Check the calendar. ET pubs running the new Frostbite rotation all week.
Why are plots viewed so differently between TTRPG and freeform roleplaying communities?
previewTo be clear: I'm using "plot" as shorthand for "one or more predetermined events that will come to pass, regardless of fictional circumstances or the actions of the player's characters."
I got into TTRPGs from freeform roleplaying over forums and IRC and such. Something I stumbled on in the process is just how much TTRPG communities seem to dislike them, or even see them as inherently bad! Discussions about plots tend to attract a lot of finger wagging! Even TTRPGs that lean towards the lighter, more collaborative storytelling-y side of things tend to emphasize finding out what happens in the moment rather than plotting it out in advance. I've been recommended to D&D-centric communities before, but even those seem to be gradually adopting a "prep situations, not plots" viewpoint.
By contrast, most freeform roleplaying communities seem ambivalent to plots. Preparing plots is by no means universal! I'd hesistate to even call it a standard or common practice! But it's not at all rare to see ads openly saying things like "I want to roleplay a story where X, Y, and Z will happen" or discussions on how to make something like that happen in practice. Most of the guidance I follow for running plotted TTRPGs comes from, ironically enough, freeform roleplaying communities and my time in them.
I already know a lot of reasons why any given individual might enjoy or hate plots! I'm mainly interested in knowing why this broader cultural divide exists or seems to exist. My initial thoughts going into TTRPGs would be that the systemization and rules would make people lean more towards predetermined outcomes, but apparently not! I know TTRPG communities and especially freeform roleplaying communities are fragmented and decentralized, but I wanted to see if anyone with more experience or knowledge might have some ideas.