But what is the NSR?
The NSR is the New School Revolution in tabletop roleplaying games. It is a movement which champions the idea that the best game is the one you’re most excited about right now. It doesn’t matter if your favourite game is Old School, Modern, Free Style, Big, Small, Crunchy, Light, Puzzley, Fighty, Narrative, or anything else.
The reason the NSR is so vibrant and exciting is that it is about fans of all these diverse games coming together to a place, and a mindset, where their voices are equally respected, where every idea can be heard and discussed in good faith. The NSR Cauldron Discord server and The Cauldron Discourse boards are where the NSR in this form is primarily discussed1. These spaces stand for inclusivity and diversity in who their members are and what they enjoy.
I believe that the NSR is these spaces and their members but people sometimes want to know what an NSR game is and I have some criteria which I use myself:
- An NSR game reflects the diversity of influence which is at the core of the movement.
- An NSR game is in conversation with other games.
- An NSR game looks at existing things in a new light.
- An NSR game puts things together which don't look like they'll fit.
- An NSR game wants to take out what it doesn't need.
- An NSR game is happy to let readers and players fill in the blanks.
- An NSR game tries to get out of the way when it's played.
- An NSR game is clear when it matters and mystical when it helps.
- An NSR game wants to be played and will help you play it with your own stuff and other peoples.
- An NSR game is identified by its players not its creators.
- An NSR game is a labour of love.
- An NSR game stands against bigotry.
Yochai Gal has all the links on his website.↩