Games We Hate (or dislike intensely)

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 3:48 pm

There's always tons of topics about what it best, what is favorite and the like. Well, what about topics of games we hate?
Forget about D&D its iterations and clones. Let's just leave that game out of the mess as it has been discussed a hundred million times.

For the sake of this thread (so long as it shall last), let's only focus on games we have played. Reading about a game, or not having any first hand knowledge of the game puts your opinion into question.

Let's also try to keep the selection limited. No need for endless lists of games that you hate. Pick a couple or three.

So, what games to you hate?

-O
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 3:54 pm

I'm going to play a game of 4e this weekend, so my official post will be later.
Seriously, the only rpg that I played and didn't like a whole lot was a 2e game, to be honest. But it wasn't the system, it was the GM. I think any game can be made or broken on the GM.

I remember playing Cyberpunk and not liking it a whole lot, but I wasn't too fond of the genre then. Not terribly now, to be truthful.
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Frost · Post by **Frost** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 3:55 pm

Vampire the Whining.

Honestly, "hate" is too strong a word, but I never really "got" that game.

Honestly, I haven't played enough RPGs to have one I outright hate. Well, I take that back. While I love Gamma World, I freakin' hated the Gamma World 3rd Edition color chart thingy mechanic. So, at least mechanically, I hated 3rd Edition Gamma World.
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 3:59 pm

I hate Scrabble. Yes there is strategy and luck of the draw, but at the same time the game is based on boring memorization or strange word knowledge. People who win this game more often than not have mastered the game by spending time memorizing strange words and the like. BORING.

-O
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:04 pm

The entire World of Darkness "theme books" (excluding Mage: The Ascension) -- poor mechanics (at least, nothing innovative: they took Shadowrun's d6 pool and changed them to d10s. Wow.) and introduced a plot-point driven railroad where player choice mattered very little (at least, it seemed that way). The presentation and ideas were somewhat original, but the game play was horrible -- maybe that was the "storyteller's fault" but I have never enjoyed playing any (except Mage, where you actually have to think) of White Wolf's games. And, that says little of the attitude espoused by many of the players I encountered who considered us "fantasy players" to be worthless. Maybe if I had been more into the LARPing...

Star Wars. I do not enjoy playing in the canonized world of fanboys, where, again, everything is already laid out and there is no possible way for X to affect Y or Z never happens, and we all know Z has to happen because it already did. Sure, the DM can ignore and not use it... but, when you have an entire detailed universe at your disposal, are you really going to discard it and make your own? Not unless you have a hell of a lot of time... and then, you're going to be told 'this is not Star Wars.' I hate all games that are based on movies, books, etc, because they reinforce the "stuck in this world" feel -- they don't give room to wiggle and do your own thing. Oh, and this game, too, seemed to have ripped off Shadowrun, though I honestly don't remember what game had the "pool rule" first, but I do remember Shadowrun being the first one I played that used it.

I have others, like DC Heroes and GURPS (though, GURPS is a marvel for its supplements), but I'll stay with two for now.
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gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:10 pm

Ya know. I've sat here pondering for a bit, and I can't think of a single game I feel strongly enough about to hate. I reserve emotions like that for important things. I can't really think of a single game I've had any sort of problem with, in of itself actually. I've dealt with players that have made a game session a less than enjoyable experience, however. Didn't have anything to do with the game itself.
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:13 pm

I don't think I really ever hated a particular game though certain games had a couple of things that did irk me.

I suppose the general Rifts character creation process is one of the things I've hated the most. Had fun playing but making a character ended up a tedious exercise at best.

M
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Hrolfgar · Post by **Hrolfgar** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:32 pm

Tic-Tac-Toe is pretty lame in my opinion.

I own 33 different roleplaying games, and the worst by far is Avalon Hill's Powers and Perils. The character sheet has about a dozen algebra formulas "commonly" used listed at the bottom of the sheet. The artwork was wretched and the rules were written up like an AH wargame. Still I don't hate the game enough to throw away or to be bothered with selling it.

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:40 pm

When it comes to card games, I hate Euchre. Really, absolutely and fully loathe it. Stupid bowers. Let me play Spades or Hearts. Hell, even Gin Rummy... but, I will never, ever, play Euchre again. Its retarded.
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GameOgre · Post by **GameOgre** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:45 pm

Hero system

This is why. I bought this HUGE Hero book and read it for three days strait before going nuts and beating myself in the head with it.

I'm sure the game itself must be good as so many like it but that HUGE fat momma of a book kicked my butt! I just couldnt wrap my head around the 40,000 rules and powers and ect....
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:47 pm

Was it the Champions Big Blue Book? If so, I can understand. I got into their system with that book, but it was also in high school when I was attracted to "heavy systems." It was like we wanted to best the other with whatever game was most complicated. Earlier versions are much easier to digest.
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:51 pm

The big-ass black book with the green Hero logo smack-dab in the middle is the book I'm assuming GameOgre is referring to. It's the phone book of rules, that much is for sure. I would never give the game the time of day because of the immensity of that tome

-O
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:20 pm

Hate? Well, won't play would be better to say. I won't play Exalted or any of WW's Vampire related RPG's. Loved the CCG though, especially RAGE. I used to not play westerns, but Aces and Eights has changed my mind about that big time! Same goes for super hero games, until Mutants and Masterminds, I even have play test credits for their 2E version. I won't play Rolemaster, but I will play HARP. I won't play MERP anymore either. Now I found the Decipher version intriguing enough that I would give that a try.

I won't play Warhammer 40,000, but I like their 2E RPG. I never got into playing any of the "mech" games until BESM, and I like that well enough. Thats all I can think of right now.
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DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:24 pm

Exalted made my brain cry.

concobar · Post by **concobar** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:08 pm

cyborg commandos

I bought it because it had the Gary Gygax name on the box.

Worst game ever!

D20 modern. blech!

Rifts... MDC is horrible.
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:20 pm

gideon_thorne wrote:
I've dealt with players that have made a game session a less than enjoyable experience, however. Didn't have anything to do with the game itself.

Amen, brother!

Hrolfgar wrote:I own 33 different roleplaying games, and the worst by far is Avalon Hill's Powers and Perils.

And i was just actually thinking about picking up a copy of that! What did you not like about it, sir? Might help me make an informed decision.
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:22 pm

Powers and Perils is the opposite of rules light. It can put Champions to shame. A better name would be Math: The Equating. However, after you're beyond the creation process, the game itself is not too terrible -- it has an interesting magic system, fairly detailed environs to explore, and some pretty slick adventures like Tower of the Dead (or something like that.) But, be warned -- it is not "light" at all.... there's even a book called Book of Tables. I don't own it, though. It is on my list.
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:26 pm

serleran wrote:
Powers and Perils is the opposite of rules light. It can put Champions to shame. A better name would be Math: The Equating. However, after you're beyond the creation process, the game itself is not too terrible -- it has an interesting magic system, fairly detailed environs to explore, and some pretty slick adventures like Tower of the Dead (or something like that.) But, be warned -- it is not "light" at all.... there's even a book called Book of Tables. I don't own it, though. It is on my list.

Wow...sound comparable to Rolemaster...which I have an odd fascination for.
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:29 pm

Yeah, me too. I like to see complicated games so I can then decide a means to do the same, without all the fussing.
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:33 pm

Interesting way to llok at it. I usually look at complicated games to see if it's something I want and therefore not have to do all the work. The only one I've found so far like that is GURPS.
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slimykuotoan · Post by **slimykuotoan** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:50 pm

I'm starting to dislike anything with feats in it.
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DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 8:58 pm

Even shoes?

dutch206 · Post by **dutch206** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:08 pm

Exalted is a munchkin power-gamer's midnight fantasy. I hated it.

In regards to the Hero System, they are supposed to have some kind of rulebook that strips the rules down to the bare minimum needed for character creation. I think they finally got the point once someone posted that "Bulletproof" video on Youtube.
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Hrolfgar · Post by **Hrolfgar** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:17 pm

Lord Dynel wrote:
And i was just actually thinking about picking up a copy of that! What did you not like about it, sir? Might help me make an informed decision.

Quote:
Interesting way to llok at it. I usually look at complicated games to see if it's something I want and therefore not have to do all the work. The only one I've found so far like that is GURPS.

Serl summed up Powers and Perils fairly I think (Math:The Equating ).

I couldn't get past the character creation process and the presentation of the rules. The formulas are bad enough, but a lot of abbrevations are used in the rules as well. If your looking for a game to steal ideas from it might not be too bad. Like serleran said there are some interesting ideas in the magic system, and some the monsters are kinda interesting.

Another thing that taints my view of this game is that in 1986 when I bought this game at half price(including The Book of Tables which are in a box ), I almost bought Magic Realm and The Merchants of Venus instead.

yell0w_lantern · Post by **yell0w_lantern** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:40 pm

I can't think of any RPGs that I've played and hated. I didn't even mind Marvel Superheroes.

I hate Monopoly - or Monotony as they called it on Ren & Stimpy.

TheMetal1 · Post by **TheMetal1** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 10:48 pm

Quote:

That was funny!

serleran wrote:
Powers and Perils is the opposite of rules light. It can put Champions to shame. A better name would be Math: The Equating.

That was really a laugh outloud kind of funny

TheMetal1 · Post by **TheMetal1** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:00 pm

Lord Dynel wrote:
Wow...sound comparable to Rolemaster...which I have an odd fascination for.

I haven't really even looked twice at this game. I remember looking around the web trying to find MERPs a few years back, and found the ICE website with HARP, Rolemaster Classic, Rolemaster Fantasy, Rolemaster Express, Hack & Slash, but no MERP then I realized, sadly that MERPs had been banned by Tolkein Enterprises. Even in PDF form on RPGNow.
With ICE promoting all those, what appeared at the time, very different games for fantasy, I decided to leave sleeping dogs (or in this case games) lie. That is until recently.

I heard rumors of the horrid complexity that was/is Rolemaster and every variation of it. I even read somewhere that the idea for HackMaster in Knights of the Dinner Table was based off the charts in Rolemaster that Brian seems to reference, which is funny ha, ha for the comic book and even with the actual Hackmaster game. But for one that took itself seriously? Yet I was strangely intrigued by it, if only to see if the wierd and violent critical hit tables that I remember as Youth would appear in these 'new' games.

I have no idea what got me on this little trip, but a few days ago I found myself on the ICE website and then stumbled upon this little gem at RPG.Net
http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=361628

Which describes in review form, one man's journey (maybe I should use the term descent?) into Rolemaster Express.

I've ponder it and ponder it and became more intrigued, then somehow I found myself ordering a bunch of Rolemaster Classic and Express stuff. PDFs of said products are now purchased and sitting on my computer as I await the arrival of the dead tree versions. What do I do now! Is there any hope!

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:02 pm

TheMetal1 wrote:
What do I do now!

Bask in the glory.

Taranthyll · Post by **Taranthyll** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 11:36 pm

GameOgre wrote:
Hero system

This is why. I bought this HUGE Hero book and read it for three days strait before going nuts and beating myself in the head with it.

I'm sure the game itself must be good as so many like it but that HUGE fat momma of a book kicked my butt! I just couldnt wrap my head around the 40,000 rules and powers and ect....

I've been playing Hero System since 1st edition when it was just a skinny little staple-bound book published in someone's parent's basement. The proliferation of rules has been so gradual over the last couple of decades that I didn't really notice it. Now that I think about it, the latest gigantic tome that is 5th edition would be a bit daunting if you've never played the system before.

zacharythefirst · Post by **zacharythefirst** » Fri May 01, 2009 1:18 am

Rolemaster is a blast. We usually end up gutting half the system, but Arms Law and roll-over skill checks are great!

I don't "hate" many games, but I think the writing for Nobilis is absolutely horrid. Overly florid and murky.

I also got burned out on hearing Wushu recommended for every possible type of game over at RPGnet, and possibly as a replacement for wargames, 19th century Romantic literature, and a healthy breakfast.
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