thread: 2013-08-16 : Diagram Retrospective -plus- Ask a Frequent Question
On 2013-08-31, Josh W wrote:
Heh, horror in non-stories. I look forward to seeing some blown lit-minds.
I've clearly spent too long talking to you about games, as I can recognise that story from other examples, that's the "protect the children" dude!
Pulling back from talking about games as providing a kind of horror seems credible to me, it's probably too personal and too easy to shift for not to depend heavily on the players.
On the other hand, I imagine that you can head off certain kinds of horror content in the structure of your game, if you break links they need with randomisation for example, or your interrupt certain dynamics before they can form
(eg. sick glee seems not to get much momentum up if your game tends towards matter-of-factness or requires people to confirm certain procedural facts at a fast pace, which has been helpful when playing 4e with someone who loves theatrically gribbly gore!).
Like I imagine that on a basic level Apocalypse World doesn't really do jump stuff, but does tension really easily. I don't really see it aiming towards any particular direction in terms of your purpose of horror categories.
I get the impression poison'd wiggles across the top of that pie chart like a gieger counter with different groups, but doesn't do much "thrills" or "juxtaposition".
