Post originally by Ralph Mazza at 2005-02-01 20:36:54
Converted from Phorums BB System

Interesting remarks Jim. I think you illustrate perfectly Paul's point. See, everything you just said...is exactly what most gamers believe and would say if asked why a GM is necessary...thing is...its not accurate.

I've run several dozen demos over the last 3 years. Other players have run many more at other cons. Not every game has been perfect...no RPG can claim that. But I've NEVER witnessed the sort of dysfunction you assume would happen without a GM. And that's not with "perfect players" (whatever those are). That's with whoever stops by the booth and wants a demo. A very broad selection.

People resort to "My Guy" because in most games their character is their only avenue of influence on the game at all. If the GM starts meddling with that (as is often the case) then the players' have no real power left. So retreating into "My Guy" is a defense mechanism against unwelcome interference.

Universalis avoids this problem quite neatly in 3 ways. First...no one has ownership of any single "player character" all characters (indeed all setting elements as well) are held in common and run by whomever controls them currently). Thus, there is no "My Guy" to run to.

Second, all players have 100% equal power with each other to control the story and the entire game world. They are all essentially GMs (so far from being GM-less, the game more accurately could be said to be GM-ful). There is no motivation to limit oneself by retreating into "My Guy", since the character in Universalis is just the beginning rather than the limit of the player's influence.

And third, there are 5 mechanical elements built into the game to deal with any unwelcome interference when it does occur (Complications, Challenges, Fines, Tenets, and clever use of Facts).


I'm also very curious about the following statement you made. "If all the players are intelligent, mature, imaginative, accomodating of one another's wishes, and equally committed..."

Ummm. Why wouldn't they be? Isn't that a prerequisite before you even sit down to play ANY roleplaying game with them? Scratch that...isn't that a prerequisite before you even engage in any social activity at all with them? Far from that being the definition of a "perfect player" that seems to me to be the minimum requirement to be even worth spending time with a person.

I can't imagine why anyone would want to spend many hours of their time with people who weren't mature, accomodating, and committed to everyone's enjoyment.

No set of rules, and no draconian GM techniques can "protect" you from players who are immature, refuse to accomodate the preferences of other players, and remain uncommitted to anyone's enjoyment but their own. Those player you simply don't play with. Hell, why even hang out with people like that?