That's a good question. I think it's actually tricky to disentangle preference and "what we think should be". And the latter draws directly from the picture in your head.
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I think it might depend here. If you're starting with an idea for the game in a top-down approach then the 'game in your head' isn't really a personal preference, it's making the best call to realize that desired play experience.
A different idea may be best served by different core decisions.
I came here to ask this and I'm not sure I follow. are you saying that my (or whoever's) expectation of what a TTRPG "is" shapes my mental model of the thing? because I can see wanting to play D&D5E vs wanting to play For the Queen or Monsterhearts with different crowds, & those are different models
The latter! You can totally play different games and follow different rules - that's obviously normal. I was saying that I think there is still a model in your head of what it should be. But after posting this, it's clear that saying there's a single model might not hold up
So... you and a few others stranded. Will be days before rescue. Someone wants to play an RPG. You are the only experienced one. You have nothing but your mind. Without prep, what are the default methods you employ to lead the survivors through an RPG play session? Your go-to assumptions.
Tough to answer in a short form but: GM conjures up scenario, asks questions of players to situate them, embraces uncertainty in some form, follows players' lead till it feels like it's time to stop.
For me, I'm sure I would use various B/X rules that are engrained in my mind, such as the Reaction Rolls and x in 6 stuff. But without dice... most likely some coin flipping or something. Which gets at the heart of it: what is RP, at its root, to each of us? Without randomizers, I would struggle.
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A different idea may be best served by different core decisions.