Thog Thoughts: Ode To Da Rock

 Once was a rock onna ground,

I figure to give it a pound,

But if I missed

It's 'cause I'm pissed

an I'm not good at being profound.

'Dis has been Thog Thoughts."

Leveling is a Lie

 

Others have noted it, leveling doesn't necessarily make your character better. They just face tougher monsters and the fights take longer. I won't cover that already well-tread ground.

I want to take on the assumption that without leveling, without significant character bonuses earned over time, that a game is only good for a one-shot. Unfortunately, leveling is the default for "character growth" in RPGs because it is simpler than developing a character narratively. Characters growing in a narrative way are much more complex as there are no handy yardsticks to measure it.

To those who think leveling is necessary to hold a player's interest over long games, let me ask you a few questions.

A) Did you ever watch Scooby Doo when you were a kid?

B) Did you keep coming back to see the next week's episode? (okay maybe just the older folks need to answer this).

C) From the first episode to the last episode, how many levels did Shaggy gain? Did he improve in any way or change at all? Nope. 

Most sitcoms, cartoons, and weekly TV shows featured no character growth beyond "who's hooking up with who". Yet fans came back for more. They wanted to see the problem of the week unfold, hear the funny quips, and try to guess how it all ends. 

Without the goal of levels, perhaps the players will become more invested in the tale. Less "what will my character become" and more "what will my character do". If you can accept and enjoy that playstyle, you don't need leveling to enjoy a game for a long, long time.

A Word About Acting

 Acting for the stage is very different than acting for a movie. 

It's all to do with where your audience is.

On the stage, the closest audience member is 5-10 feet away. So your acting needs to be big! Your voice, even in whisper, needs to project so that even those seated in the cheap-seats can hear. Your body should animate with huge gestures to show who is taking.

Acting for the camera means going small. The camera (thus audience) is right there, looking at the pores in your nose, the twitch of your eye. Your speech needn't be loud or bellowing, but soft and subtle. A great actor can convey so much emotion through such subtle acting.

So please, consider how far away your audience is at the game table, and try to act accordingly. Especially if there are other people around you.

This has been a message from Thoggius "Uses-Squirrel-As-Club" Ponderbrain III. Have a functional day.

Thog Thoughts: Evolution

They say Thog stop evolving long, long ago.

Thog remember. That when Thog accept that he perfect just the way he is.

Think like Thog, 'cause gills are over-rated. You be you. No more, no less.

'Dis has been Thog Thoughts.

Thog Thoughts: A Chasing Rhyme

"Roses are Red,

All covered in Goo.

If I catch you and eat you,

you'll turn into poo.

'Dis has been Thog Thoughts"

Thog Thoughts: Thinking

"Thog one day understand, in battle of wits, first brain to hit the floor looses. 

Be careful or Thog out-smart you too.

'Dis has been Thog Thoughts."