Theory review #129

• Against incentive by Luke Gearing argues that all mechanical rewards are bad for gameplay, because they incentivize optimization and making the correct choice, which (for unclear reasons) leads to game master control. https://lukegearing.blot.im/against-incentive
• The gremlin game designer’s creed is a design manifesto with emphasis on rich, messy and non-binding rules. https://prokopetz.tumblr.com/post/726025552832675840/the-gremlin-game-designers-creed
• Analog, digital, procedural by Roger G-S divides old school adventure content in three categories and says something about the usefulness of each. https://rolesrules.blogspot.com/2012/04/analog-digital-procedural.html
• Don’t prep plots by Justin Alexander gives some good tools and reasons for preparing situations. The advice concerning the three clue rule is still about preparing a plot and making sure it happens, however. https://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/4147/roleplaying-games/dont-prep-plots
• Tabletop RPGs in Italy by Maciej “SvartVind” and Claudio ”FroggyC” discusses player agenda, OSR, the scene in Italy and stereotypes about Italians. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKV4k5xZpzc
• Moralising and manipulation in tabletop roleplaying games by Idle Cartulary claims that all claims og bad quality in RPG design are matters of taste, that rules can not coerce people, that rules are scaffolding and that manipulative design exists. https://playfulvoid.game.blog/2023/09/02/moralising-and-manipulation-in-tabletop-roleplaying-games/