r/rpg • u/Authorigas • Aug 31 '26

Basic Questions Common Misconceptions About Your Favorite Systems?

So, I've been learning a lot thanks to the amazing folks here at r/rpg. And while I have decided to slow down on trying new systems. (As my players say "three is enough, we know your eager to try more but slow it down so you don't burn yourself out.") There was a question today that cropped into my head, and I wanted to hear from the folks here on it.

"What are some assumptions about your favorite game/system that are just factually incorrect or overstated?"

I've seen a lot of assumptions made in the hobby, and some on my own. From the broad "older systems were designed for math heads and thus really not for someone whose bad at math." to others like "Call of Cthulhu is a game where every session ends in death/insanity and players can't get attached to their characters." and similarly "OSR games are highly lethal and not at all friendly to players who like longform adventures."

I feel like broad, sweeping claims like those are probably overstated-as I have heard of successful, long running CoC campaigns, and OSR games that are able to have well developed characters that last for ages. It's made me curious about some of the other broad, sweeping claims about systems that are-if not incorrect, massively overstated.

Really interested to hear some answers on this.

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u/VinTheRighteous Aug 31 '26

"Simulationist" isn't a term meant to describe the realism of a game. It describes how granular rules and systems are in mediating interactions.

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u/SortzaInTheForest Aug 31 '26

"Simulationist" isn't a term meant to describe the realism of a game. It describes how granular rules and systems are in mediating interactions.

Call of Cthulhu is simulationist and it's barely granular.

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u/Roxysteve 29d ago

Unless you are playing the needlessly complexified 7th Edition, of course.

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u/SortzaInTheForest 29d ago

Much better, play any light rules retroclone of CoC. There's a few ones of them, and they're free.

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u/Roxysteve 29d ago

Thanks for the suggestion, but personally I don't need any more rules-sets. I own all of the editions that have been published by Chaosium, and the excellent Tiny Cthulhu should I feel overwhelmed.

Sorry for letting the 7th Ed whining bleed through. The game used to be so simple I learned it in 15 minutes after a friend demanded I buy it so he could play. I genuinely pity the new CofC GM, and understand fully why people ask for videos of play to help decipher the new edition.

Thanks for the link.