Save Vs. Character Death

The full list of this year’s RPG-related questions.

Here we are, in the final week of #RPGaDay2016! It’s been a fun month of seeing other gamers answering these interesting questions on social media (Twitter and Google Plus being some of the most popular for sharing). And I’ve managed to keep up this year! Looking forward to having more varied experiences to share next year, as well.

Day 24: What is the game you are most likely to give to others?

If I were giving it to someone new to RPGs, I’d go with something easy to learn and play. I may even go with an Indie RPG like Wayfarer: Things Beyond Wonder, or a diceless RPG. Dungeons and Dragons is always a good bet to get new players started, and it’s the easiest system to find other players for, so it is the most likely choice as a gift.

I started with Rifts, and though it’s my favorite game, I really caution new players against cutting their teeth with that level of crunch – and when I introduce new players (even those who have played RPGs before and are just new to Rifts), there’s a lot of hand holding.

If I were giving it to a veteran RPGer, I’d probably go with an interesting Indie game that they maybe haven’t heard of. Or a bigger name game that they don’t have yet, but have expressed an interest in, like Shadowrun or Numenara – or maybe even World of Warcraft: The Role Playing Game, if they also enjoyed WoW.

Day 25: What makes for a good character?

Honestly, that the player enjoys playing them. So long as everyone is having fun and nobody is hurt, it’s a good character.

As a Dungeon Master, I usually prefer my players to have the following: a short background, a reason for adventuring, a disability/vulnerability/hindrance, and a hobby or two (reflected in their skill selection where possible). I feel it rounds out the character and adds to the story. I reward detail and use these quirks as stepping stones for their own individual stories as we game. Everyone gets a chance in the spotlight at my table, and a more fleshed-out character, one that they put themselves into, is usually more fun for everyone.

Day 26: What hobbies go well with RPGs?

Reading comic books/manga/graphic novels. I feel that anyone can draw a lot of creativity from the endless supply of comics, and it’s especially helpful for those who need a visual or illustrative example to convey what they mean or to understand a situation.

There are plenty of other hobbies that go well with RPGs, of course. Artistic hobbies, watching movies, reading and/or writing, voice imitation, video gaming, blogging, and probably loads more that escape me at this moment.

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