tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post3925170010552580951..comments2024-02-29T00:47:06.191-08:00Comments on Playing D&D With Porn Stars: Like Playing Monopoly With SquattersZak Sabbathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-12192056710346213062014-09-23T05:16:23.986-07:002014-09-23T05:16:23.986-07:00Gah! Just wrote a long post of praise for this. It...Gah! Just wrote a long post of praise for this. It was eaten. Suffice to say: this is the best kind of lightbulb moment, illuminating my gaming for me in a way that will make me forever grateful. Thanks Zak. mistermarkfitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00750841723209829435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-33008683467627948862011-01-31T14:57:34.780-08:002011-01-31T14:57:34.780-08:00@John
You are incorrect. (Since you made a catego...@John<br /><br />You are incorrect. (Since you made a categorical statement about how games work "It only works if..." then you will always and inevitably be incorrect, as there will always be exceptions.)<br /><br />I played a charity game with a bunch of people I neither knew nor trusted and played no different than I usually do and it worked just fine. I'm sure other people who do con games will tell you the same.<br /><br />If you include the word "usually" you might be right, but there's no way to prove it.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-47079525241694991542011-01-31T07:35:32.709-08:002011-01-31T07:35:32.709-08:00That's all great, but it only works if you pla...That's all great, but it only works if you play with people you really trust and are comfortable with.John Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17813593224618572349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-26677839307658030852010-12-16T12:16:25.812-08:002010-12-16T12:16:25.812-08:00About the distance part, and since you seem to lik...About the distance part, and since you seem to like good books, and play D&D with pornstars... I highly, highly, very much and in an incredibly hapy way recommend you "Eros, the Bittersweet" by Anne Carsson. <br /><br />Right now, reading this Blog, I seem to remember her. Except she's talking about love and Sappho and her poetry, the lesbian greek poet from... Lesbos. <br /><br />Thanks for a great read.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10460963711333534586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-15497208406404897612010-09-10T00:06:10.122-07:002010-09-10T00:06:10.122-07:00Yess! You found it for me. Thank you. Now I get it...Yess! You found it for me. Thank you. Now I get it (hug)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-51036586199818878102010-09-09T17:05:03.368-07:002010-09-09T17:05:03.368-07:00This is certainly something I think about from tim...This is certainly something I think about from time to time, and I think there's a very specific reason a certain stereotypical crowd tends toward RPGs more that other groups. It's the layers of complexity, interaction, and adaptability that make RPGs and hyper-complex boardgames the escapist social fuck-offery of choice for the uber nerd.<br /><br />This <i>distance</i> is a major factor in that...<br /><br />The more ADD leaning nerds tend to prefer playing often mono or two dimensional characters that they can hyper-focus on. They may miss a lot of what the GM is scheming, but they love to hone in on what they can do to further the party's goals... often completely independently of what the rest of the party may be plotting, but still usually in concert. These are the ones who usually pull of surreal moments of brilliance (intentionally or now) that often leads to much rejoicing or uproarious laughter from everyone else present.<br /><br />These people tend to bore easily at other pursuits in life, but when they have so many layers of complexity and stimuli coming at them, that it tends to wash away all external influences letting them really enjoy their game. Specially when called on to act out 'their turn', even if they were counting popcorn on the ceiling while drooling on themselves and jabbing a fork in their own eye, they usually snap immediately back to focusing on the game and are gung ho. It no longer matters who they are or what is happening around them in reality, all that matters it what they are doing in the game RIGHT NOW. This tends to make for very amusing moments of <i>distance</i> between the game reality and their default one.<br /><br /><br />The other archetypical gamer nerd tends far more toward the OCD. Though they get a lot of satisfaction from playing, these people are generally the ones who love to create and run the worlds their friends get to play in. Even while playing they always catch themselves scheming on how to run their own game and relate their player moments to how they would like to GM their own worlds. During the course of the game they try to deconstruct what their GM has in store for them around the next corner and consider the actions and strengths of their teammates instead of just focusing on their own. While GMing they love the minutia and play up every tension they can with their players. They like to see what everyone else at the table comes up with to tackle the obstacles they spent so much time scheming up.<br /><br />All this time shifting the focus to the bigger picture causes the disconnect from the mundane default world to the in game existence. Though for them disbelief is never truly suspended, there's enough going on to shut out most of the normal world and really have fun with their game. But even in the midst of that, these players are the one's who are most aware of the <i>distance</i> and tend to casually point it out when everyone else is super immersed, leading to much laughter.<br /><br /><br />And on that note, it's happy hour...darren ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06026885714144231552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-19380064879572839122010-03-11T17:00:16.127-08:002010-03-11T17:00:16.127-08:00Dunno if there's a way to do a trackback from ...Dunno if there's a way to do a trackback from livejournal, so I'll mention here that I've referenced this post over on my blog, <a href="http://ewilen.livejournal.com/51643.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>.Elliot Wilenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09100832825053274916noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-57540374191466027782010-03-08T14:26:19.794-08:002010-03-08T14:26:19.794-08:00What I really like about this post is that it open...What I really like about this post is that it opens a an giant bloody area of thought that I had not really been able to conceptualize.<br /><br />Damn. You have too many talents.Matthew Slepinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04056247825064943944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-33611832240183256792010-03-08T12:50:24.844-08:002010-03-08T12:50:24.844-08:00Great post. Several groups have discussed "Wh...Great post. Several groups have discussed "What makes RPGs fun" in contrast to other activities, but I think this is the first place I've really seen it captured well. Kudos.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-64743021762313780312010-03-08T09:45:48.492-08:002010-03-08T09:45:48.492-08:00This is what I've been looking for, for a very...This is what I've been looking for, for a very long time: Someone to put into words what "the distance" actually is and what it means. Thank you. From the deepest pit of my oddly-shaped blood-pumping organ.MHKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08615662089529036423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-32548271456302983102010-03-06T20:19:58.818-08:002010-03-06T20:19:58.818-08:00Don't know yet. This month, they tell me.Don't know yet. This month, they tell me.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-7102918675757037722010-03-06T20:10:10.400-08:002010-03-06T20:10:10.400-08:00Sure, whatever. When's the TV show coming out...Sure, whatever. When's the TV show coming out?Norman J. Harman Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01319655075997712313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-38610358029693924582010-03-06T18:41:55.417-08:002010-03-06T18:41:55.417-08:00A great post, Zak. Some of my best roleplaying mem...A great post, Zak. Some of my best roleplaying memories are as much the interaction with the players as the actions of the character.<br /><br />Actually, reading your actual play reports just goes to prove that people are the same all over. Mandy, Kimberly and the gang would fit in with the way many of my friends play RPGs real easy.<br /><br />And Kimberly looks fabulous as Maude Lebowski ;)Mike David Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14866073578492800145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-72940011485973219872010-03-06T15:12:47.201-08:002010-03-06T15:12:47.201-08:00Well said.Well said.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04328044259964512661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-54782445315549688132010-03-06T14:52:10.277-08:002010-03-06T14:52:10.277-08:00Re: Distance
LARP being way too fucking close and...Re: Distance<br /><br />LARP being way too fucking close and far away at the same time. <br /><br />Close -- because the players want to directly emulate their representations in the game by completely assuming their identities.<br /><br />Far Away -- because to everyone else you still look like a douche wearing face paint and carrying a NERF weapon.<br /><br />At least that's my interpretation of what you're saying.Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17285645317925993821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-33071577576635761892010-03-06T14:23:58.940-08:002010-03-06T14:23:58.940-08:00Wonderful piece Zak. Thanks again.Wonderful piece Zak. Thanks again.SirAllenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11106665195318475302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-7704269002480232072010-03-06T13:31:36.421-08:002010-03-06T13:31:36.421-08:00"Ok--wait--I'm not gonna use the word &qu..."Ok--wait--I'm not gonna use the word "irony" since where I come from it has bad associations with people who wear skinny jeans and listen to music created by men with no testicles"<br /><br />You win sir. I haven't finished the post, but I had to stop to congratulate you on that alone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-72598423226721422712010-03-06T13:01:03.043-08:002010-03-06T13:01:03.043-08:00"All interesting fictional things probably ar..."All interesting fictional things probably are associated in one way or another with some fairly heavy ideas, whether or not that's obvious at first."<br /><br />I very much agree with this. Even without trying, you're going to hit certain themes, ideas, and dilemmas within the game. I think being that for the DM to be conscious of them and use them to keep the game engaging is a very good thing. . .but as long as the DM is good at other very good things it's no big deal if they don't care about themes.<br /><br />Also, if anything I'd say that keeping it from being too blatantly obvious is more desirable than being heavy-fisted with it. Explicit "HEY, HEY YOU. I'M DOING ART AT YOU, SO PREPARE TO HAVE YOUR LIFE FUCKING ENRICHED" never really gets good results.OtspIIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973637359168779233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-58471887925987237062010-03-06T12:43:38.457-08:002010-03-06T12:43:38.457-08:00mercer-
hey, everybody likes story--and your descr...mercer-<br />hey, everybody likes story--and your description sounds remarkably like certain sandboxes i've run with "plot seeds". there's a balance, is my point.<br /><br />as for the amount of "distance", i feel like that's a social feeling-out thing. a group consciously or unconsciously figures out what the mean level of distance is. the better the players know each other the better this works. i have never personally seen it fail, but that's me.<br /><br />otsp-<br />I see your point. I personally have nothing against having a campaign world with "issues"--i just don't think it's a requirement. All interesting fictional things probably are associated in one way or another with some fairly heavy ideas, whether or not that's obvious at first.<br /><br /><br />harlo-<br />haven't seen it.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-62739559026044166262010-03-06T12:11:33.067-08:002010-03-06T12:11:33.067-08:00Brilliant post.Brilliant post.Iglesiashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08416128782481346800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-21041980697996636482010-03-06T09:42:36.252-08:002010-03-06T09:42:36.252-08:00Vivat! Thank you, Zac.Vivat! Thank you, Zac.AGCIAShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00555314975157295572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-86593599439145638392010-03-06T09:42:14.602-08:002010-03-06T09:42:14.602-08:00@ Dr-Rotwang - I have to disagree with your interp...@ Dr-Rotwang - I have to disagree with your interpretation of the word verification.<br /><br />(Word Verification: "braing". BRA-ING (v.) from "to bra". Hey, Louie, let's go braing tonight.)<br /><br />Zak just braing it to the table and served it up. Dip your chips in and throw them at the wizard.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07648499022366444265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-19673593470070452982010-03-06T09:23:51.251-08:002010-03-06T09:23:51.251-08:00Another "hear, hear."
The more carefull...Another "hear, hear."<br /><br /><i>The more carefully detailed and imagined the game world is, the more fun it is to watch drunk strippers (for example) negotiate it and watch it try to negotiate with them.</i><br /><br />For what it's worth, this reminded me somehow of the old cartooning trick of making background elements super-detailed while making things the reader is supposed to focus on/identify with incredibly basic (Tintin comics being an archetypal example).David Larkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04133630988557116729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-50169472688603591112010-03-06T09:21:58.544-08:002010-03-06T09:21:58.544-08:00Great post BUT let's talk about this porn big ...Great post BUT let's talk about this porn big lebeowski. Because I am confused. The plot of the film hinges around porn- it seems hard to make a parody porn of something already so enmeshed in it.Harlohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10124944584897809826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638993969706011706.post-20276393410712478102010-03-06T09:21:51.042-08:002010-03-06T09:21:51.042-08:00I really like most of this, but I don't quite ...I really like most of this, but I don't quite line up on the bit you said about theme. I actually feel like the distance is what makes the theme work; you get to fuck around with something serious in a lighthearted and consequence-contained manner, but then the next day when you're taking a shower or falling asleep or whatever you get to take what you did and turn it around in your mind. For me, the best lighthearted stories are the ones with just a tiny trace of haunting resonance to a more rich and depressing issue. Not enough that you even really notice them while you're playing or reading through the story, but just enough that they nag at you subtly afterward.<br /><br />I think that this is what distance does really well for RPGs: letting you make choices and explore themes non-seriously, so that you can build up a stronger understanding of them without stress. It does trivialize it a bit, but it does so temporarily and in a way that lets you comfortably get your hooks into it and really start grappling with it.OtspIIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07973637359168779233noreply@blogger.com