Where is the setting?

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Post originally by Yeleth at 2005-09-04 01:54:44
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I am not convinced that the world needs a new set of mechanics for fantasy. Tri-Stat 2d6 is all I need and will probably work for any setting. If not Tri-Stat, then we have Savage Worlds or Fudge, True20, etc.

The setting persuades me to play a fantasy game; maybe good adventure modules as well. For instance, I don't really like Cthulhu but I do like some of their modules. I'm not totally in love with Stormbringer, but again, some of those adventures are better than any I could do. Tekumel is my favourite setting and the fact that there are no modules available doesn't worry me one bit. However a properly detailed Tekumel fantasy town module (put together like Arkham) would do wonders for that game.

To sum up. If you are going to convert various fantasy worlds to your new system (e.g. Stormbringer, Dark Sun, Jorune) then I think that the system could be worth writing. That's because I wouldn't want to play Dark Sun or Jorune with the original rules but I'd probably like to game in those settings.

The attitude of most system writers is that it's up to the gamers (each one of us) to do the conversions. Do we really need another state of the art set of rules to go with all the others? Anyway don't let me put you off (I know I won't). This game design thing is a goal in itself, independent of setting. I know that because I've had that itch to design the perfect mechanics too. I long ago gave up the notion that there was such as thing as a perfect set of RPG rules.

I hope your rules are better that what's gone before, but most of all I hope that people put in the time to convert various settings to the rules. [Or, at the very least, put the time in to convert various rules to your new rules - D&D and GURPS would be prime candidates.]

I know I'll get slagged to hell and back and accused of being a troll for writing this and being negative without 'contributing anything' but I think that had to be said.

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Post originally by Sergio Mascarenhas at 2005-09-05 01:49:18
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Thanks for the comments Yeleth. As you say, there are many game systems... but there are also many settings. I am sure that I could easily find someone that would make a comment simetric to yours and sustain that he or she does not need a new setting but is still in search of the perfect system.

My focus is on rules but I have several settings in mind while I design the same. I have to, after all I'm a strong defender that both things go together.
On the other hand, I want to write a column that is valuable on itself, on the reflection it brings on system mathers, even if I don't actually write a game based on it (but I wont to do it of course).

Going back to the setting issue, I will use published settings with my game. I will do it to test the ability of the rules system to model those settings. They are not the ones you mention for a very simple reason: I don't want to mess in legal issues concerning usage of setting materials that are protected by copyrights or ownership rights. So I'll use free settings that anyone can use.
I also have my notes on my own fantasy setting, of course. It just happens that it is not a priority for me at this stage to present these. Besides, who knows if my setting is interesting enough to be presented to the public?
In any case, I'll interpolate setting columns in between the rules system columns from time to time. It will usually happen after I finish a chunk of rule design, moments when I need to test the ability of the rules to model game worlds.

I guess that this column has been conceived in a way that does not correspond to your most immediate interests. I hope it is still interesting enough to make you read it and comment on what you read.

Sergio

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Post originally by Jethrow at 2005-09-19 00:57:40
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"I long ago gave up the notion that there was such as thing as a perfect set of RPG rules. "
Right there, Yeleth, is one of many reasons why no-one can accuse you of having nothing to contribute. That comment, among others, is right on the money.
I have converted, and helped to convert, more than half a dozen settings to my favourite system, and even though I think the system I use is near-perfect, I fully recognise it would not seem so for everyone. The more systems the better, in my opinion, especially if they are easily converted to any or all settings. Diversity is the spice of life.

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Post originally by Jane Williams at 2005-12-30 11:47:17
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While I think you're right that a good system can "model" any setting, there'sone area where I think you're going to have to go setting-specific, and that's magic.

As long as what you're trying to model is effectively the real world, all is well. We all know how that works - at least, we understand it well enough to argue about it :) But magic works differently in almost every fantasy universe, and systems tend to reflect that.

I'll be interested to see what you come up with. But a system that can genuinely model any fantasy universe will, I think, take some doing.