Author Topic: What makes a game great?  (Read 2469 times)

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Offline Colin-ICE

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What makes a game great?
« on: June 26, 2017, 06:39:34 AM »
What do you think makes a game great? I've put together a little survey to collate responses (which I will then publish) or just have your say in this thread.

Please note: We are not talking about game systems and what makes them great but what makes an individual game run by a GM great.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LP6GXVZ

Offline Hurin

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Re: What makes a game great?
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2017, 11:10:29 AM »
I added in balance, in the sense of an adventure in which everyone has a change to participate and the challenges are appropriate for the power level of the party. It is a fine line to tread between too hard and too easy!
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Offline jdale

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Re: What makes a game great?
« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2017, 01:33:32 PM »
With regard to "A well thought out and fleshed out world/setting"...

The setting doesn't need to be enormously complicated and deep. What it needs is 1) things that can be discovered, which are important to the story, 2) puzzles and mysteries that require being pieced together based on that setting information, and 3) consistency so if I do figure something out, it won't be contradicted or invalidated without a reasonable in-game explanation of why it changed.

The longer the campaign, the more depth that is required, and the more important it is to have at least the basic framework complete in order to maintain consistency later on. E.g. campaigns usually expand in scope over time, so initially the players may only see one village, then one nation, then multiple nations. But if you already have the nations in mind, even just in outline form, from the beginning, you can lay the groundwork in the village without suddenly becoming inconsistent (e.g. if the nation had law X, why didn't we see that in the village?).
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Offline Ironmaul

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Re: What makes a game great?
« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2017, 02:04:11 AM »
Did the survey. I added Appropriate Environment.

I think the Talented GM has to be the most important element. When I was introduced to RM, the GM new his stuff and took a lot of the worry out of knowing the system which made the game more enjoyable.

Offline Bruce

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Re: What makes a game great?
« Reply #4 on: July 19, 2017, 08:58:03 PM »
I didn't see the survey, or if I did I do not remember responding to it...lol.
That being said there is one thing missing I thought would probably be pretty important, continuity.
Continuity adds depth and belief to the story.
Things that happen in the past in some games are never encountered or remarked upon again.
You can have an engaging story and a great GM but in long term campaigns you need continuity. Continuity can produce a sense of accomplishment amongst the players and the GM.
If it wasn't obvious I enjoy long running campaigns over anything else.
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Re: What makes a game great?
« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2017, 09:09:00 AM »
I'd say the NPCs. May they be on the antagonistic side, the allied side, the neutral side, engaging NPCs are IMO what changes a game from "good" to "great".
The world was then consumed by darkness, and mankind was devoured alive and cast into hell, led by a jubilant 紗羽. She rejoiced in being able to continue serving the gods, thus perpetuating her travels across worlds to destroy them. She looked at her doll and, remembering their promises, told her: "You see, my dear, we succeeded! We've become legends! We've become villains! We've become witches!" She then laughed with a joyful, childlike laughter, just as she kept doing for all of eternity.

Offline Bruce

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Re: What makes a game great?
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2017, 05:00:34 PM »
ICE should do this survey again. But this time put it out that there is a survey in the newsletter or even on the FB page. I missed this one but I am also a member of a variety of RPG groups on FB and I could easily spread the word so that you have a much greater range in responses.
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Offline Raqlexia

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Re: What makes a game great?
« Reply #7 on: September 29, 2017, 09:10:05 PM »
A fair and balanced amount of fun factor I'd say.

Offline Peter R

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Re: What makes a game great?
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2017, 04:59:06 PM »
What were the results of the survey?
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Offline Bruce

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Re: What makes a game great?
« Reply #9 on: October 14, 2017, 05:03:26 PM »
What were the results of the survey?
It is in their blog somewhere from earlier this year. I looked for it but could not find it.
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Offline Colin-ICE

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Re: What makes a game great?
« Reply #10 on: October 16, 2017, 01:46:35 AM »
Here are the results: http://ironcrown.com/blog/2017/07/19/what-makes-a-game-great/

Sorry for the delay.

Offline Peter R

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Re: What makes a game great?
« Reply #11 on: October 16, 2017, 01:50:31 AM »
Thanks.
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