Brett's Blog Can a game system be bland? Jul 09, 2009 | 12:40 pm Someone pointed me to a forum thread elsewhere about game systems that were bland. I don't get this. How can a game system be bland? The game system should not be the focus of the game -- it should be a tool to set a structure for game rulings. You may not like the mechanic or find it too complicated, but bland shouldn't even enter into it in my opinion. One impression I get is that some people want to play super-powered demons that can defeat any threat they meet. When characters are not actually powerful enough to destroy a monster in a single strike, they belittle the game for not letting them be powerful enough. In the end, this equates to the system being too bland, because their powers are not godly enough. Seems to be a misinterpretation of the word bland on their part. Play the game based on the story and your characters, not the rules. If flashy rules are important to you, try a boardgame. 6 Comments | Add Comment | Permanent Link | Return to Overview CrazyBlend Commented: Jul 09, 2009 | 9:49 pm Maybe by "bland" they mean "derivative" or "lacking in spark"? I've seen game systems I would describe that way... usually written by someone who thinks anyone can write a game system. Brett Commented: Jul 09, 2009 | 11:00 pm OK. That makes me think of the countless RPGs that use a system that mimics the original D&D (not to be confused with the retro gaming movement though). Sisren Commented: Jul 12, 2009 | 10:13 pm My experience is one loaded with powergamers and 'kids' that are unable to accept defeat in a task. It's sad in a way, its akin to allowing an unarmed dramatic character to fight an epic dragon and kill it with 1 hit... maybe it can be done, but should it? does the story benefit? Brett Commented: Jul 12, 2009 | 10:18 pm I hear you, Sisren. Superman Syndrome. krakajak Commented: Jul 13, 2009 | 12:12 am A game system can definitely be bland. To recognize one, you need to see what an unbland (flavorful?) system has. A flavorful system: Unknown Armies. There's lots of fun, clever stuff in that system. ORE takes clever ideas to the extreme. Rolling things like matches and straights as well as hitting target numbers all yield different results. The weapon types all resolve differently but using the same single roll of the dice. Another example...Traveller. The task resolution...kinda bland. Character creation...awesome! Bland system: BRP/CoC: Roll under percentile. The End. A bland system is not necessarily a bad system. Good bland systems resolve tasks quickly and efficiently. With a bland system, you season it with roleplaying and story. D&D 4e is a game that try's to make it's system as flavorful as possible. It makes it less reliant on good roleplaying and GMing to remain a fun game. Sisren Commented: Jul 13, 2009 | 6:55 am Specifically, I know of people who have the superman syndrome. When asked to try D&D4E for 4 Sessions, they said '...i don't want to but ok...' - after 2 sessions they stopped playing because they weren't 'as powerful as D&D3.5'. They focused so much on the statistics on the sheet of paper that they forgot to roleplay... instead it was roll-play. I've since moved on :D Add Comment