PallasRiotRules lite TTRPG systems are a scourge on the hobby and a fundamental misunderstanding of what games are. Trying to "streamline" games is largely a pathological drive from capitalist pressures, we can surely make the most efficient rules lite system ever by simply having everyone gather on a Friday, declare themselves heroic, and have a pizza. The point of a game isn't strictly the outcome, it's the process as well. It's primarily the process even!
Jonathan Hartley@PallasRiot Perhaps we're using the words differently, but you trigger my counterpoint: A home-grown streamlined version is what allowed me to introduce my 7y.o. and their friends to DnD in an age-appropriate complexity, which was joyful for all, and also insert myself amongst his peers as DM, so that I could guide and curate the autistic kiddo's social interactions, which made for a transformational leap in his otherwise dysfunctional ability to manage friendships.
@PallasRiot So it had indescribably huge value for us, and at the time I was stressed and harried and very time-poor and would have *loved* a store bought experience that would have provided that without me having to design it all myself from the ground up.
@PallasRiot Plus, isn't there a valid space in the world for the table-top equivalent of the videogame "walking simulator". The story and experience and participation is the point, much like watching a t.v. show. I don't want to have to write it as it goes!
@tartley I'd argue that doing something like homebrewing your own pared-down version of D&D that fits specific group needs is the sort of thing that can really only be done when you're starting from a position of enough sophistication and crunch to have the pieces to shape to your needs. It requires that the people doing the homebrewing have a good sense of what rules do and why. Those are things that come with engaging with robust rules systems. An out of the box rules lite system is necessarily less tailored to any particular group needs and is likely going to offer fewer pieces of system that can actually be shaped to task.
@PallasRiot sure, there is no doubt also some truth in that. Thanks for all your posts.