Whether You Win or Lose

[gorm]

Whether You Win or Lose © 1998-2001 Dru Pagliassotti

At the simplest level of analysis, "winning" means having your character survive the adventure, and "losing" means having your character killed. But that's really too simple. If your character completely flubbed the adventure and hundreds of innocents are killed as a result, did you really win the game? If your character heroically took a fatal gunshot meant for another character or an innocent bystander, did you really lose the game? If all of the characters kill each other in a bitter argument and the whole gaming group collapses, did any player win the game?

Interesting essay, I would like to hear/read your thoughts.

[The Semi-Retired Gamer]

Jun 2, 2024 21:49:08 GMT -5 gorm said:

Whether You Win or Lose © 1998-2001 Dru Pagliassotti

At the simplest level of analysis, "winning" means having your character survive the adventure, and "losing" means having your character killed. But that's really too simple. If your character completely flubbed the adventure and hundreds of innocents are killed as a result, did you really win the game? If your character heroically took a fatal gunshot meant for another character or an innocent bystander, did you really lose the game? If all of the characters kill each other in a bitter argument and the whole gaming group collapses, did any player win the game?

Interesting essay, I would like to hear/read your thoughts.

I always counted a win as surviving but also whether I and the other players had fun and would want to get together for more games in the future. That's just for me, though.  I never considered the topics mentioned in the original post.  I'll check it out.