tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post4679195263836530563..comments2023-08-09T23:49:41.885-04:00Comments on Rule of the Dice: Empty SandboxJohn Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05940190831705865182noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-46998788342716910872011-04-15T20:48:43.414-04:002011-04-15T20:48:43.414-04:00Depends on my mood. I love RISUS and PDQ because ...Depends on my mood. I love RISUS and PDQ because those systems are remarkably easy and incredibly adaptable (and I've written scads of settings for them), on the other hand I've divorced systems from their settings and used them in a new way -- Earthdawn became StarDawn in a blades & blasters setting, and I yanked Storyteller out of the World of Dorkness, added in real advantages, disadvantages, and Vampire-scaled superpowers and ran a 1930's Doc Savage/Shadow/etc pulp campaign. I also love the settings of Talislanta and (old-school) Tekumel, and their mechanics are pretty well integral.steelcaressnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-63840669329206600192011-04-15T00:29:59.688-04:002011-04-15T00:29:59.688-04:00I am a firm believer in keeping things rules lite ...I am a firm believer in keeping things rules lite and adaptable. I don't think RPG's need to be perfectly balanced and have comprehensive rules, they just need competent GM's, who can adapt them and improvise. My experience has always been more rules = less immersion (and play) + more math = less fun.John Williamshttp://www.ruleofthedice.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-64825290366934425222011-04-14T22:16:58.882-04:002011-04-14T22:16:58.882-04:00I love how you're sucking up to me by blaming ...I love how you're sucking up to me by blaming everything on the rules. Like I've never run a bad adventure. ;-)CDGallant_Kingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-35573460944117275462011-04-14T22:15:01.517-04:002011-04-14T22:15:01.517-04:00I could go to either extreme. On one hand, I love...I could go to either extreme. On one hand, I love a generic system to tinker with, where I can create my own background and history, but I also like well established settings as long as it's based on some premise that I otherwise enjoy. For instance, I've never been fussy for Forgotten Realms or Rifts, but I love the RPGs based on Star Wars, ROBOTECH, Battlestar Galactica and A Game of Thrones (even if I haven't really played the last two). Because I've grown to love the setting from movies and books, the chance to live and explore those worlds from the inside sets my little geek heart all aflutter. It lets you be a part of all those great stories that are burned into your subconscious.<br /><br />That being said, I tend to take even those well-established settings and make them my own (I'll never forgot the ROBOTECH campaign where we started a rock band in the aftermath of the apocalyspe), so there's still something to be said for the freedom of creativity.CDGallant_Kingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-27548754732691750942011-04-14T20:36:58.043-04:002011-04-14T20:36:58.043-04:00I have to generally agree as well. 4e is an abomi...I have to generally agree as well. 4e is an abomination of a video game disguised as an RPG. As great as our GM is, our current 4e game feels like a scripted adventure of encounter after encounter. Even the elements of story the PC's have added feel flat, simply because there are no skills related to them. It is difficult to develop your character when almost all skills and feats are combat related.<br />In our 2e and 3.5 games, we played loose and fast with the rules, and it all worked. This just can't happen with 4e.<br />Where I have to disagree though' is I'd still want the jungle-gym. Even better would be a jungle-gym IN a sandbox...Jsalvatorinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3188833949555515251.post-32990338917106185352011-04-14T13:41:56.273-04:002011-04-14T13:41:56.273-04:00I'm in the same boat. Or rather, the same flot...I'm in the same boat. Or rather, the same flotilla. I'm an incorrigible tinkerer, and I like flexible rule sets. But balance is high on my priority list too.Tequila Sunrisenoreply@blogger.com