#18 - 2nd Opinions — JBimaginations

I decided to write today about an issue I myself should be more attentive of. Any creative person needs inspiration, and builds off of works that come before them. I should be paying attention to what the larger Role-playing community is doing, and to the games that people are holding. I don't do this enough, but it is January, it is time to hold ourselves to some resolutions.

The simple truth is I don't read enough, but I should. I don't watch enough you-tube videos of other RPGs, nor do I expose myself to enough new ideas and great players. Today I wanted to mention two others and ways I'm trying to learn from they.

First is Seth Skorkowsky.

Who I will link to here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQs8-UJ7IHsrzhQ-OQOYBmg

Specifically about Seth I wanted to bring up his "RPG Social Contract." Simply put, Seth believe the responsibility between a GM and their Players is to ensure everyone has fun. The Players grant GM control over the narrative so that the GM gives everyone a good time. Fun is key to Seth, and to the games he makes and all the adventures he writes. If they were not fun we wouldn't play. So always and forever, that needs to be central to the design of the games.

Additionally Seth recognizes that players and the games they play are imperfect. He is aware that things will not go as planned, and good intentions do not guarantee good results. Yet, perfection need not be the expectation, just the good faith effort to make what isn't working better. To learn from our mistakes and remember that this is a game. That we are playing because we want to be play.

Beyond Seth, I'll mention another YouYube personality, one I don't know as well. That is Cody from Taking20,

Link here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCly0Thn_yZouwdJtg7Am62A

I haven't seen as much of his content, but like me he seems to emphasize being self critical. To question why you are having the games played the way you always have. To resolve issues that come up by asking some elemental questions. "Was this a fluke or a mistake?" "Could we have seen this coming?" and "Did we how did we want things to go anyway?"

Part of learning from our mistakes is understanding that they were. This need not be something we do alone! By definition a RPG is something we do not do alone! Things only happen because we decide they do.

In a fictional world of infinite possibilities, how can we say that something was inevitable? That this was how it was supposed to go? I look forward to watching more of what he has to say because I also have these questions and comments front and center.

That's it for my commentary on ways you can improve. But what good would it do me not to ask for your favorite guides and lessons. Are you a fan of someone you like learning from? Reach out on my contact page and let me know how you keep trying to sharpen your skills.