulse to meta-game.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the impulse has gone there will be nothing.
Only character-knowledge will remain.
--the Bene Gesserit Litany Against Meta-gaming

The rules that can be spoken are not the eternal Rules.
The player that has a character is not the GM....

The GM is the origin of Heaven and Earth.
The GM is the mother of myriad things...
--The Tao te RPG

[Lord Carnifex]

Would it not be true, that if dogs and horses could game, they would create player characters in their own images? Herodotus

A spectre is haunting Europe. No really, a spectre is haunting Europe. I hope you guys rolled up a priest. Karl Marx

[teviet]

Credo in un GM crudel
--Iago