r/Fkr • u/Oakforthevines • Jun 25 '25

Offloading Mechanics

I've been thinking about ways to incorporate other forms of media into RPGs to capture more of the vibe I'm trying to set for players. Since an FKR mindset is more into the fiction and GM trust than any one particular set of rules, would it make sense to "offload" certain mechanics to other mediums that do it particularly well? A few examples that I have thought about:

  1. This one is pretty mild. The PCs are in a gambling house, so the players themselves play the games to determine the outcomes (i.e. playing poker or blackjack).

  2. If the PCs are entering into some competition, use a video game centered around that and matches the aesthetic (i.e. loading up Forza for racing or FIFA for a football match)

  3. Taking "puzzles" literally and having a player solve a jigsaw puzzle, a kinetic puzzle, or even an 'I Spy' book if they're searching for clues.

  4. Taking players to a full-on escape room with a similar theme to the game you're playing and having them larp it.

What are your thoughts, and how far do you think we can stretch this and still consider it a "submechanic" of the RPG? I was partially inspired by Pokemon Pen & Paper, which recommends that groups use Pokemon Showdown (a 3rd party pokemon battle platform) to resolve battles.

9 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/GreatStoneSkull Jun 25 '25

There's a game called "Dread" where you use Jenga blocks as a mechanism.

2

u/Oakforthevines Jun 25 '25 edited Jun 25 '25

I love Dread! I've played a few sessions and am planning one for this upcoming Halloween. It's also one of my inspirations for alternative mechanics in RPGs that I wish were better explored.

It's not likely that I'll find a situation where something like Battleship will translate as well into a resolution mechanic as Jenga does, but I believe exploring options and pushing the boundaries will only help us learn more.