Worlds you wouldn't play in

Anders · 03-04-2017, 03:12 PM

I would not want to play in an extremely dystopian world, particularly if there's no possibility of making things better. So, for instance, I wouldn't want to play in Nineteen-Eighty-Four or, for that matter, Dark Heresy.

What worlds wouldn't you want to play in?

Phantasm · 03-04-2017, 04:12 PM

Ravenloft.
Worm.
Any world where "you're screwed no matter what you do, and it's only a matter of time before you fall to become the villain" is one of the main conceits.

Basically, I don't like games where "you are supposed to lose".

sir_pudding · 03-04-2017, 04:19 PM

I'm pretty open to game worlds in general, and much prefer it when the GM is either willing to do some significant worldbuilding or using a well developed published setting as opposed to just improvising based on some vague tropes.

I can only think of two kinds of game worlds that are instant hard noes for me:

Anything super incoherent and/or written by or as if by someone with schizophrenia.
Anything based entirely or extensively on puns.

Phantasm · 03-04-2017, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

I can only think of two kinds of game worlds that are instant hard noes for me:

Anything super incoherent and/or written by or as if by someone with schizophrenia.
Anything based entirely or extensively on puns.

So, no FATAL Paranoia games? :)

To be fair, I second these; they're just generally not encountered in my usual group. The one guy I gamed with who loved Paranoia tried to get us into it, but when half of us tried to play it straight instead of embracing the puns and some of the other conceits he gave up.

sir_pudding · 03-04-2017, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantasm

The one guy I gamed with who loved Paranoia tried to get us into it, but when half of us tried to play it straight instead of embracing the puns and some of the other conceits he gave up.

I love Paranoia, but I run it straight or classic or whatever style you want to call it, so puns aren't really what it is about. I was thinking more like later Xanth books.

Flyndaran · 03-04-2017, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phantasm

Ravenloft.
Worm.
Any world where "you're screwed no matter what you do, and it's only a matter of time before you fall to become the villain" is one of the main conceits.

Basically, I don't like games where "you are supposed to lose".

Life is a no-winnable game. As long as it's stated up front that it's a "crapsack" world, I'm okay. But can see how many wouldn't want to struggle against the dying of the light, so to speak.

You can "win" in Ravenloft, but the demi-plane will kick you out like a virus of good.

Irish Wolf · 03-04-2017, 09:41 PM

Paranoia is supposed to be a lighthearted take on a crapsack world. Unfortunately, some writers seem to confuse "lighthearted" with "blizzard of puns"; there is, for instance, no wordplay in the concept that R&D will send you out with equipment that is almost certainly defective so you can test it, and that the Computer will regard either refusal to test or a failed test as evidence of treason - but it's black comedy gold, as you either figure out a way to get someone else to use it or blame its failure on them (which, of course, is easier if they don't survive...)

More realistic dystopias, on the other hand, are not fun for me. I don't mind playing the protagonist in Fallout 4 (although I'd love to see a mod that lets me form the new Commonwealth Provisional Government), but I really don't want to play the protagonist in 1984 or THX-1138 where struggle against the existing order is both pointless and hopeless.

Also any campaign, in any setting, where the GMPC is overwhelmingly powerful and the PCs become meaningless in comparison. (I have a friend who loves to run D&D - but his setting always includes his former-wizard-turned-demigod who teleports PCs from place to place via Hell, even if they don't want his help, and the demigod's main ally, a 25th-level antipaladin with ultrapowerful magical swords. If the party runs into the least bit of trouble, one of them will 'port in, fix the issue trivially, sneer at the party because we're all powerless maggots in comparison, and leave. It gets discouraging.)

Flyndaran · 03-04-2017, 10:01 PM

One problem I have with every dystopian / horror movie type world I've seen is that they make humans dumber and more self destructively selfish than in reality. We're pretty dumb and self destructive, so I find it just lazy to ramp it to 11 to explain the situation.

David Johnston2 · 03-05-2017, 12:34 AM

I don't want to play in "real" history. I don't want to be involved in any historical event where I know the outcome.

I don't want to be in a funny game. I'm not funny. I simply can't hold up my end in one.

whswhs · 03-05-2017, 12:52 AM

My primary concern is that I won't play in any world that is intentionally absurdist or implausible, or that doesn't try to give me a sense of solid reality. For example, I took one look at Feng Shui and decided that I wouldn't play it for anything. I feel nearly as negative toward Castle Falkenstein.

03-04-2017, 03:12 PM	#1
Anders Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gothenburg, Sweden	Worlds you wouldn't play in I would not want to play in an extremely dystopian world, particularly if there's no possibility of making things better. So, for instance, I wouldn't want to play in Nineteen-Eighty-Four or, for that matter, Dark Heresy. What worlds wouldn't you want to play in? __________________ “When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love ...” Marcus Aurelius

03-04-2017, 04:12 PM	#2
Phantasm Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the road again...	Re: Worlds you wouldn't play in Ravenloft. Worm. Any world where "you're screwed no matter what you do, and it's only a matter of time before you fall to become the villain" is one of the main conceits. Basically, I don't like games where "you are supposed to lose". __________________ "Life ... is an Oreo cookie." - J'onn J'onzz, 1991 "But mom, I don't wanna go back in the dungeon!" The GURPS Marvel Universe Reboot Project A-G, H-R, and S-Z, and its not-a-wiki-really web adaptation. Ranoc, a Muskets-and-Magery Renaissance Fantasy Setting

03-04-2017, 04:19 PM	#3
sir_pudding Wielder of Smart Pants Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ventura CA	Re: Worlds you wouldn't play in I'm pretty open to game worlds in general, and much prefer it when the GM is either willing to do some significant worldbuilding or using a well developed published setting as opposed to just improvising based on some vague tropes. I can only think of two kinds of game worlds that are instant hard noes for me: Anything super incoherent and/or written by or as if by someone with schizophrenia. Anything based entirely or extensively on puns.

03-04-2017, 09:41 PM	#7
Irish Wolf Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Earth, mostly	Re: Worlds you wouldn't play in Paranoia is supposed to be a lighthearted take on a crapsack world. Unfortunately, some writers seem to confuse "lighthearted" with "blizzard of puns"; there is, for instance, no wordplay in the concept that R&D will send you out with equipment that is almost certainly defective so you can test it, and that the Computer will regard either refusal to test or a failed test as evidence of treason - but it's black comedy gold, as you either figure out a way to get someone else to use it or blame its failure on them (which, of course, is easier if they don't survive...) More realistic dystopias, on the other hand, are not fun for me. I don't mind playing the protagonist in Fallout 4 (although I'd love to see a mod that lets me form the new Commonwealth Provisional Government), but I really don't want to play the protagonist in 1984 or THX-1138 where struggle against the existing order is both pointless and hopeless. Also any campaign, in any setting, where the GMPC is overwhelmingly powerful and the PCs become meaningless in comparison. (I have a friend who loves to run D&D - but his setting always includes his former-wizard-turned-demigod who teleports PCs from place to place via Hell, even if they don't want his help, and the demigod's main ally, a 25th-level antipaladin with ultrapowerful magical swords. If the party runs into the least bit of trouble, one of them will 'port in, fix the issue trivially, sneer at the party because we're all powerless maggots in comparison, and leave. It gets discouraging.) __________________ If you break the laws of Man, you go to prison. If you break the laws of God, you go to Hell. If you break the laws of Physics, you go to Sweden and receive a Nobel Prize.

03-04-2017, 10:01 PM	#8
Flyndaran Untagged Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon	Re: Worlds you wouldn't play in One problem I have with every dystopian / horror movie type world I've seen is that they make humans dumber and more self destructively selfish than in reality. We're pretty dumb and self destructive, so I find it just lazy to ramp it to 11 to explain the situation. __________________ Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check.

03-05-2017, 12:34 AM	#9
David Johnston2 Join Date: Dec 2007	Re: Worlds you wouldn't play in I don't want to play in "real" history. I don't want to be involved in any historical event where I know the outcome. I don't want to be in a funny game. I'm not funny. I simply can't hold up my end in one.

03-05-2017, 12:52 AM	#10
whswhs Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS	Re: Worlds you wouldn't play in My primary concern is that I won't play in any world that is intentionally absurdist or implausible, or that doesn't try to give me a sense of solid reality. For example, I took one look at Feng Shui and decided that I wouldn't play it for anything. I feel nearly as negative toward Castle Falkenstein. __________________ Bill Stoddard I don't think we're in Oz any more.