superfan wrote:
My thoughts about Gencon and DCC tournaments:
I hope that in the future some way can be found to award "roleplaying" in addition to hoarding items, charges, reaching goals, etc.
I REALLY liked the tournaments (heck, I became the superfan after Devil Lich), but found the cut-throat intensity and "points only" mentality so different from my home game that it was a bit of a culture shock. I got so wrapped up in the points mongering last time I played that I acted a bit like a jerk to my DM (Erika) and to my team. Still a bit bummed out about that.
Perhaps I'm just a big wuss, but I'd like to see a team that "played well together" with fun, roleplaying, and other soft factors get a few points thrown their way.
Ben "superfan" Waxman
Either way, you can't get around the point system. Even tournaments like Nascrag (which is heavy on roleplaying) have a point system. With roleplaying thrown into the mix, it becomes more of an arbitrary point system, as it is left up to the discretion of the GM.
Some tournaments just allow a few points for roleplaying well (that the GM can assign).
I admit...tournaments can be rough. Every year, it takes us awhile to get acclimated to it again (our home group is heavy on the roleplaying), but we always enjoy ourselves.
I've always seen the DCC tournament as the perfect example of how a tournament should be written and run. I have fond memories of playing in the AD&D Open events...but the current D&D Open events pale in comparison to the depth that the DCC tournaments bring - puzzles, riddles, combat, strategy, and the best GMs.
I haven't been disappointed yet, so I'd be willing to try whatever GoodmanGames throws at us.
By the way...Superfan...please say you're doing the tournament maps again! Those were awesome. They truly added depth to those encounters.