German Tabletop RPGs with Philipp Neitzel
For episode 112 of the Gauntlet Podcast, I interviewed Philipp Neitzel about the German RPG scene, indie games overseas, his work on The Dark Eye, and more. Most importantly I ask what The Dark Eye means. I think its a good interview and crazy cool to hear about gaming outside the US.
You can find the episode at the link as well as the rest of the podcasts in the Gauntlet network. You can also support us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/gauntlet
The Dark Eye on DTRPG: http://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/3444/Ulisses-Spiele/subcategory/5805_208/The-Dark-Eye They’re on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thedarkeyegame/
Philipp notes, “You can still get into The Warring Kingdoms crowdfunding, doing late orders on this platform, after it successfully funded on Kickstarter already: https://www.gameontabletop.com/crowdfunding-71.html.”
The idea of the decades-long meta plot in The Dark Eye is really fascinating to me. Do we have anything like that here? Maybe Pathfinder Society or the Adventure Paths?
The idea of the decades-long meta plot in The Dark Eye is really fascinating to me. Do we have anything like that here? Maybe Pathfinder Society or the Adventure Paths?
the World of Darkness was metaplot heavy, was one of my favorite parts of the game back inna day. The idea that the world was changing and spinning along and the PCs could take part.
the World of Darkness was metaplot heavy, was one of my favorite parts of the game back inna day. The idea that the world was changing and spinning along and the PCs could take part.
Legends of the Five Rings has a odd, convoluted progressing meta-plot. When I read it, it seemed to throw out so many babies with the bathwater…but then I heard it was based loosely on the results and choices of winners of their CCG tournaments. Needless to say, all the Mary-Sues and bonkers festering corruption made much more sense.
Legends of the Five Rings has a odd, convoluted progressing meta-plot. When I read it, it seemed to throw out so many babies with the bathwater…but then I heard it was based loosely on the results and choices of winners of their CCG tournaments. Needless to say, all the Mary-Sues and bonkers festering corruption made much more sense.
For the sake of completeness I’d like to mention Midgard which was the very first RPG in Germany – published in 1981 it even predates the German translation of D&D.
For the sake of completeness I’d like to mention Midgard which was the very first RPG in Germany – published in 1981 it even predates the German translation of D&D.
Great interview. Love to listen to you, Philipp!
Talking about the The Dark Eye metaplot I would like to add that it’s not only a living history but one where the editors and fans really closely worked together. With larp conventions which became canon, contests in which everybody who contributed a piece of art could become an official baron in the world and elections in which everybody could vote for who becomes the next ruler. I always loved that.
Great interview. Love to listen to you, Philipp!
Talking about the The Dark Eye metaplot I would like to add that it’s not only a living history but one where the editors and fans really closely worked together. With larp conventions which became canon, contests in which everybody who contributed a piece of art could become an official baron in the world and elections in which everybody could vote for who becomes the next ruler. I always loved that.
Horst Wurst Indeed. And with a wider definition of what makes an RPG as applied today one could even say that the Follow association was the first RPG in Germany. Wasn’t a Tunnels & Trolls translation even first on the German market before D&D?
It is also worth to mention that The Dark Eye only came into existence since Schmidt Spiele was upset on the license fees TSR wanted to charge and then gave the editors a couple of months to design a similar system. Different enough not to be sued. 🙂
Horst Wurst Indeed. And with a wider definition of what makes an RPG as applied today one could even say that the Follow association was the first RPG in Germany. Wasn’t a Tunnels & Trolls translation even first on the German market before D&D?
It is also worth to mention that The Dark Eye only came into existence since Schmidt Spiele was upset on the license fees TSR wanted to charge and then gave the editors a couple of months to design a similar system. Different enough not to be sued. 🙂
Gerrit Reininghaus I am unfamiliar with both systems you mentioned. Could you elaborate on the Follow game? Back in the day (pre-internet) the RPG scene was very insular in Germany and every circle of friends had their own idiosyncrasies. I remember for example that when we spoke in character we mimicked a Middle Age “feudal” speech pattern like talking in the 3rd person or 2nd person plural (I know … it was weird). I also remember that among older players The Dark Eye was frowned upon for being overly complex and a bit childish.
Gerrit Reininghaus I am unfamiliar with both systems you mentioned. Could you elaborate on the Follow game? Back in the day (pre-internet) the RPG scene was very insular in Germany and every circle of friends had their own idiosyncrasies. I remember for example that when we spoke in character we mimicked a Middle Age “feudal” speech pattern like talking in the 3rd person or 2nd person plural (I know … it was weird). I also remember that among older players The Dark Eye was frowned upon for being overly complex and a bit childish.
Follow was the association founded in 1966 to play the “Eternal Game” where players played kingdoms in the fantasy world of Magira (which in 1978/1981 became the world of Midgard). For some it was a simulation game, but it seems that it quickly evolved into Play by Post game / larp by modern standards.
Tunnels & Trolls was the first translated RPG (published by Kiesow / Alpers / Fuchs as “Schwerter und Dämonen”.
The use of 2nd person plural and “only address the characters, never the players” was definitely always there at the tables I knew – just as you described it.
Follow was the association founded in 1966 to play the “Eternal Game” where players played kingdoms in the fantasy world of Magira (which in 1978/1981 became the world of Midgard). For some it was a simulation game, but it seems that it quickly evolved into Play by Post game / larp by modern standards.
Tunnels & Trolls was the first translated RPG (published by Kiesow / Alpers / Fuchs as “Schwerter und Dämonen”.
The use of 2nd person plural and “only address the characters, never the players” was definitely always there at the tables I knew – just as you described it.
Love to hear about RPG scenes outside North America, thanks!
Love to hear about RPG scenes outside North America, thanks!
I second that Randy Gelling! This was a super interesting listen for me. Great interview! I really liked the conversation around the character of the fantasy world. Now I really want to explore it more! What exactly DOES that look like?
I second that Randy Gelling! This was a super interesting listen for me. Great interview! I really liked the conversation around the character of the fantasy world. Now I really want to explore it more! What exactly DOES that look like?