thread: 2013-09-24 : What even IS the object of an rpg?
On 2013-09-25, nolandda wrote:
Vincent: Thanks. That is straightforward. And good point re: tabletop RPGs having different objectives and not lumping them all together.
Now to see if I have learned anything let's see if I can come up with a better definition than in my earlier post.
How about: "The object of a game is the experience that well intentioned players are expected to work toward by the rules and social environment (if any) of the game."
And now some of the comments above seem more clear. Like how the objectives of certain players may not be in sync with the objective of the game. And in some cases it might not even be all that dysfunctional. For instance that one kid who is motivated to intentionally screw up the message in "Telephone". Everyone there really wants the message get screwed up anyway so if he is subtle about it people will enjoy his own personal objective in play.
On the other hand if I "Play House" because I am motivated to be the mommy so I can exert power over my friends that is pretty dysfunctional.
