Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Galen's Musings: RPGs vs. Wargaming

So I've been talking with a friend about how dissatisfied I am becoming with role-playing games. We began to talk about the frustration of trying maintain a continuous campaign and the elements that can make or break an RPG. We also discussed why wargaming has been more satisfying to us.

One of my biggest complaints with attempting to GM an RPG campaign is how difficult it is to get a group of players on the same page, much less getting them in the same place at the same time at regular intervals. It becomes a constant struggle for the GM to share this world he/she's created and this epic adventure they've written. It's very frustrating, and even when I can get everyone together I sometimes didn't feel satisfied with how it went.

Now on the other hand, wargames have always been satisfying, even when I don't win, or the dice turn against me. There's something inherently enjoyable. Maybe it's because you get to create a story around the game with your opponent. I'm not exactly sure why I see things like this. Maybe it's because I've had so many RPGs fall apart around me.

Now, in conclusion I've come to the conclusion that I'm not as interested in RPGs any more. I'm tired of having to fight to get players and to keep them interested. Where as with a war game, I know that person is wanting to play and I don't have to struggle.

Feel free to leave a comment about this! I'd love to have a discussion on this subject

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