Four years ago, David F. Chapman (aka Autocratik) initiated successfully #RPGaDay, a social media hashtag to get the world talking about tabletop RPGs in a positive and encouraging way. Runeslinger / the RPG Brigade provided the following questions for #RPGaDay 2017 (#RPGaDay2017).
#RPGaDay 2017 (#RPGaDay2017): Questions (Image: RPG Brigade, autocratik)
#RPGaDay 2017: Questions
August 1: What published RPG do you wish you were playing right now?
Coriolis: The Third Horizon (Image: Fria Ligan / Free League Publishing)
Coriolis and Cultos Innombrables (Unaussprechliche Kulte).
My elevator pitch for Coriolis, a Swedish science fiction roleplaying game with metaphysical aspects, is „Arabian Nights in space“.
Unaussprechliche Kulte, the German translation of Cultos Innombrables, a Spanish horror game, hasn’t been released yet.
The players are modern-day cultists who try to use the forces of the Mythos (yes, Lovecraft’s Great Old Ones etc.) to their own ends. I have only an incomplete preview copy, but it looks very promising.
Furthermore, I am always open for more Symbaroum, a Swedisch dark fantasy rpg, and Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA) games like tremulus, Dungeon World etc. are still on the top of my playlist.
Unaussprechliche Kulte (Cultos Innombrables, Image: Truant Spiele)
In recent weeks, I am thinking about a Barbarians of Lemuria / Symbaroum hack. In my opinion, Symbaroum is a rules-lite or rules-medium roleplaying game, but the system didn’t conince me completely so far.
August 2: What is an RPG you would like to see published?
Right now, I am more into science fiction than into fantasy or any other genre.
I am also a huge comic book fan. So, I would like to see a Lazarus RPG. Green Ronin is already working on an Age adaption of Greg Rucka’s dystopian comic series (Image Comics). Invisible Republic, another great political scifi comic series by Image Comics, is on my list of interesting rpg settings. What about a ‚good‘ Altered Carbon RPG? (Sorry, Eclipse Phase is nothing for me.)
Greg Rucka’s Lazarus (Image: Image Comics)
August 3: How do you find out about new RPGs?
My favorite sources of imformation are „the Internet“, especially Twitter, and personal contacts.
I highly recommend fellow tweeps like @asako_soh, @spookshow71 and my friend @derO23. They are openminded, well informed and no braggarts. I chat nearly every day with them.
Back in the day, I worked over a decade for serveral hobby companies and some contacts are still pretty alive.
I avoid (German) online communities – their intolerance toward those who hold different opinions is legendary – expect mobbing.
August 4: Which RPG have you played the most since August 2016?
Symbaroum RPG – my favorite (dark) fantasy rpg right now.
I also played some Delta Green (horror) and Trail of Cthulhu (horror), too. I clearly prefer the Delta Green approach over Gumeshoe systems (like ToC, Night’s Black Agents etc.).
August 5: Which RPG cover best captures the spirit of the game?
A picture says more than a 1000 words.
Symbaroum (Image: Järnringen)
In recent years, I think the cover of the Symbaroum RPG really nailed the „spirit of the game“.
Overall, the R. Talsorian Games‘ Cyberpunk 2013 box, an excellent tribute to the Traveller scifi rpg classic, does a great job to transport the tone of the game. (Hardwired and Cowboy anyone?)
Cyberpunk 2013 (Image: R. Talsprian Games)
August 6: You can game every day for a week. Describe what you’d do!
Really depends on the players I can play with. I see different options:
Option A: Play a new game every day and try games on my playlist like Shadow of the Demon Lord, Coriolis and/or some PbtA stuff like The Sprawl.
Option B: Play a brief campaign or a longer adventure.
Option C: Start a rpg experiment – play with multiple GMs, splitting, merging or even opposing adventure parties.
Option D: Probably, I would try to mix all options …
August 7: What was your most impactful RPG session?
Strange Question – Back in the day, my first Tunnels & Trolls game as a GM. I fell in love with this fantastic and creative hobby.
My first „indie game“, a session of Dust Devils, completely changed how I perceive rpg storytelling and narration rights. A long time before such games like Fate/FateCore or PbtA became popular.
August 8: What is a good RPG to play for sessions of 2hrs or less?
Don’t walk in Winter Wood (Geh nicht in den Winter Wald), Parsely Games (Jared A. Sorensen) and/or Dread(?)
August 9: What is a good RPG to play for about 10 sessions?
Sorry, I don’t have that much to add on this subject. If I recall correcly, Shadow of the Demon Lord is „designed“ to be played in campaigns of ten sessions, but any game you make happen for any number of sessions consecutively might be a good option. Right now, I really like Symbaroum …
August 10: Where do you go for RPG reviews?
I don’t care about reviews. In my opinion, most (nearly all) reviews are bought in some way.
Furthermore, one man’s meat is another man’s poison. I prefer personal recommendations.
August 11: Which ‘dead game’ would you like to see reborn?
I want an updated Cyberpunk 2013/Cyberpunk 2020 by R. Talsorian Games.
The return of their Dream Park and Castle Falkenstein rpgs would also be nice.
D&D-wise I am looking forward to a new edition of Planescape.
August 12: Which RPG has the most inspiring interior art?
Symbaroum RPG.
Symbaroum RPG: „The Lindworm is one of Davokar’s most feared creatures. The few Ambrians who have encountered one and returned to tell about it describe them as ferocious but cunning, even as intelligent. Maybe there is some truth to the rumor that the Gaoia clan is secretly ruled by a Lindworm called Uncle Lint.“ (Image: Järnringen)
I also like the art for the Fria Ligan’s games.
Honorable mention: L5R, Cthulhutech, Shadows of Esteren
August 13: Describe a game experience that changed how you play.
I think indies like Dust Devils and PbtA games still have the greatest impact.
They offer „rules“ for my preferred improvisation play style.
August 14: Which RPG do you prefer for open-ended campaign play?
I’m not interested in open-ended campaigns. These days I prefer to play one- or few-shots.
Modern TV shows like True Detective are a huge inspiration for manageable stories.
August 15: Which RPG do you enjoy adapting the most?
In my experience, no system works as designed. Back in the day, our Tunnels & Trolls was a collection of our adapations. Today, I prefer ad hoc rulings over hard rules changes, but in the end it is plain and simple – BRP (e. g. Call of Cthulhu / Coc) and PbtA (tremulus, Dungeon World etc.) are easily adaptable/hackable.
August 16: Which RPG do you enjoy using as is?
If possible, I try to play „as is“, but frankly most roleplaying games are either incomplete or faulty. As mentioned yesterday, usually I use ad hoc rulings to overcome any issues.
August 17: Which RPG have you owned the longest but not played?
Chivalry & Sorcery? Pass. I really don’t know and care much.
August 18: Which RPG have you played the most in your life?
Tunnels & Trolls! Runner-ups: Cyberpunk 20XX & Vampire: The Masquerade
August 19: Which RPG features the best writing?
Tough one – in my opinion, roleplaying games are no fantasy / science fiction / horror (etc.) novels and I skip most in-game fiction, because they bore me very often.
The new Paranoia RPG offers a thoughtful and very concise writing. Unknown Armies (all editions) is also one of my favorites.
Finally, every game that tries to stay under ~350 pages (setting & rules) has a good chance to score in this category. The era of hefty tomes is over.
August 20: What is the best source for out-of-print RPGs?
Da Internet? If I need something old or special, I search the net, shops and conventions. Some are good sources.
Dust Devils (Image: Jon Hodgson / Matt Snyder)
August 21: Which RPG does the most with the least words?
Very good, but hard question and I vote for Matt Snyder’s original Dust Devils, a fine Wild West storytelling game with less than 30 pages (iirc). This game was an eye-opener for me. There are no gadget lists, but the included brief scenario provided a lot of fun – more than once. Really good stuff in the right hands.
August 22: Which RPGs are the easiest for you to run?
Ok, I am pretty lame, I repeat myself.
Dust Devils, Tunnels & Trolls & PbtA
August 23: Which RPG has the most jaw-dropping layout?
I prefer clean, minimal layout – I vote for Night Witches and Symbaroum (again).
Symbaroum RPG (Image: Järnringen)
August 24: Share a Pay-What-You-Want publisher who should be charging more.
Pass. Sorry, I have absolutely no idea. Evil Hat, but Fate Core is absolutely not my game.
August 25: What is the best way to thank your GM?
Thank him or her and criticize in a constructive way. Keep it simple & straight.
August 26: Which RPG provides the most useful resources?
Pass, no real favorite, but I like Perilous Wilds by Jason Lutes for Dungeon World.
August 27: What are your essential tools for good gaming?
Pen-and-Paper, dice & friends with undivided attention. In the era of omnipresent mobiles attention is a rare commodity.
August 28: What film or series is the most-frequent source of quotes in your group?
„TEXAS? Holy dogshit! Only steers and queers come from texas!! And you don’t much look like a steer to me so that kind of narrows it down. Do you suck dick?“
– Full Metal Jacket
„All right, sweethearts, what are you waiting for? Breakfast in bed? Another glorious day in the Corps! A day in the Marine Corps is like a day on the farm. Every meal’s a banquet! Every paycheck a fortune! Every formation a parade! I *love* the Corps!“
– Aliens
Honorable mention: The Princess Bride and Excalibur
August 29: What was the best-run RPG crowdfunding campaign you have backed?
I vote for Järnringen’s Symbaroum (Indiegogo) and the roleplaying games by Fria Ligan (Free League) like Mutant: Year Zero (MYZ), Genlab Alpha, Mechatron, Tales from the Loop and Coriolis.
(Nearly) On time, good communication, interesting European roleplaying games with excellent production standards.
August 30: What is an RPG genre-mashup you would most like to see?
Tough question. A good mashup of Brotherhood of the Wolf (LE PACTE DES LOUPS) and Grim(m’s) fairy tales has a good to be up my alley.
August 31: What do you anticipate most for gaming in 2018?
More time for my hobby and open-minded, interested friends to try different roleplaying games.
#RPGaDay 2017: Alternate Questions
- What do you look for in a review of an RPG?
- Campaigns: do you prefer set-length or open-ended play?
- How long does it take to learn to get the most out of a game?
- What do you want out of an RPG experience?
- What gives an RPG its ‘replay value’?
- What part or parts of a session do you look forward to the most?
- Maybe there are more (to come)
If you are interested in a German translation, please visit Jaegers.net. You may also find rpgaday.com interesting. It seeks out posts marked with the #RPGaDay hashtag and collects them in one place.
Personally, I think this years questions are better than the previous ones. I am unable to guarantee that I will answer all questions (on a daily basis), but I really appreciate this form of hobby promotion. So, lets give it a try! Enjoy & happy gaming.
PS: As always, your mileage may vary!
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