The Better Side of RPG Theory- Part VI: Elements of Design

I was original going to skip on covering these for rather obvious reasons. But decided that since I'll be doing a 'Time Line of RPG Theory Post', I may as well include them.

From the last part of 2002 until early 2003, I wrote a column for RPGnet entitled Elements of Gaming.

This was something of a break with the previous models in that it wasn't concerned with defining player types and goals. Rather it was about rpg games themselves, how one could examine them or what should be considered when designing them.

Although well received by some, they made little impact at the time. They didn't lend themselves to that major driver for online fame- flame wars. Further they were of course created from the PoV of tactical rpgs, and that seems to be a minority taste online.

Despite this I do see occasional positive comments on them, and have received requests to publish more in that line. And so we have this Blog, and that's exactly the purpose I'll be putting it to. In the coming weeks I'll be republishing (and updating when need) the original articles and of course adding more. In addition I'll examine specific mechanics in various games, and even game lines with respect to design.

The above link (or link to the right that points to my own archive of those articles as well) can serve as hint of what's to come here. Likely boring, and not that well connected to the current state of the hobby. But that's because I think the current state of the hobby is less than ideal.