Post originally by Ralph Mazza at 2005-02-02 19:20:47
Converted from Phorums BB System

I don't follow your logic Jim.

If people get married thinking they're right for each other, and then decide later they can't stand each other; that they feel the other party isn't mature, isn't accomodating to their needs, and isn't committed to their happiness...they get divorced.

That sounds exactly like my point to me. If you have a gaming group, and you find people like that in your group...divorce them. Why, once you know that they are like that, would you continue to stay with them? Its alot easier to get out of a gaming group than out of a marriage.

As for requiring the people I play with to be those things...its not a theory at all. Roleplaying is supposed to be fun. If you are roleplaying with people who aren't committed to making sure everyone enjoys themselves...what is the point of playing with those people? What is the point of spending time with those people at all?

Uni doesn't require any special talent. It simply requires people treat each other with respect and consideration...same as for any social activity. Having respect and consideration for your fellow gamers by definition means being accomodating to what's important to them, being committed to their happiness as well as your own, and avoiding petty selfish behavior. We all have our off days where we act like an ass...but if it becomes standard behavior...what possible reason is there to continue to associate with people who have no respect or consideration for you.

You can't choose your family. You generally can't choose the people you're forced to work with at your job. But you can absolutely choose who you game with, who you hang out with, who you go to the movies with.


But I have to flat out say that IME your assumption that playing a game like Uni requires some sort of specially talented players is 100% wrong. Games like Uni are EASIER to find players who are good at it than traditional RPGs. Every child in the world grows up playing some form of collaborative make believe. The ideas of traditional roleplaying where you must stay in character at all times and only the GM gets to decide what's happening around you is something that actually has to be trained into you...its not a natural division of authority.

The only people I've ever found who have any trouble getting into Uni are those so entrenched in that traditional model that they have trouble stepping out of it. But grab a bunch of people who've never roleplayed a minute in their life...and you're off to the races. No not everyone will like the game any more than everyone likes hiking or romantic comedy movies, or watching the weather channel. But it absolutely doesn't require any particular skill above and beyond having a feeling for what makes for a good story.


Further there is a HUGE difference between a game like Universalis and free form roleplaying. They are not the same thing at all. They aren't even really in the same category because, while they share some superficial similiarities, Uni is a game driven by a very tight and very focus mechanical system. The system in Uni is most definitely NOT "just talk and come to some agreement about what happens"...at all. The rules in Uni are there for a reason. Its a system. Not a variation on pass the conch.