fantasy style role-plays and why I dislike them

[Akirapryde]

Disclaimer This Thread is not intended to insult, offend or call anyone out for actions or behavior. This Thread is also not meant to criticize or otherwise disrespect Heralds of the Hornblower. This Thread is only meant to express thoughts that were a result of last night's post-game conversation nothing more nothing less.

I finally realized what it is about Fantasy style games I dislike. Sure they are passe, but last night's post game conversation really hit the nail on the head.

For many years I have dislike fantasy style roleplay such as D&D, AD&D, Pathfinder and so on and so forth. I have always accuse them of being passe, lacking of imagination. But beyond that I was hard-pressed to put my finger on the real reason why I dislike these style games.

Now I have a solid reason. It is the two-dimensional style of game, coupled with the two-dimensional style of characters, coupled with the way the plot is shoved down our throats.

But these campaign world's don't start off like that. Take Heralds of the Hornblower. It is a rich campaign setting mixed with equally rich campaign characters. The NPC's are equally mysterious as much as they are enjoyable to engage.

But this intricate tapestry of rich settings and characters, like in so many fantasy style game  can by torn to shreds if care isn't taken to safeguard them from a common mistake made by players and narrators alike.

I would like to use Heralds of the Hornblower as my example for this topic. Here we have s group of adventures drawn together from different backgrounds. Each were given a wondrous dream foretelling a dark event slowly befalling the world they live in. Obviously each were chosen. Yet no one in the party has bothered to ask why. What commonality do they share? What special trait or background has drawn them together. Why them? Instead they take it on face value that this is their mission and they drive forward.

Noticed the missed opportunity for character exploration. Next take my character, someone who is so different from the rest of the party. Yet very little has been done to get to know her. For the party's on knowledge Eli could be a assassin sent by one of many factions that could be opposing the party's goals.

Because all we are doing is driving the plot forward, we are missing out on opportunities for role play among ourselves. Which in my humble opinion, has the most potential for rich settings and scenes.

By the very nature of these style of games, this is a natural risk. In the desire to drive the plot not only do we miss out on vital character building, we also risk driving the game to 'monster of the week' scenarios.

Don't be confused by the name, these scenarios are single session encounters. Where travel between are just storylined instead of enjoying the journey of getting there.

Here is an argument for the concept of "it's not the destination, it's the journey." The between major encounters travels (and their subsequent random encounters) is where we as a group grow. We learn how to fight as a team, we learn what makes each character who they are. We, the characters, are more than numerical strengths and weaknesses. These personalities are an essential part of role playing a character.

By ignoring these opportunities for character development we force the game into becoming a two-dimensional game. And truth be told, that's when these games lose their fun. Sure it's great to beat up on monsters, collect rewards and yada yada yada. It is at this moment when a role playing game becomes nothing more than a board game with character sheets.

If all I want to do is crawl through Dungeons, beat up on monsters and collect trophies at the end of the day, I  would play a board game. I want more!

Harold's of the Hornblower is more than a board game. And we would be doing this game a terrible injustice if we force it down that path. If we take away from what makes this wonderful story based game a role playing game.