filmreroll

Aladdin part 3

Added 2019-05-22 22:07:57 +0000 UTC

In terms of mechanics I've really grown to love, the Aladdin wish mechanic is way up there. The player words the wish as they choose; the genie rolls on a very high skill level (but degree of success matters) and then Joz interprets the effects of the spell and Jon executes it into the game. It ends up being a three person process and works highly unpredictably. It's also fun to parse people's language literally with massive effects on the story.

I highly encourage highly unpredictable mechanics. Things like the paradox mechanic in BttF2 or the time travel mechanic in Bill & Ted. Heck, even the love mechanic in this story sort of qualifies. Anything where the story is fundamentally modified by a powerful and chaotic luck-based mechanic just gives the story an incredible diversity of story possibilities. More importantly, it allows DM and players to just follow. Nothing kills the spirit of improv more than feeling like you know where the story's going and trying to guide it there. Good improv comes from listening and reacting. Sometimes just having something that bumps us out of our expectations can let the story flourish.

Anyway, fun episode. One more Aladdin ep to go. This one goes pretty mental. Hope y'all enjoy it.