tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615826467198003068.post1794916112625460444..comments2024-03-27T14:19:47.931+00:00Comments on BASTIONLAND: External Engagement in RPGsChris McDowallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11717684225248546716noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615826467198003068.post-7275779062251218032020-08-07T21:21:05.047+01:002020-08-07T21:21:05.047+01:00Thank you for these two articles about External En...Thank you for these two articles about External Engagement.<br />This theory is revelatory for me.<br />I loved (my concepts of) games. I wanted to get better at them. I tried to read all the rulebooks, all the expansions. Then all the forums. Then the blogs. Then the videos. And the actual play streams.<br />Ultimately I became "better" only at thinking and speaking about them. Articulating the games out of the game. If it did anything to my confidence and ability at the table, it decreased it by ingraining the false expectations.<br />Self-reflection is a very good call, as I know I enjoy engaging externally while thinking good thoughts and ruining my later in-game enjoyment of the game by doing so.Péter Czigányhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09445239541900028468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-615826467198003068.post-36149362789612503302020-07-30T06:28:01.131+01:002020-07-30T06:28:01.131+01:00You know, character optimization is a form of &quo...You know, character optimization is a form of "external engagement", especially considering that these days it's often done talking about it on forums, arguing about it, reading guides etc...<br /><br />... I know some people like it a lot, and that some systems (I'm looking at you pathfinder...) really lend themselves to it. But I fear that it becomes a mini-game, and the purpose of the "real game" is to "prove" that their build is great. But that has corrosive effects on the game! If the build turns out to have a flaw, or not match the focus of the campaign, the player becomes frustrated. They may try to engineer situations where their character's strengths are valuable, and are bored or impatient in situation where their (often very specialized) character is not as relevant.<br /><br />It's a bit like photographers who care more about their cameras than their photos... Ancalagon_TBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13602961033235852856noreply@blogger.com