Ref: UsefulInformation

What Adventures Do You Want To Play?

Background

I was intrested in some feedback from my players what sort of adventures they prefered. I referee for three diffent groups of players on and off, so it seamed that there would be a representative sample of players amoungst the groups.

The Questions

This is a valued multi choice. IE Put it in order, miss out the ones that are irrelevant to you etc.

A) What sort of game would you like to play in?

1. Combats
2. Intellectual Puzzles
3. Social Situation
4. Ethical Dilemmas
5. Political Machinations

B) What sort of adventures do you prefer?

1. Complex plots that we only understand at all at the end of the campaign
2. Simple one off adventures with no plot arc
3. Loosely related adventures with a plot arc
4. Plot arc that unfold step by step but always make some sense
5. Adventures that allow me to progress my character, dam with a plot arc

C) How much control over you characters focus do you want?

1. I will push him center state when give the chance
2. I would like an opportunity for the character to shine
3. Sometime I would like to be pushed into the center stage
4. I never want to be center stage
5. I will hide behind everyone, please don't even give me a bit part

D) Do you prefer the game to be?

1. A complete challenge
2. A fun evening with friends
3. Should be taken very seriously
4. Leave work at the door
5. Rules is rules - don't mess with them!

The Results

Nice charts: [PDF]

Conculsions

Major findings:

A) there is an even split of the major sort of game, with combat (A.1) just wining out followed by social situations (A.3). Games that focus to highly on combat are just as boring as those that have none. The secret is to have an equal amount of the different sorts of challenges.

B) slowly unfolding plot arc that make some sence is the best (B.4). Most players like to have the campaign arc slowly and understandably expand.

C) adventures that allow each character to shine is the prefered option. It is intresting that most games do not allow specific characters to shine they are focus to much on general character, ie you should change the challenges to match the characters you have.

D) every one wants to have fun. A bit of an obvious result but it does show the rules are in 'theory low on peoples importance' but this is counter to my experience ;)