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Ebon Tower:Gaming:Humor:RPGs as Beverages |
In terms of AD&D to GURPS, the best food based analogy that I have is my old liquor analogy. GURPS is vodka. AD&D is really good beer.
Which is to say, I can't stand beer, but I respect it and understand that tons more people enjoy it than vodka. On the other hand, I love vodka.
Furthermore, vodka (if made well) is essentially flavorless - it provides the "kick" to hundreds of drinks, taking on the character of whatever it is blended with. It's "universal" alchohol. White magic, we used to call it in the days when I made my living as a bartender.
Vodka is more flexible, more potent, and more to my taste. Beer is older, simpler, and comes with its own pre-set flavor that a lot of people love.
To continue this analogy a bit, Runequest is like a quirky but simple wine - many of its adherents enjoy it because of its uncomplicated but unique flavor and effect, while many others take it as an excuse to pose pretensiously while analyzing it.
Feng Shui is a very potent jell-o shooter made with NGS (everclear).
The new Marvel game is grape Kool-Aid with a shot of vanilla extract in it because the kid couldn't find anything else alchoholic.
Call of Cthulhu is like fine brandy.
The World of Darkness is cappucino with (ironically) several quaaludes dissolved in it.
Copyright © 1999 S John Ross, posted here with his permission.
Ebon Tower:Gaming:Humor:RPGs as Beverages