Comments on: A brief division of games http://jonasferry.com/blog/rpg/a-brief-division-of-games/ Jonas Ferry on things of interest Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:22:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Jonas http://jonasferry.com/blog/rpg/a-brief-division-of-games/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Jonas Tue, 14 Jun 2005 00:00:00 +0000 http://jonasferry.com/blog/uncategorized/a-brief-division-of-games/#comment-48 I'll have to add some stuff. Part of this entry is based on Ben Lehman's <a href=http://benlehman.blogspot.com/2005/06/larp-systems.html>LARP Systems</a>, Jonas Barkå's <a href=http://unrealitiesofmine.blogspot.com/2005/06/nordic-lajv-part-i-fantasy.html>Nordic lajv part I – Fantasy</a>, the RPGnet thread <a href=http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=197050> What LARP systems are there?</a> and Vi åker Jeep's <a href=http://jeepen.olle.ter.dk/wiki/doku.php?id=theory:comparing_free_form_with_larp_and_table-top_role_play>Comparing free form and other styles of play</a>. Interesting to note is that on the Jeep page the notion of LARPs as a more constrained version of freeform is put forth under the heading "Discussion", and LARP as a constrained version of table-top games (or more precisely Jeep Form) under "Excerpts". Something I would also like to discuss is the notion that if you play a general-system game like Dungeons & Dragons but remove the rules, you're playing freeform. I've seen it phrased that way on the Forge, where they very much like the idea of rules that force the group to play in a way it might not do otherwise, hopefully making the game fun in ways they wouldn't think of themselves. But is the removal of rules from general-system games really the same thing as freeform as used by ASF and Jeep, and if not, what's the difference? I'll have to add some stuff. Part of this entry is based on Ben Lehman's LARP Systems, Jonas Barkå's Nordic lajv part I – Fantasy, the RPGnet thread What LARP systems are there? and Vi åker Jeep's Comparing free form and other styles of play.

Interesting to note is that on the Jeep page the notion of LARPs as a more constrained version of freeform is put forth under the heading “Discussion”, and LARP as a constrained version of table-top games (or more precisely Jeep Form) under “Excerpts”.

Something I would also like to discuss is the notion that if you play a general-system game like Dungeons & Dragons but remove the rules, you're playing freeform. I've seen it phrased that way on the Forge, where they very much like the idea of rules that force the group to play in a way it might not do otherwise, hopefully making the game fun in ways they wouldn't think of themselves. But is the removal of rules from general-system games really the same thing as freeform as used by ASF and Jeep, and if not, what's the difference?

]]> By: Sven Holmström http://jonasferry.com/blog/rpg/a-brief-division-of-games/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Sven Holmström Tue, 14 Jun 2005 00:00:00 +0000 http://jonasferry.com/blog/uncategorized/a-brief-division-of-games/#comment-50 It's definitely 'freeform'. The Swedish word 'friform' has basically two meanings. One is taböe top without rules. The other is a type of play of which Vi åker Jeep is one exponent. (ok, it doesn't have to be like this, but this is how I use the term. And that's way I even in English texts prefer to say 'friform'.) About the differences much can be said. When I get back to civilization I might say more. It's definitely 'freeform'. The Swedish word 'friform' has basically two meanings. One is taböe top without rules. The other is a type of play of which Vi åker Jeep is one exponent. (ok, it doesn't have to be like this, but this is how I use the term. And that's way I even in English texts prefer to say 'friform'.)

About the differences much can be said. When I get back to civilization I might say more.

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