Yoki's Favorite Games
Story Games
I love roleplaying, absolutely love it! However, a lot of roleplaying games just give you rules, but no situation to stick your players in from the start. Some other games provide you the tools to create an interesting situation, but perhaps lack specifics. My favorite games are the ones with a tight situation right out of the box, but I do pretty much enjoy all the story games I play. in second place I put games where you are given the tools to create your own situation. These games require a little more preparation prior to actual play, although in some cases it is part of actual play, but the story will be very rich and rewarding.
Situation?
Basically, to me, situation answers the question "what the frick do we do?" The situation should be ripe with conflict and the players should have no chance to avoid it. Situation differs from setting in that setting is where the action takes place, and situation is the cause of the action. The situation should force the players to make hard choices, preferably moral choices.
Personal Fav'es
Remember, the below list is purely my own thoughts on the subject. People may disagree, and perhaps rightfully so, but this is how I view the following games.
| Game | GM | Situation | Preparation | First Session | End-game Rules | Game Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Play | Post PC Gen | ||||||
| Best Friends | Optional | Actual Play | None | None | Actual Play | No | Quick |
| Breaking the Ice | No | Actual Play | None | None | Actual Play | Yes | Quick |
| Capes * | No | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd |
| carry, a game of war | Yes | Loaded | None | None | Actual Play | Yes | Quick |
| Cat | Yes | None | None | None | Actual Play | No | Quick |
| Cold City | Yes | Tools | Scenario | None | Actual Play | No | Short |
| Contenders | No | Actual Play | None | None | Actual Play | Yes | Short |
| Dead of Night * | Yes | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd |
| Dogs in the Vineyard | Yes | Tools | Town | None | Actual Play | No | Quick |
| Don't Rest Your Head * | Yes | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd |
| Dust Devils | Yes | Tools | None | Rel Map | PC Gen | Yes | Short |
| Faery's Tale | Yes | None | Scenario | None | Actual Play | No | Short |
| Fastlane | Yes | Actual Play | None | None | Actual Play | Yes | Short |
| InSpectres | Yes | Loaded | None | None | Actual Play | Yes | Quick |
| Lacuna Part 1 | Yes | Tools | Static | None | Actual Play | No | Quick |
| Mortal Coil * | Yes | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd |
| My Life with Master | Yes | Actual Play | None | None | Actual Play | Yes | Short |
| Piledrivers & Powerbombs | Optional | Loaded | None | None | Actual Play | Yes | Quick |
| Polaris | No | Loaded | None | None | Actual Play | Yes | Long |
| Primetime Adventures | Yes | Actual Play | None | None | Actual Play | Yes | Short |
| Shock: Social Science Fiction * | No | tbd | tbd | tbd | Actual Play | Yes | Quick |
| Sorcerer | Yes | Tools | One-Sheet | Rel Map | PC Gen | Yes | Short |
| Spirit of the Century | Yes | Tools | Scenario | None | Actual Play | No | Quick |
| The Burning Empires | Yes | Tools | None | Rel Map | World and PC Gen | Yes | Long |
| The Burning Wheel | Yes | None | Concept | Rel Map | PC Gen | No | Long |
| The Farm | Yes | Loaded | None | None | Actual Play | Yes | Quick |
| The Mountain Witch | Yes | Loaded | Bangs | None | Actual Play | Yes | Short |
| The Princes' Kingdom | Yes | Tools | Island | None | Actual Play | No | Quick |
| The Riddle of Steel | Yes | None | Concept | Rel Map | PC Gen | No | Long |
| The Secret Lives of Gingerbread Men | Yes | Loaded | None | None | Actual Play | No | Quick |
| The Shadow of Yesterday | Yes | Tools | None | Rel Map | PC Gen | No | Long |
| Trollbabe * | Yes | tbd | tbd | tbd | Actual Play | No | Quick |
| Untitled | Many | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd | tbd |
| With Great Power... | Yes | Tools | NPC Gen | The Plan | PC Gen | Yes | Short |
* Games marked with an asterisk have yet to be rated. I need to revisit the rules to refresh my mind. They're included merely so I won't overlook them.
Definition of Terms
GM
- Yes
- A gamemaster is required to play the game.
- No
- No gamemaster is required. This usually means that standard gamemaster duties are shared by the players.
- Optional
- Can be run with or without a GM.
- Many
- Features many GMs, but only one player character (so far Untitled is the only game that fits this category, as far as I know).
Situation
- Actual Play
- You will create the situation together, as a group, during the first session.
- Loaded
- The Situation is loaded for conflict right out of the book.
- None
- No default situation is provided, nor specific tools for creating one. You're on your own soldier!
- Tools
- The game features the rules and/or guidelines required to prepare a situation ready to explode in the characters' faces. This usually falls on the shoulders of the GM to do prior to the first session. Refer to the Pre-Play Preparation column for details on what specifically is prepared, if nothing is listed, refer to the Post PC Gen Preparation column instead (this usually means that a well-defined setting is provided, which will help in creating the situation post PC generation).
Preparation
- Concept
- As the GM you should have a few basic ideas for setting and situation to pitch to the players.
- Generic Bangs
- The GM will be aided by having a list of generic bangs at his disposal.
- None
- No prep of this kind necessary to play the game.
- One-Sheet
- A detailed write-up on setting and setting-specific rules. It could also encompass situation, but without yet anchoring the characters to it (as they've yet to be created).
- Scenario
- You must prepare a scenario prior to actual play.
- Tools
- The game features the rules and guidelines required to prepare the necessary feature of the game, usually a scenario or relationship map of sort.
- Rel Map
- A Relationship Map must be created post PC generation, and Bangs prepared prior to each session. This means that some minor prep is required before each session. Depending on the system you also create the major NPCs at this stage.
- PC Gen
- Player Character (protagonist) Generation consists of creating your characters and Kickers, but no Actual Play.
First Session
- Actual Play
- Means, well, Actual Play. I.e. you actually start playing during the first session, either as you create/choose your characters, or immediately after.
- PC Gen
- Player Character (protagonist) Generation consists of creating your characters and Kickers, but no Actual Play.
Endgame
- Yes or No
- Does the game come with specific mechanics for triggering endgame, yes or no?
Game Length
- Quick
- 1-2 sessions, perfect for one-shots. This does not mean that a game cannot run over 1-2 sessions, but rather that this is the minimum for rewarding play. Please note that I refer to sessions of 3 to 4 hours in length.
- Short
- 2-6 sessions, perfect for short campaigns.
- Long
- 7+ sessions, perfect for epic campaigns.