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Does A Game System Imply A Genre Of Play

Does a game system, like Dungeons and Dragon naturally imply that the games are going to be Fantasy?

I begin my gaming life as a toddler sitting in my father's lap as he GM'd Dungeons & Dragons for his buddies around our dinner table. Having read all the 2nd edition Dungeons & Dragons books by the time I was in 2nd Grade, I would say the system screams for Fantasy. But in recent years, fantasy hasn't been the only genre to appear from the pages of Dungeons & Dragons and its supplements.

How does one get around the implied genre for say Dungeons & Dragons and encourage players to try a campaign outside the norm?

Play Genre Imply System Game Does

I was reading up on something like this some time ago and TSR did come out with Gamma World which wasn't as popular as Dungeons & Dragons so I think there wasn't as much focus on it. When anyone hears " Dungeons & Dragons " they think medieval fantasy not science fiction but I'm sure it can be converted if someone is willing to come up with all the skill and feat equivalents.

Does A Game System Imply A Genre Of Play Reviews RPG & Card Board

I agree Txtrpg. Gamma World was one attempt by TSR. How about Spelljammer?

How would you proceed to advertise interest for such a campaign that is off the norm? Would mentioning that it utilizes a certain system's ruleset be appropriate or would you take another approach and advertise the setting and its features?

Play Genre Imply System Game Does

I wish I could help you out Malcomshaw but as a relatively new player to it all I can't suggest anything. All I can say for myself is I would not dive into anything I wasn't already familiar with unless I was in that mood** to try something new.

** That doesn't happen too often.

Play Genre Imply System Game Does

Malcolm, I think you have to have the emphasis on the setting and not the game system being used. Talk about the setting and maybe have a small note about the system being used. Many people prefer fantasy to sci-fi. With the type of game you are referring to you need people that like the setting. If they like the setting then the system being used shouldn't matter much. Many people like the various Dungeons & Dragons editions but would not want to play a Science Fiction game. That's just my opinion of course. I hope that helps a little bit *smile*.

Edited: Kyrroeth on 22nd Jul, 2016 - 12:14am

Does A Game System Imply A Genre Of Play

I think a lot of people do things just because its a certain name brand. The style could suck but they just do it anyway because its "X". Others are more sensitive and want to see what the whole thing is about rather than just what the rules are. If a game system is going to dictate a genre then there is a reason for that - the system was made for it. Dungeons & Dragons wasn't made for science fiction, while it could be adapted how do you account for skills, feats, profession, science, technology, planets and all that? You can't with just Dungeons & Dragons books so you end up coming up with your own stuff. Then is it Dungeons & Dragons any more or really your system just using Dungeons & Dragons rules for certain things. Others have been down this road before and they make systems that cater for science fiction.

Does Game System Imply Genre Play

If you utilize the name brand to sell the content, is that wrong?

Sure there is a lot of work in converting a fantasy system to a science fiction. However if the core mechanics are that adapatable, why couldn't it be advertised as "Science Fiction for Dungeons & Dragons "?

So on the forums, Dungeons & Dragons falls under its own section. If that is the only place to run Dungeons & Dragons games, and the other games are all fantasy, would a Science Fiction game being rejected from that section?

-MS.