Comments on: The Two Laws of Laughter and RPGs http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/the-two-laws-of-laughter-and-rpgs Game mastering advice, ideas & resources • Dedicated to helping GMs Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:04:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rick the Wonder Algae http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/the-two-laws-of-laughter-and-rpgs/comment-page-1#comment-3587 Rick the Wonder Algae Wed, 23 Aug 2006 14:35:42 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=445#comment-3587 I had a DM in my high school years hand out xp penalties for cracking wise during a game. Especially to me. I think I got "preferential treatment" because I kept rules-lawering him. I had a DM in my high school years hand out xp penalties for cracking wise during a game. Especially to me. I think I got “preferential treatment” because I kept rules-lawering him.

]]> By: Martin http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/the-two-laws-of-laughter-and-rpgs/comment-page-1#comment-3579 Martin Tue, 22 Aug 2006 22:33:48 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=445#comment-3579 My group's most recent game-derailing inside joke comes from a Saturday Night Live sketch with Kevin Spacey doing Christopher Walken auditioning for the part of Han Solo. If anyone says "Fast...ship," we're out of action for several minutes. ;) My group’s most recent game-derailing inside joke comes from a Saturday Night Live sketch with Kevin Spacey doing Christopher Walken auditioning for the part of Han Solo.

If anyone says “Fast…ship,” we’re out of action for several minutes. ;)

]]> By: longcoat000 http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/the-two-laws-of-laughter-and-rpgs/comment-page-1#comment-3578 longcoat000 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 22:31:05 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=445#comment-3578 Gaming and laughter go hand-in-hand. Certainly, there are moments when laughter in game isn't appropriate, wanted, or warrented, but I've never played an ENTIRE game with that feel. Roleplaying is essentially playing "let's pretend" with a set of rules. If you watch kids play any sort of pretend game, they're usually laughing, joking, and having a good ol' time. Why should we adults be any different? And a quick tip: If someone says something side-splittingly funny or just plain great, write it down on the inside cover of whatever rulebook you're gaming with. If you're stuck for ideas later, you can look back on these and remember what really got the players paying attention to the game. Even if they're cracking a good joke, it shows that they're paying enough attention to the game to do so. Gaming and laughter go hand-in-hand. Certainly, there are moments when laughter in game isn’t appropriate, wanted, or warrented, but I’ve never played an ENTIRE game with that feel.

Roleplaying is essentially playing “let’s pretend” with a set of rules. If you watch kids play any sort of pretend game, they’re usually laughing, joking, and having a good ol’ time. Why should we adults be any different?

And a quick tip: If someone says something side-splittingly funny or just plain great, write it down on the inside cover of whatever rulebook you’re gaming with. If you’re stuck for ideas later, you can look back on these and remember what really got the players paying attention to the game. Even if they’re cracking a good joke, it shows that they’re paying enough attention to the game to do so.

]]> By: Spleen23 http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/the-two-laws-of-laughter-and-rpgs/comment-page-1#comment-3574 Spleen23 Tue, 22 Aug 2006 08:55:58 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=445#comment-3574 Every group needs thier resident funnyman. You got your serious player doing his thing, and the other players have to wait for him to finish, with half the players ending up stareing blankly into space or nodding off. Crack a few jokes here and there that involve what happening in the game, players are alert and awake and paying attension so that they don't miss out on the next funny or miss the chance to make thier own. Every group needs thier resident funnyman.
You got your serious player doing his thing, and the other players have to wait for him to finish, with half the players ending up stareing blankly into space or nodding off.
Crack a few jokes here and there that involve what happening in the game, players are alert and awake and paying attension so that they don’t miss out on the next funny or miss the chance to make thier own.

]]> By: ScottM http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/the-two-laws-of-laughter-and-rpgs/comment-page-1#comment-3571 ScottM Mon, 21 Aug 2006 19:52:32 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=445#comment-3571 I think both laws are true; humor goes well with almost every game. Not at key, tense scenes-- well, not usually-- but we'll find a reason to laugh most sessions. As a GM, I rarely aim at including something specifically for laughs-- the players will find something funny no matter my setup. I get to be the straight man... I think both laws are true; humor goes well with almost every game. Not at key, tense scenes– well, not usually– but we’ll find a reason to laugh most sessions.

As a GM, I rarely aim at including something specifically for laughs– the players will find something funny no matter my setup. I get to be the straight man…

]]> By: Ilwan http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/the-two-laws-of-laughter-and-rpgs/comment-page-1#comment-3566 Ilwan Mon, 21 Aug 2006 16:07:04 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=445#comment-3566 Besides very good character play (which often involve laughter as well), the laughs are the moments I remember the most from my games. Last week I tried to play Ninja Burger with my fantasy group and it was a 4 hours continious laugh. Even though the system and story is completly silly, the group agreed that a game that makes you laugh so much, only can be a good game. I would'nt be able to play in a group that are disturbed by laughs during game sessions. As a group aged 30+ playing fantasy games and rolling dice, I would be embarrased if we didn't laugh. After all it is a game without winners (I can easily play competitive game without smiling once) and the good time together is the reward. Besides very good character play (which often involve laughter as well), the laughs are the moments I remember the most from my games.

Last week I tried to play Ninja Burger with my fantasy group and it was a 4 hours continious laugh. Even though the system and story is completly silly, the group agreed that a game that makes you laugh so much, only can be a good game.

I would’nt be able to play in a group that are disturbed by laughs during game sessions.

As a group aged 30+ playing fantasy games and rolling dice, I would be embarrased if we didn’t laugh. After all it is a game without winners (I can easily play competitive game without smiling once) and the good time together is the reward.

]]> By: Gospog http://www.treasuretables.org/2006/08/the-two-laws-of-laughter-and-rpgs/comment-page-1#comment-3563 Gospog Mon, 21 Aug 2006 13:59:32 +0000 http://www.treasuretables.org/?p=445#comment-3563 Our games are typically laughing from beginning to end. We've had people quit our games becuase the games "weren't serious enough". (we laugh at them) We figure that if everyone is laughing, then everyone is having a good time. If everyone's having a good time, we must be doing something right. Our games are typically laughing from beginning to end.

We’ve had people quit our games becuase the games “weren’t serious enough”. (we laugh at them)

We figure that if everyone is laughing, then everyone is having a good time. If everyone’s having a good time, we must be doing something right.

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