This week on The Gauntlet Podcast, Kate Bullock and I are joined by Avery Alder of Monsterhearts fame to discuss violence in roleplaying games. The discussion focuses on why we tend to default to violence, and how to make space for different kinds of outcomes. It’s a terrific discussion, probably one of the best we’ve ever had on the show.
And big thanks to Steve Mains for the tight edit on this one (and those great stingers!)
Also: Giving Me Bleed!
Enjoy!
http://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/the-gauntlet-podcast/episode-90-violence-in-roleplaying-games
This has gotta be one of, possibly my favourite, episodes. So good !
This has gotta be one of, possibly my favourite, episodes. So good !
I’m really excited about this, as it’s a topic that doesn’t get enough coverage that we should pay more attention to.
I’m really excited about this, as it’s a topic that doesn’t get enough coverage that we should pay more attention to.
Very toughfull and eye-opening. I also think Kate Bullock did a really good job hosting. She’s a natural.
“Giving me bleed” is so cool. Knowing the name came out at the last minute makes it ever more amazing. It may be hard to follow up though. Not all games have bleed.
Keep up the amazing job. This show keeps getting better and better. I really like that you departed from the fixed formula and are exploring different angles.
Very toughfull and eye-opening. I also think Kate Bullock did a really good job hosting. She’s a natural.
“Giving me bleed” is so cool. Knowing the name came out at the last minute makes it ever more amazing. It may be hard to follow up though. Not all games have bleed.
Keep up the amazing job. This show keeps getting better and better. I really like that you departed from the fixed formula and are exploring different angles.
Good episode.
Some stories with the violence/action at the beginning: Crime & Punishment, Veronica Mars, most detective stories (esp. Golden Age), Flight of the Phoenix, 21 Grams, Picnic at Hanging Rock, “The Metamorphosis”, Bonfire of the Vanities.
Halfway through is less common even than that, e.g. Japanese Story (not saying why, spoilerific), Full Metal Jacket.
Good episode.
Some stories with the violence/action at the beginning: Crime & Punishment, Veronica Mars, most detective stories (esp. Golden Age), Flight of the Phoenix, 21 Grams, Picnic at Hanging Rock, “The Metamorphosis”, Bonfire of the Vanities.
Halfway through is less common even than that, e.g. Japanese Story (not saying why, spoilerific), Full Metal Jacket.
I guess it was great that I left so inspired. Loved the episode.
A few thoughts:
1. Curious if move placement even in PBTA also gives an impression of violence. Imagine if AW had Read a Snitch as the first move rather than Go Aggro; the same with US having Figure Someone Out, rather than Unleash.
I feel readers look at hierarchy of moves as guidance.
2. +Jason Cordova, curious if there is a squishiness to violence curve that exist. In Call of Cthulu, do you really want to get violent? You are probably going to die. In the many games I have ran of The ‘Hood from +James Mullen, many players really struggle with the desire to do violence since they only have 3 levels of health with being killed becoming VERY easy.
3. I keep a scorecard of Hard Moves +Jason Cordova, specifically so that i don’t abuse the top ones too much. I make a tick every time I do one, and that allows me to have constant view of the ones I am under appreciating.
4. +Tom McGrenery, in all of those the early escalated violence in book form is a prologue, not an early climax. All items are used to drive the rest of the story.
I guess it was great that I left so inspired. Loved the episode.
A few thoughts:
1. Curious if move placement even in PBTA also gives an impression of violence. Imagine if AW had Read a Snitch as the first move rather than Go Aggro; the same with US having Figure Someone Out, rather than Unleash.
I feel readers look at hierarchy of moves as guidance.
2. +Jason Cordova, curious if there is a squishiness to violence curve that exist. In Call of Cthulu, do you really want to get violent? You are probably going to die. In the many games I have ran of The ‘Hood from +James Mullen, many players really struggle with the desire to do violence since they only have 3 levels of health with being killed becoming VERY easy.
3. I keep a scorecard of Hard Moves +Jason Cordova, specifically so that i don’t abuse the top ones too much. I make a tick every time I do one, and that allows me to have constant view of the ones I am under appreciating.
4. +Tom McGrenery, in all of those the early escalated violence in book form is a prologue, not an early climax. All items are used to drive the rest of the story.
Violence-at-the-start, American Crime on ABC (not the OJ miniseries). It always starts with a violent crime, and then the whole thing is about the ripples of that violence on the accused, the victims, and the people in their lives. It’s so not about the police and lawyers that they’re almost never even given center-of-screen time.
Violence-at-the-start, American Crime on ABC (not the OJ miniseries). It always starts with a violent crime, and then the whole thing is about the ripples of that violence on the accused, the victims, and the people in their lives. It’s so not about the police and lawyers that they’re almost never even given center-of-screen time.
The discussion of power fantasies reminded me of this classic talk/essay by the sf writer Tom Disch where he has some interesting things to say about them: https://goo.gl/T4jbkq
The discussion of power fantasies reminded me of this classic talk/essay by the sf writer Tom Disch where he has some interesting things to say about them: https://goo.gl/T4jbkq