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GNS / Big Model Open House
Hi.
I know that a fair share of RPG theory interested folks read this blog.
I'd like to test my own understanding of GNS / Big Model.
So:
I will answer any questions about the Big Model or GNS that you have, if you ask them in response to this post or in a private e-mail to me.
It would help if you would first read the essays here and here. These other ones won't hurt. Just the top part of the last two is fine.
a few ground rules:
1) I'm going to try to explain a theoretical model to you. I don't want to argue whether it is right or wrong. You can come to your own conclusions about that. If you post, I will assume that you are trying to understand the model, no more, no less.
1a) If you want to destroy the model, may I suggest that understanding it is a good first step?
1b) So no "that's stupid," stupid though it may be. "That doesn't make sense, please explain it a different way" is fine.
2) I will not diagnose GNS goals of games I've never played. I will not discuss any theory applying to LARPs, because they are complicated. I will not discuss books, movies, plays, improv theatre, ballet, or any other artform in the context of GNS, because doing so is stupid. I will discuss games which I have played, as examples, but pretty much only at the request of the GM who ran said game.
2a) If you ask about the GNS of your game, do not take a diagnosis that isn't what you want it to be to be an insult. It isn't.
3) I may add ground rules as things progress.
I know that a fair share of RPG theory interested folks read this blog.
I'd like to test my own understanding of GNS / Big Model.
So:
I will answer any questions about the Big Model or GNS that you have, if you ask them in response to this post or in a private e-mail to me.
It would help if you would first read the essays here and here. These other ones won't hurt. Just the top part of the last two is fine.
a few ground rules:
1) I'm going to try to explain a theoretical model to you. I don't want to argue whether it is right or wrong. You can come to your own conclusions about that. If you post, I will assume that you are trying to understand the model, no more, no less.
1a) If you want to destroy the model, may I suggest that understanding it is a good first step?
1b) So no "that's stupid," stupid though it may be. "That doesn't make sense, please explain it a different way" is fine.
2) I will not diagnose GNS goals of games I've never played. I will not discuss any theory applying to LARPs, because they are complicated. I will not discuss books, movies, plays, improv theatre, ballet, or any other artform in the context of GNS, because doing so is stupid. I will discuss games which I have played, as examples, but pretty much only at the request of the GM who ran said game.
2a) If you ask about the GNS of your game, do not take a diagnosis that isn't what you want it to be to be an insult. It isn't.
3) I may add ground rules as things progress.
Re: CRISIS ON INFINITE AGENDA
The proper Forge-theory answer to this is "Hey, well, no other CA types have been observed, identified, or anything like that."
I have my own. Which I think will go in a second post.
As to your second question: Yes. That can and does exist. I've done it, with a somewhat-modified version of Riddle of Steel. It is *way* more difficult than it seems.
First, you need to have a group with different preferences for play, that know and understand each other's preferences, and are willing to deal with less-than-optimal play as long as they will get their optimal play eventually. This requires, probably, at least a decade of playing together and built up trust.
Second, you need a GM who can masterfully craft situations that will appeal to one group or the other, and change gears without grinding them.
Lastly, and least importantly, it helps to have a system which doesn't actively hurt either CA.
If you understand that the absolute most important part here is the social bonds, trust, and mutual understanding between the players, then you're with me.
So, yes, you can switch CAs during play.
Can you write a system that somehow forces its players to switch CAs? No. Can any system, ever, force its players to play it in a certain manner? No.
You can write a system that supports this sort of play, I suppose, but any group that has been playing for that long will have probably found their own systematic devices to handle it.
yrs--
--Ben
Re: CRISIS ON INFINITE AGENDA