RPG Debates

[Note]Note

These are still fairly incoherent; I intend to work on them some more.

Roleplaying vs. Hack-n-Slash

The title of this section is deliberately misleading, because this particular issue is often presenting in this misleading manner, as if “real roleplaing” was something antithetical to Hack-n-Slash. in fact, Hack-n-Slash isn't opposed to Roleplaying, it's just one particular style of roleplaying.

Here are some styles.

  1. Character Development

  2. Hack-n-Slash

  3. Rollplaying

  4. Discovery/Exploration

  5. Simulation

  6. Gamist

RPG Rules; Light or Crunchy?

Another one of those everlasting debates in roleplaying gamers is Light vs. Crunchy.

I think this is another one of those things that comes down to taste.

Some people like lots of rules: it makes it easier for them to decide on things, and gives them a framework to work within, even if they end up fudging almost everything, because they have something they can use to make comparisons.

Other people like fewer rules: it makes things easier for them to decide, because they're not hampered by having to look things up and struggling to fit a situation into a rigid framework.

Personally, I like both, depending on the situation.

The Designer's Notes for Fudge are a very good explanation of where Fudge fits on the Light vs. Crunchy scale and why.