Reasons why to love RPG's

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:11 pm

I am pasting something from the L5R forums that I posted about my current L5R game. It is a result of a discussion about Honor and the honor guidelines in the L5R rule book.

Ahyhow, after i posted this, it got me to thinking of all the reasons I have stuck with, and loving to play, RPG's over the years.

So this post now reflects my biggest reason for loving RPG's, and after reading it I invite you to share your reasons for liking/loving RPG's.

"I had players who went into the Shadowlands. They happened to go in when I had the City of the Lost setting up for a HUGE offensive against Rokugan. The Shugenja risked casting a spell to tell the Crab Clan Champion about the preparations (she had met with him several times, so "knows him"). They then went on to the city. While on their way the Scorpion Bayushi used his incredibly high acting skill to disguise himself to talk toe a "lost Samurai". Through this conversation he found out the the City of the Lost had been reduced to skeleton defenses of only 500.

So they continued on, using Stealth, they snuck over the wall of bones into thecity. They spent a week hiding and scouting out the city. They then committed horribly dishonorable acts. They assassinated "lost" samurai in their sleep. Snuck up and killed them at the gates. Set off 10 huge fire bombs in warehouses filled with very flammable stuff.

With what they did to the city watches and the "fire brigades" the fire got completely out of control and the city burned, killing many (think the city of Dresden in WW2).

Their honor went to severe negatives, because even though they knew what they were doing was the right thing to do, they were doing it in incredibly dishonorable ways. They murdered many people through their actions. Granted, they were "lost", but they used to be people of Rokugan.

So the party became "infamous" for what they did until they went before the Empress (yes, my L5R version has an Emperess, not an Emperor, until she remarries).

Then the Empress absolved them of their dishonorable acts and gave them back their honor, and gave them more. Their Honor, and Glory, went through the roof.

So even though my players were really depressed about losing their honor, it paid off. You should have seen their faces when the Empress absolved them of their dishonor. They were expecting to be ordered to commit seppuku. So they really felt what it was like to go from the bottom of the pit lows, and sweep back up to the top of their society.

It was great drama. Great enough that my players were yelling and slapping each other on the back, even hugs were exchanged by a couple of them.

So I am completely sold on the honor system as presented in the book. I may have used it wrong, but the ends definitely justified what I did. My players will talk about this game for the rest of their lives.

Since its my wife and 3 kids, this means a 100 times more to me than it would with just a "normal group". My kids will remember the fun they had with their mom and dad with RPG's for as long as they live. They will talk to each other about that "awesome L5R adventure" dad ran for them way back when. They will probably talk about it when I die, and many times afterwards.

Yeah, I am completely sold on a system that helped me give such a happy memory to my kids."

So this is my most rcent reason to love RPG's. What are yours?
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The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:24 pm

To crush my enemies (other players), see them driven before me, and to hear the lamentations of whining players?

Naw, really, I like to see, or rather, create something that becomes more than what it started as... a group consciousness in a way, where one idea spreads, infects, mutates, and collates as something none could have done individually, and is something unique, even though it has, and is, similar to what others have done. That wonderment that I can do one thing and have someone on the other side of the globe able to understand it, because there is a "special language" and understanding, even when the games themselves are different.

So, mostly, I guess I just like to see some idea germinate, become "real" and then not have any consequences.

Catweazle · Post by **Catweazle** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:06 pm

It stops my brain exploding.
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History teaches us that men behave wisely once they've exhausted all other alternatives.

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:13 pm

Catweazle wrote:
It stops my brain exploding.

Whoa! how many times has that happened?
_________________
The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

My House Rules: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

Catweazle · Post by **Catweazle** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 4:24 pm

Just once. It wasn't pretty.
_________________
History teaches us that men behave wisely once they've exhausted all other alternatives.

Jyrdan Fairblade · Post by **Jyrdan Fairblade** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:59 pm

That is a great story, Treebore.

For me, there a couple of moments that stand out, though I don't think any reach the height of your tale.

Back in 2e, it was a 1 PC, 1 DM adventure with my brother, playing his first AD&D character, that he'd been playing since 1e. It was a very simple set-up. A Great Wyrm Red Dragon was heading for Shadowdale, and his character was the only that could stop it (In my campaign, Elminster generally was just a crotchety old wise man that couldn't be bothered to do much of anything). It was an epic battle that raged across land and sky. The dragon wrought unbelievable destruction, and the his PC, a ranger, pulled off some amazing stunts. And in the end, his character, Canon Starsearcher, was the one that stood standing. Down from over 100 hitpoints to single digits. He had a set of armor made from the scales of that dragon, and wore it with pride for the rest of his adventuring career.

When wool-gathering, that adventure still comes up.

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:08 pm

Yeah, I have lots of cool memories like that with my Navy buddies who got me started on D&D and RPG's back in 1985.

Considering how much I am enjoying my time with my kids it makes me wish my parents did something where they spent such cool time with me.

Unfortuantely they are more the "classic parents". Fortunately I am not.
_________________
The Ruby Lord, Earl of the Society

Next Con I am attending: http://www.neoncon.com/

My House Rules: http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

Fat Dragon Games · Post by **Fat Dragon Games** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:47 pm

Treebore wrote:
Yeah, I have lots of cool memories like that with my Navy buddies who got me started on D&D and RPG's back in 1985.

Considering how much I am enjoying my time with my kids it makes me wish my parents did something where they spent such cool time with me.

Unfortuantely they are more the "classic parents". Fortunately I am not.

I think this is what I enjoy most about the hobby now. My son is just getting into RPGs (I'm getting him the C&C basic set as soon as it comes out) and we have a blast playing-he's even getting some friends interested in it as well. Aside from this, I truly enjoy getting together with the same group of guys I have been playing with for 25+ years now. I have a lot of other friends I have lost touch with over the years, but my gaming group just keeps plugging along.