[RPG] Does the system matter?

Let’s talk about the Star Wars game I’m playing in, ‘cos I think it’s illustrating a fundamental point about people and role-playing games.

Gino called me up last night and said he felt the particular game we're using was getting in the way of the story he wanted to tell. Specifically he compared the d20 system we’re using to a game we played a couple of months ago, My Life with Master and said MLwM was … what? Less cumbersome? Easier to cut to the chase? Anyway, my words – I’m paraphrasing.

Now I’m also damn sure Jenni is not playing a Jedi that’s as cool as the one in her head – not because you can’t have one in d20 Star Wars but because it takes a bit of experience with the system to figure out how to build a super-cool Jedi. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen Celeste go, “Huh?” at all the numbers – many of them completely irrelevant to us – all the numbers on her character sheet. And several times our party’s been saved by Wayne – who’s work in this story is really impressing me – and his knowledge with the rules.

The story Gino’s telling – which is extremely intense – is cool. What’s up is that the system is getting in the way of telling it.

The point: System does matter.

So what's the next step?

I think it's to figure out what you like, what you want from a role-playing game. Then find a role-playing game that helps you deliver the experience you want without much effort. There’s a lot of them out there (and a lot being built right now) that cater to specific preferences.

That’s a big part of why I’m trying so many role-playing games with our group. When I decide on a story to tell, I can pull out an appropriate system – one that won’t get in my way.