thread: 2008-09-29 : Creative Tension
On 2008-09-30, Georgios wrote:
Vincent, as to your Dogs example..
Do you think it matters if the players are aware of this actually happening at the gametable? I don't mean being able to articulate that you are right now setting the supernatural dial, but that something is being negotiated that will affect how we look at the fiction for the rest of the game.
I'm beginning to suspect that in many games there exist some very intricate and clever processes, only because the group has become aware of them without being told so explicitly in the rulebook. It's this strange, vaguely related paradox I've run into with Primetime Adventures. If I don't explain Agendas to new players, some (though not all) inject it into their requests automatically, fitting it into the on-going storyline and the general tone naturally. Whereas if I do address Agendas beforehand, not one of them gets them right until half-way into the first episode.
Which is why I can see where Valamir is coming from, with wanting games to provide a framework to judge creative contributions; but I've also seen people completely immobilised when faced with such a framework. Mostly if it covers something that they weren't aware included some kind of judgement on their part.
