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I'm going to be making an attempt at NaBloPoMo again; though I'm starting a week late, and don't particularly expect to get something out every day, I'm going to have a try at at least blogging/writing more in depth posts *more* this month. Today's is on the carrot in RPG carrot and stick systems.
In a game I'm currently in "Have a benny" is the equivalent of a pat on the head, and possibly a sweetie to a small child, or a sugar cube to a horse; the "Well done, you did something good!". And I'm truly impressed by the engagement and creativity that it's spawned.
Roleplaying games seem to be buying more and more into the 'carrot' method of promoting engagement, and promoting the styles of play they want. I remember a dozen years ago being deeply impressed by the (then new) RPG Exalted having 'stunts' where describing what you were doing in a cool way made it more likely to succeed.
And it works. I remember watching someone, over the course of a year-long game, go from "I go and hit the guy" to elaborate and exciting descriptions of what his character was doing in and out of combat, and it really helps you picture and feel the combat.
But where I've been really impressed is in its use in a LARP. Its a fairly small non-contact Deadlands PubLarp in London. It uses a slightly adjusted version of the Savage Worlds rules, and in that a 'benny' is a token (usually represented by a poker chip) that allows a reroll, possibly with bonuses.
The social element of the game, both in and around the game, but also through the discussion on its Facebook group, has been a place where the benny as a reward has really helped the group be active, and be interesting.
Benny's are given for being amusing, coming up with a particularly good quip, or otherwise making the games themselves more interesting. But also, on the FB group, when someone makes a bit of art, writes a short story, or adapts a song to the setting and events (my favourite name still being "Texas Bandit Rollerdisco" to the tune of Science Fiction, Double Feature), they can get a benny, occasionally two.
I think part of the key is that you want bonuses that make you feel awesome, but where the mechanical effect of the bonuses are relatively minor and transitory. Otherwise, you risk the game becoming dominated by those best able to 'play' the system to get more rewards. Obviously, it also takes a careful hand on the tiller; to reward that which is interesting and a good contribution, without promoting people spamming the group with crap in a desperate hunt for more bennies.
It's something that's particular to non-contact games, I think, as I can't see a particularly viable way to adapt that sort of bonus to contact games, and it needs a relatively small group so that it's possible to keep track of it all. But properly done, it really can add to a game, set up a situation where people are coming out with lots of interesting and fun things that make the world come to life.
In a game I'm currently in "Have a benny" is the equivalent of a pat on the head, and possibly a sweetie to a small child, or a sugar cube to a horse; the "Well done, you did something good!". And I'm truly impressed by the engagement and creativity that it's spawned.
Roleplaying games seem to be buying more and more into the 'carrot' method of promoting engagement, and promoting the styles of play they want. I remember a dozen years ago being deeply impressed by the (then new) RPG Exalted having 'stunts' where describing what you were doing in a cool way made it more likely to succeed.
And it works. I remember watching someone, over the course of a year-long game, go from "I go and hit the guy" to elaborate and exciting descriptions of what his character was doing in and out of combat, and it really helps you picture and feel the combat.
But where I've been really impressed is in its use in a LARP. Its a fairly small non-contact Deadlands PubLarp in London. It uses a slightly adjusted version of the Savage Worlds rules, and in that a 'benny' is a token (usually represented by a poker chip) that allows a reroll, possibly with bonuses.
The social element of the game, both in and around the game, but also through the discussion on its Facebook group, has been a place where the benny as a reward has really helped the group be active, and be interesting.
Benny's are given for being amusing, coming up with a particularly good quip, or otherwise making the games themselves more interesting. But also, on the FB group, when someone makes a bit of art, writes a short story, or adapts a song to the setting and events (my favourite name still being "Texas Bandit Rollerdisco" to the tune of Science Fiction, Double Feature), they can get a benny, occasionally two.
I think part of the key is that you want bonuses that make you feel awesome, but where the mechanical effect of the bonuses are relatively minor and transitory. Otherwise, you risk the game becoming dominated by those best able to 'play' the system to get more rewards. Obviously, it also takes a careful hand on the tiller; to reward that which is interesting and a good contribution, without promoting people spamming the group with crap in a desperate hunt for more bennies.
It's something that's particular to non-contact games, I think, as I can't see a particularly viable way to adapt that sort of bonus to contact games, and it needs a relatively small group so that it's possible to keep track of it all. But properly done, it really can add to a game, set up a situation where people are coming out with lots of interesting and fun things that make the world come to life.
