Re: Controversial Gaming Question

From: kcrowe@ozemail.com.au (Ken Crowe)

Date: Tue, 25 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000

attila3@ix.netcom.com(Aleks Andrzejewski ) wrote:

>I want to start a thread of discussion on a topic.  Here it goes:

>This is a discussion of developing a game dealing with life in or the
>running of an concentration camp.  I am playing devil�s advocate on
>this one.
//snip//

It semms to me that another reason people play RPG is to enjoy the
differences from their real lives.. such as playing a fantasy race in
a medieval land, or a hi-tech rebel in a dark world, or a magical
creature. But in all the cases the characters are usually playing
"extraordinary people" or have some goal they are reaching.

Life in a concentration camp doesn't seem so appealing.
a) its depressing.
b) what goal can the characters have.. escape? (It could too easily
become a game of "The Great Escape" rather than anything else.
c) The characters have no real say of what they are going to be doing
with their lives.. (This is not usually conductive to RPG's)

There are a couple of roles that seem OK. Mebbe a Commander of a
Concentration camp that likes the people he is commanding.. and is
going against orders of superiors... (a little possibility)

But you are right that it would be very controversial. And the other
problem is that it is soo limited.. mebbe a better idea would be a RPG
about WW2. (If you make it really historically correct, and provide
backgrounds for different groups it could be _really_ cool. But there
is the problem that it could degenerate into a tabletop wargame :(

References

Controversial Gaming Question
attila3@ix.netcom.com(Aleks Andrzejewski )
Tue, 25 Jun 1996 00:00:00 +0000