A note about the first question:
I'm using checkboxes so you can select every element that appeals to you. If you like D&D, you should be sure to select Alternate World, and either High-magic or Low-magic Fantasy. If you love WoD Vampire, then you'd select High or Low-magic Fantasy, Horror and either Modern Day or an Historical period. Tales from the Floating Vagabond? Multi-world, Futuristic, High-Fantasy, and Pop-culture. My descriptions might not be exact, but you get the idea.
A note about Rules and Procedures:
Rules are lists of things you MUST or MUST NOT do in a game, or you may not be asked back. (Don’t hit someone in a LARP. If you get a beer from the fridge, bring the GM one too.) Procedures are the method for accomplishing something, if you don't follow the procedure, you just don't accomplish what you wanted to do. (You need to roll above a certain number to succeed. You need to earn 1000 xp to advance.) Automatically hitting the bad guy with a natural 20 is not a rule, it’s a procedure. I don’t care if you call it a rule in your game, but for the sake of clarity in this poll, I’m describing the difference.
1. In terms of Setting, which of the following do you like in a game? Be sure to pick more than one, no game falls entirely under just one of these.
Alternate Universe – Earth, as we know it, does not seem to exist. (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, most Fantasy)
0(0.0%)
Multi-World – Not necessarily different planets; multiple settings exist with distinct rules. (Planescape and Tales From the Floating Vagabond)
0(0.0%)
Alternate History – Takes place on an earth mostly like our own. (What if the Nazis had won WWII?, etc.)
1(0.7%)
Mythological – Any game with a more than casual basis on some kind of cultural legend, usually Greek, Roman, Norse, or Egyptian, but not limited to those
0(0.0%)
High-magic Fantasy – Any setting where the impossible is almost commonplace. The point of magic is that it is another tool at your character’s disposal. Also applies to extremely advanced technology. (Star Wars or really most RPGs)
1(0.7%)
Low-magic Fantasy – The impossible should be genuinely uncommon and surprising to most characters. The point of magic is to be astonishing and well, magical. Many games might fall in between High and Low-magic, so I leave it to you to decide
0(0.0%)
Science-Fiction – Genuine Science-Fiction is rare; there should be plausible explanations for any amazing technology or events. (Cyberpunk might fall into this category, also perhaps Paranoia)
0(0.0%)
Post-Apocalyptic – May or may not be futuristic. Usually takes place on earth, so not an Alternate World. Maybe Utopian, maybe Distopian. (Paranoia is the only example I can think of)
0(0.0%)
Pop-Culture – Any game with a basis on a TV show, anime, movie, video game or non-RPG book. (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Big Eyes Small Mouth, Star Wars)
0(0.0%)
Superhero – Personally, I might place this under Fantasy and Pop-culture, but there seemed to be a call for this as a separate classification
0(0.0%)
Non-western Culture – Any game with a basis in Asian, Middle-eastern or African culture or mythology
0(0.0%)
Modern Day - Just like it sounds; usually not on an Alternate World. (Most World of Darkness games, D20 Modern, Some Call of Cthulhu, many Pop-Culture games)
0(0.0%)
Historical-Primitive – Historical might be a misnomer as events take place prior to written language
0(0.0%)
Historical-Classical – Game takes place at the beginning of Western-Culture. (Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, etc.)
0(0.0%)
Historical-Medieval – The basis for many elements of D&D. Different, however, in that events take place on earth. (Vampire: Dark Ages)
0(0.0%)
Question 1 continued (Sorry, I can only have 15 checkboxes per question. The statistics will still work out correctly, so don't worry.)
Historical-Renaissance – Actually Renaissance may not be the right word, but games set between the Middle Age and the Industrial Age
5(4.2%)
Historical-Industrial Age – Some Call of Cthulhu games and I believe Steam-punk games generally fall here
3(2.5%)
Historical-Old West – Might technically fall into Industrial age, but usually very different from that. (Deadlands)
2(1.7%)
Historical - 1900's (e.g. 20's, 30's, World Wars, etc.) Call of Cthulhu is perhaps one of the more popular set in this time period, also some Wraith games
1(0.8%)
Futuristic – Most science-fiction and scientific fantasy. Anything set in the future or making use of advanced technology. (Star Trek, Star Wars, Paranoia, Robo-tech, etc.)
28(23.3%)
Other (See last question)
2(1.7%)
2. If you had to pick ONE of the following types of games to play or GM, which would you choose?
Classic Fantasy (like Lord of the Rings)
58(39.5%)
Futuristic Fantasy (like Star Wars)
13(8.8%)
Modern or Near-Modern Horror (like HP Lovecraft or Clive Barker)
25(17.0%)
Modern Fantasy (like Harry Potter)
14(9.5%)
Historical Recreation (like numerous Historical Fiction novels)
8(5.4%)
Futuristic Sci-Fi (like Blade Runner)
23(15.6%)
None of these appeal in the slightest
6(4.1%)
3. Which of the following sounds LEAST appealing to play or GM?
Classic Fantasy (like Lord of the Rings)
8(5.4%)
Futuristic Fantasy (like Star Wars)
7(4.8%)
Modern or Near-Modern Horror (like HP Lovecraft or Clive Barker)
23(15.6%)
Modern Fantasy (like Harry Potter)
17(11.6%)
Historical Recreation (like numerous Historical Fiction novels)
62(42.2%)
Futuristic Sci-Fi (like Blade Runner)
7(4.8%)
They all sound like fun!
23(15.6%)
4. Choose the genre that appeals to you MOST for a game you would run or play:
Action-oriented – Could indicate combat, competition or anything requiring physical struggle.
19(13.1%)
Dramatic – A broad genre; very serious and usually few breaks in tension. Often there is a moral at play. Character development is especially important.
54(37.2%)
Horror – Indicates the story holds an above average danger to the player character’s life or whatever the PC holds dear. Usually character development is important.
13(9.0%)
Humor – Frequently takes a satirical look at pop-culture or other games. Usually irreverent in it’s character development and use of rules.
0(0.0%)
Mystery – Focuses on puzzle-solving over action. Usually requires a lot of diplomatic roleplaying.
17(11.7%)
Interpersonal – Games who’s focus is on interpersonal relationships, romantic or not, more than reacting to events provided by the gamemaster.
14(9.7%)
Surreal – Anything goes. Games often start in one genre and setting then quickly change to another. Many plot elements seem mysterious or irrelevant until late in the game. Any game with a focus on weirdness.
15(10.3%)
Whimsical – Not terribly serious, but not necessarily funny. Often has elements of other genres only with a lighter twist.
13(9.0%)
5. Choose the genre that appeals to you LEAST for a game you would run or play:
Action-oriented – Could indicate combat, competition or anything requiring physical struggle.
16(10.9%)
Dramatic – A broad genre; very serious and usually few breaks in tension. Often there is a moral at play. Character development is especially important.
11(7.5%)
Horror – Indicates the story holds an above average danger to the player character’s life or whatever the PC holds dear. Usually character development is important.
20(13.6%)
Humor – Frequently takes a satirical look at pop-culture or other games. Usually irreverent in it’s character development and use of rules.
23(15.6%)
Mystery – Focuses on puzzle-solving over action. Usually requires a lot of diplomatic roleplaying.
9(6.1%)
Interpersonal – Games who’s focus is on interpersonal relationships, romantic or not, more than reacting to events provided by the gamemaster.
23(15.6%)
Surreal – Anything goes. Games often start in one genre and setting then quickly change to another. Many plot elements seem mysterious or irrelevant until late in the game. Any game with a focus on weirdness.
25(17.0%)
Whimsical – Not terribly serious, but not necessarily funny. Often has elements of other genres only with a lighter twist.
20(13.6%)
6. Roleplay versus System. By System I refer to the procedures that govern the game world and how often they are used. Which of the following game play styles do you prefer?
Roleplay only. No System is needed if everyone roleplays effectively.
6(4.1%)
Roleplaying dominates the game. The procedures and mechanics of the game are rarely called upon except to arbitrate some point of story, and only as a last resort.
32(21.8%)
Roleplaying is the point of the game, but still a system of procedures is frequently called upon to ensure fair adjudication for everyone.
76(51.7%)
There is plenty of roleplaying, but half the fun comes from playing the game that is created by the system of procedures and succeeding within that system.
29(19.7%)
There is some light roleplaying, but the game is meant to be played as a mental exercise in overcome challenges using the tools the System provides. It could be combat or puzzle solving or any activity requiring skillful use of the System.
4(2.7%)
Roleplaying is negligible or non-existant. The point of the game is to succeed at the given goals as efficiently as possible within the System.
0(0.0%)
7. Rules and Procedures. Choose the situation you prefer when Gamemastering:
If it’s in the book, then that’s how it is. There’s no confusion; the procedures of play are in the book for everyone to see and use.
3(2.1%)
You do some things differently from the book. You tell everyone up front what’s different and the players can count on you to be consistent.
51(35.2%)
You mostly follow the book, but occasionally the system doesn’t make sense to you so you change it for increased realism. You let the players know when you change something.
54(37.2%)
The book is just a set of guidelines and different situations call for different rules and procedures. Your game might not be consistent, but the integrity of the story is always maintained.
37(25.5%)
8. Rules and Procedures. Choose the situation you prefer when playing:
If it’s in the book, then that’s how it is. There’s no confusion; the procedures of play are in the book for everyone to see and use.
4(2.7%)
The GM does some things differently from the book. The GM tells everyone up front what’s different and the players can count on him/her to be consistent.
55(37.7%)
The GM mostly follows the book, but occasionally the system doesn’t make sense to his/her story and changes it for increased realism. The GM lets the players know when changing something.
57(39.0%)
The book is just a set of guidelines and different situations call for different rules and procedures. The game might not be consistent, but the integrity of the story is always maintained.
30(20.5%)
9. Mood: 1=Dark and Gloomy, 5=Bright and Cheery
Mean: 2.73 Median: 3 Std. Dev 0.73
1
3(2.0%)
2
54(36.7%)
3
70(47.6%)
4
19(12.9%)
5
1(0.7%)
10. Realism: 1=No Magic, 5=Lots of Magic/Psi/Super technology
Mean: 3.52 Median: 4 Std. Dev 0.87
1
1(0.7%)
2
17(11.6%)
3
51(34.7%)
4
61(41.5%)
5
17(11.6%)
11. Dialogue vs. Action: 1=Lots of Diplomacy and Talking, 5=Lots of Puzzles/Strategy/Skill Checks
Mean: 2.73 Median: 3 Std. Dev 0.80
1
12(8.2%)
2
35(23.8%)
3
81(55.1%)
4
18(12.2%)
5
1(0.7%)
12. Encountering Opposition?: 1=Negotiate!, 5=Attack!
Mean: 2.72 Median: 3 Std. Dev 0.85
1
11(7.5%)
2
44(30.1%)
3
68(46.6%)
4
21(14.4%)
5
2(1.4%)
13. GM makes a Story-crippling Dice Roll?: 1=Keep it!, 5=Fudge it!
Mean: 3.61 Median: 4 Std. Dev 1.22
1
10(6.8%)
2
21(14.3%)
3
27(18.4%)
4
48(32.7%)
5
41(27.9%)
14. The Gamemaster is: 1=Just Another Player, 5=King/Queen of the Game!
Mean: 3.24 Median: 3 Std. Dev 1.10
1
13(8.8%)
2
21(14.3%)
3
47(32.0%)
4
50(34.0%)
5
16(10.9%)
I can only make 15 questions so I couldn't put every question in. If I'd realized it going in, I might have done things a little differently. Two of the questions I left out were in the last poll in an almost identical form, so their probably unnecessary. The other question was just asking you to write in what I missed, so please answer that with a comment.
Thanks for participating!
X-posted to
roleplayers, rp_discuss, and dnd3e 