I'm coming to the conclusion that I don't really like gaming with people that are like me. I say this because the first session of Steph's campaign was pretty frustrating for me - through no fault of yours, Steph. But when everyone playing is a rules lawyer to some degree, when most of the people won't resist making the obvious OOC joke or reference when the opportunity arises (most of the jokes being obvious and predictable enough not to be funny), I don't find myself getting the enjoyment I might otherwise out of the game. The sad thing is that these are both things I'm guilty of. I've tried lately to focus down more to the character, the heart of the ROLEplaying game, but I don't feel like I manage it very well.
I really enjoy online gaming. On OpenRPG, when I'm in the zone I fell like I really do get into my character's head. I can bleed off the OOC information, filtering just the real stuff into the game. All of my deepest and richest characters have been online - Fleck, Saeris, Sindylanus, Bethany; even as early in my gaming career as Darion and Yemetina.
As nice of a change as DMing is for the thirteen kingdoms, I don't feel like I'm very good at it. I can do a session or two when I'm inspired; after that, things seem to drag, and I lose sight of where the campaign is actually going. I run into that problem with characters, too - I can get a backstory, but long-term goals and ambitions are more difficult. I guess Bethany was the best I ever had on that front - but as a paladin, once you witness the richest and most corrupt city in the world, that decision is pretty well made for you. I almost felt like I had that for Fleck, but I can't play or explore my own character as well as I'd like when I'm DMing. Hopefully when summer's out Emiricol will fell back to DMing.
Rambling and long. Two for the movie tonight - two more seats in my car, anyone interested? More than that, we may be able to convince Melissa to drive too...
click
