Comments on: What is the importance of RPG terminology?

By: apotheon

apotheon — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:46:08 +0000

Actually, when I do Google searches for those three variations on the term, at least the first five results are exactly the same for all three. That doesn't disprove your core point, but I didn't see the significant difference in search results you saw.

I agree that difference in terms can mean a lot, but I don't think the variation in terms makes the difference posited in Encounters vs. Scenes – RPG Terminology and Philosophy.

By: Samuel Van Der Wall

Samuel Van Der Wall — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:57:55 +0000

I personally think the way you say something is very important. Even the way you spell / type it is very important. If you do a search on roleplaying, role-playing, or role playing, in Google you get completely different results. When I mean different, I mean one is more computer based, one is pen and paper based, and one has a wide variety of results. So to me, it is a big deal. But I know that stuff is not a big deal to everyone.

By: apotheon

apotheon — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:27:37 +0000

That I find slightly distasteful and the one time I played new WoD it felt like a railroad, even though it was not exactly one.

Yeah — I aim somewhat down the middle between the "scene" approach and the "encounter" approach, as they're described above. I generally give players their heads, so to speak, and deal with interactions — whether those interactions are conflict based or not.

So I'd argue the overall tone is more important than particular word choices. Rules are an important part of the overall tone of a work.

It seems we're in agreement, then.

By: Tommi

Tommi — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:54:02 +0000

Personally, I don't think the words themselves are very important. Rather, in D&D (3rd, 4th), the challenge encounters provide is often emphasised. I vaguely remember some WotC's free adventures listing CR:s for creatures that would gladly negotiate. I personally get very fixated on forcing challenging situations and particularly combats if running D&D, and partially for that reason prefer other games.

The advice on WoD seems to be focused on manipulating the story as a whole and players in particular. Here's a set of scenes. Design them to cause some emotion. That I find slightly distasteful and the one time I played new WoD it felt like a railroad, even though it was not exactly one. This may or may not be related to the tone I read in the GM advice.

So I'd argue the overall tone is more important than particular word choices. Rules are an important part of the overall tone of a work.