Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Social Actions - Character Options in Social problems in your games part 2 of 2

What is the Social Equivalent of Flanking?

Options in Combat engage us by giving us Power over the situation. I believe that the thrill of Combat is in the Thrill of being Empowered. Social Situations are more complicated and unlike Thrusts, Blocks, and Swings, they are not as Tangible to an Audience or any onlookers - but the Barbs, the Punching-Down, the Shade, and all the Tactics that Go into Social Conflict is real and something even more painful - given how much people feel disempowered by the complexity or how the Perception may stray from the Reality. 

I dont want to go into the Many Models in detail - GURPS with the many splat books and skills have a TON of options but is subject to a Lot of GM's fiat, L5R and WOD is known for this by giving Characters a Score to measure their Humanity, Honor, and Internal Fortitude and having some Actions specifically named, and D&D has a very basic one with a limited set of conditions.  Then there are those in REAL LIFE which are modeled in Books (and Role-playing Exercises) in Humble Inquiry, Socratic Method, Influence Skills, Negotiation Skills, Due Diligence Skills, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Cognitive Analytic Therapy, etc... 

  1. Do we want to explore Social Actions? 
  2. Do we want players to MASTER social Actions as much as they master Weapon maneuver Options?
  3. Do we as a GM want to be versed in the Social Warfare of Aggregated Social Challenges of a Much Greater Social Challenge? 
  4. What is scary and uncomfortable about Social problems in the Games? What are the barriers to entry?
  5. What would make it engaging?  

Monday, June 10, 2019

Do you like exploring Status and Wealth - Social problems in your games? part 1 of 2

Status and Wealth in TRPGs give a framework about seeing Social Issues in Action. Especially when the setting is NEAR modern. Of course it helps to have a LOT of experience (aka being OLD) but I wish there was something like a SPLAT/Source Book (example is HARN's Companions guide which is such a good explanation of status and feudalism) for the PHILIPPINES in various Eras.
It would be a VERY politically Incorrect book - showing how the law and society actually is biased and used - but would be such great reading and discussion.

Or it can be a very Interesting Google Doc with FORKING - where someone takes the same framework, makes a copy and adds the source in the reference links, and then makes their own spin and using footnote options to put their own explanation. The rule would be to see it as a Homebrew - (meaning its THEIR interpretation).

Its interesting how HOMEBREWs (example would be In my Traveller Universe IMTU) - Traveller has a very solid framework in Forking  http://rgd-traveller.wikidot.com/imtu used to allow People to have Respected Differences in Opinion and Perspective.