Different Ways to Play

There is no one RPG that rocks everyone's boat. Some people like stories steeped in intrigue and mystery, where others could care less what it takes to get into a good brawl. The perfect RPG, if one would exist, would allow for any and all of these styles of play.

Focusing on one style, on the other hand, has made a lot of indie RPGs very popular. Apocalypse World, Fiasco, and Blades in the Dark are all great examples of games doing one thing particularly well. Considering the ever-growing population of RPGs being created, it is considered sound advice to pick a style, find your unique niche, and focus in on what makes your game special.

But I've found that while this encourages people to try your game, and often sucks them into a good session or two, it rarely has the staying power of larger, more robust systems like D&D or Genesis. These systems grant the players more opportunity than a single type of experience, and allow for flexible, long-term campaigns.

I plan on having three distinct modes of play described in the Hostargo book. Each will cover a popular way to tackle campaigns, one-shots, and various player styles. It will be a challenge to cover these in a meaningful way, but I hope to lay out enough groundwork for players to find their own unique way to play that is best for their group: they will anyway!