Re: [DL] Worst Games

["Daniel Gwyn" <dgwyn@colba.net>]

In no particular order, with a general qualifying statement:  any game
system
can be a bad or good experience depending on the GM/player dynamic.  I have
had terrible and great role playing experiences with the same systems
depending on the GM.  Even the worst game can be good or redeemable
according to the game master.  One of the best campaigns I was in was based
on TSR's Amazing Engine Bug Hunters game setting but used Cyberpunk game
mechanics.  Both of these are on some people's worst lists.  It all comes
down to mostly the DM/GM/Marshall's skill, and to a lesser extent on the
players' skill.

1.  Star Frontiers.  This TSR SF RGP came out with no rules for space combat
or the like, (it later added an almost separate game to cover this, almost a
board game).  While the weapons looked cool in concept they were almost
unplayable.  I remember laser guns having adjustable settings, however, if
you wanted to use full power, you were limited to two shots!  What happened
to Star Wars-esque hosing down stormtroopers?  Furthermore, PCs started with
a very limited set of skills.
2.  MERP.  No real fault of the system, it is just the GM who ran it was a
prick who managed to make it play like Paranoia.  This left a bad taste in
my mouth.  Also, the game system struck me as a bit clunky.
3.  Oeil Noir  (Black Eye) this game was produced by a company that made
choose your own path adventures.  Stats were generated by 1d6's which meant
that it was very easy to get sucky characters, so much so that there was a
class called "adventurer" which in essence was for those characters who were
too useless to be in the "real" classes.
4.  Shadowrun.  Coolish setting, but the mechanics suck big time.  After
playing a bit I realised that there was far too little balance between
attributes (strength, etc.) and skills, to the point I was tempted to make a
character with minimal attributes but loads of skill.  Also, the character
generation system made, demi-humans really unattractive.
5.  Warhammer, in all its shapes and sizes.  Too much a wargame based game
and quite frankly it setting, races, equipment, etc. just look too goofy for
words.
    Daniel Gwyn