Post originally by Balbinus at 2003-06-03 09:03:25
Converted from Phorums BB System

"Hi B,

No, I'm saying this is a very difficult game for many people to run. Many people blame the text for not being more clear on the attitude of play. Considering that the style of play is significantly different than the norm, I think having more "reader friendly" advice would have done it a world of service. Even for folks who want to try out this new style, I don't think Sorcerrer without the supplements properly gives you enough to work with.

Most gaming out there is using plots and railroads, so many people will not be able to make that mental transition without some guidance. The core Sorcerer book "assumes" that you're on the same page. It's not really until you get to the supplements that the methodology of Narrativism is properly expressed.

Dig?

Chris"

Yeah, I do know where you're coming from here. It was more a caution on your phrasing.

If you sound too evangelical you put people off because no game is perfect and nobody believes it if you say one is. You don't do Sorceror any favours by suggesting otherwise.

Also, I'm really not persuaded that most people railroad, although I definitely agree most games are plot driven - not necessarily the same thing at all.

Anyway, if you'd said first time that the only real problem with Sorceror is a lack of clarity for people unfamiliar with the style of gaming which it relies on then I wouldn't have quibbled, it was the implicit suggestion that those who game other ways lack imagination and flexibility I was uncomfortable with.

If I had to criticise Sorceror that's where I'd go too by the way. Too often one discovers in an internet discussion that something which appears quite minor in the rules actually has big implications. It would have been prefereable for those to be clearly flagged in the book.

However, Ron has explained why historically he didn't do that and it's not really his fault (well, not in a bad way anyway) that the game had wider appeal than he expected so exposing it to those to whom such techniques weren't already the norm.

Oh, last word on evangelism. It wouldn't surprise me at all to learn some people like Hero or Gurps for some games and turn to Sorceror for others. People's tastes often vary quite widely after all. It's important not to deter those folk by implying that when they play the other games they're doing something somehow less advanced or less valid.

Ron doesn't do that, but some of the fans sometimes do IMO.