Easy to please

[lisefrac]

When I hear people complaining about 5G -- in particular about not having fun, or not having enough to do -- I find myself asking:

Do I just have really low expectations because this is the first boffer game I've played?

I mean, I didn't think I did. I'm pretty picky about my games. There are many theater-style games I wasn't ashamed to leave

Comments

[laura47]

I strongly suspect there is a significant differnce between the two sides. The wrathfire event had, no joke, twice as much for me to do, and i *wasnt able to do it all*. I didnt read every single thing in the library! I didnt go on every mod i could have! I was up past 4:30 both nights!!!! This was so ahockongly different. I spend a loooot of time taling to people at wrathborn events, but even i run out of shit to talk about/ability to keep talking with no new stimulous after 5 hours of nothing waiting for mods that never happen. (Saturday night event 2)

[laura47]

"I feel bad about liking this game when other people aren't having a good time."

If it helps, welcome to my tbc experience. :) it's a weird feeling

[lisefrac]

*nod* That all sounds reasonable. (And I totally trust your ability to extrovert for five hours--far better than I could do!) I also think the staff is getting more organized as the game goes on, too, which may be why the Wrathfire event succeeded for many people.

If it helps, welcome to my tbc experience. :) it's a weird feeling

As one of the people TBC didn't work for, I felt on the outside there because it seemed like more people WERE having fun than not. It's also weird and uncomfortable to be out of sync with one's friends, if you're the least bit empathetic.

Hard to say...

[cristovau]

It is often hard to say why a game clicks for someone or fails. I think you are right about your team and your order. Enthusiasm leads to enthusiasm, and you can have a fun time if others show encouragement.

Ultimately, it is hard to say. I am glad you are having a good time. It took you a while to get here, and IMHO you deserve to enjoy this campaign.

Re: Hard to say...

[electric_d_monk]

Something about the sentence structure here is really making me read this in Ren's voice... :)

There is merit in trying not to gush _too_ openly or constantly in front of those that things aren't clicking for. (And, that's just as true in reverse, for those with difficulties in a game... Both enthusiasm and discontent can be either infectious or grating depending on circumstances). But at the same time, one shouldn't feel they have to bottle it up and not talk about things at all. In social media, we have cuts and tags to hide things away if people aren't interested for a reason. You're generally good about employing such things though, so I think you're worrying a little too much about things, Lise.

Re: Hard to say...

[cristovau]

Both enthusiasm and discontent can be either infectious or grating depending on circumstances

I have found that in Cottington, I need to tamper my discontent. This is not only for the sake of those around me, but for my own sake, too. If I stew too long on what I dislike, I ignore opportunities to actually have fun. Plus, a sour-puss party will reinforce itself.

By focusing on the things I enjoy, and on the positive, my games have been much better, and I think other players have had a better time.

Also, Ren's vocal mannerism is strong.

Re: Hard to say...

[lisefrac]

It took you a while to get here, and IMHO you deserve to enjoy this campaign.

Thanks :) Trying new stuff is skeery, but it's rewarding when it all works out.

[offside7]

It's funny, I feel like I experience both of these things, but lately at boffer campaigns, I've been feeling mostly either "other people are raving, and I had a decent but not great time, what am I missing?" feeling.

As you've pointed out to me before, people might be exaggerating their reactions, possibly to make a point or gain more sympathy or generate more enthusiasm or whatever.

Expectations definitely play a role, which is something I'm very conscious of and trying so hard to manage in myself, (but I think largely failing.) Something I learned from another boffer campaign is that you can affect your own experience a lot with your character, so it's also possible your experience simply was better not because your expectations were low but because you successfully created a character that optimizes your experience of the LARP.

I'm actually seeing almost exclusively extremely positive stuff, but I'm curious about what kind of criticisms people might have. ...I should work on my own posts for the LARP.

[lisefrac]

As you've pointed out to me before, people might be exaggerating their reactions, possibly to make a point or gain more sympathy or generate more enthusiasm or whatever.

Have I? That's very clever. I'd certainly like to take credit for it!

so it's also possible your experience simply was better not because your expectations were low but because you successfully created a character that optimizes your experience of the LARP.

I also like to think I'm this clever!

I should work on my own posts for the LARP.

I look forward to both the private and public posts :) Mostly the private ones, tho, I have to admit ;)

[gaylord500]

I think the circle/team thing might be the "it" factor. For me, it turns surprisingly hard to find anyone interested in giving or accepting game-related RP - folks seem busy dealing with something else, or eating, hanging out, in-joking with friends and are less available to see other characters around. But that might be my own experiences and and character choices.

So on my part, I wouldn't say I had a bad time at 5G, but more than a little felt like going pretty far to do a lot of stuff I could do at home.

[lisefrac]

That's totally fair. Being without a team can be tough, I get the feeling. I am very grateful for what I have. And I also don't have to travel as far as you.

Out of curiosity, are you interested in being on a team, or are you specifically going without one for the RP experience of it? (I'd considered doing something similar for Crossover -- being a purposeful outsider -- which is why I asked).

(I hope I made myself available for RP -- I know we talked a few times. But I also know that sometimes, in the heat of battle, I was just asking you for your tasty tasty Attributes, too, so I may just be contributing to the problem).

[gaylord500]

For 5G, I don't feel a need either way as a player, and would go where the rp leads. I think you/your character has a hint there's is a detailed background to this character that he is reluctant to discuss, but I'm not sure anyone else realizes that much yet.

So far, there hasn't seemed to be much to change the character's thinking on warbands or much of anything else.

[lisefrac]

I have gotten that hint! Not sure how much I should push. I mean, okay -- it's Ianthe. She should push. We only have ten games to play with.

What are Ixtachtl's thoughts on warbands, anyway?

[staystrong62805]

I personally see a lot of the really awesome stuff about Fifth Gate. Their world is phenomenal and their setup has been really interesting

[lisefrac]

It's funny, because I'm usually not a heavily simulationist larper. I'm more of a narrativist first and a gamist second. But I'm pretty happy on those fronts, too. James (and the other writers) are great storytellers, and I'm pleased with the mechanics and how they play out in combat (though again, that's an area where if I were more experienced, I might be pickier).

I guess I see the successes of the game more as narrativist successes than simulationist successes? But I think that plays a part, too. My best games have been ones where I've been able to become fully immersed.

I can see how worrying about your team getting in would dampen your enthusiasm. Not having to deal with that Silverfire side is probably part of my enjoyment. I freely admit that if I were left by myself, without a team, my game would be very different -- not bad, necessarily; it's kind of what I want to do in Crossover if I play -- but different.

Are you leaving the game? Or was that a mere hypothetical?

[staystrong62805]

I see the difference between narrativism and simulationism as the difference between My Story vs The World's Story. These are the definitions I've used