A new Just For Fun column...

[seawasp]

... on Game Balance, OR World Trumps Rules, examining my own approach to running tabletop RPGs!

Comments

[xander-opal.livejournal.com]

Ryk, you've managed to explain why I grow to like 'official play' gaming organizations less and less, specifically Living Forgotten Realms. Characters are prevented from behaving in a consistent way because certain NPCs are considered unkillable (when the uncivilized barbarian with anger problems gets really, really, really insulted... well, picture Genghis Khan when someone gives him a bit of lip). That's on the extreme end; there's also the prevention of properly creative use of world aspects (such as spells.. though I *was* allowed to light a torch using Lightning Bolt once).

There's also the issue of lots of really neat supplements with interesting races, species, etc. from the official publisher. So according to the writers of the setting, these things *Exist*. And then the Official Play rules state, 'no. No, no, players cannot play That Thing.'

It is a lot more fun when the person running the game allows themselves to say, 'Oh, that's a cool idea, let's see what happens.'

I think I need to find a group where the person running it enjoys seeing the consequences of the players and the characters doing unusual things. That's the point, isn't it? If a player is running a character from a rare race... that should affect how the NPCs react, rather than whether the player can be that thing, even if the next table over there's another two of that rare race, and the other table, all but one party member is from that rare race.

Because every player character is the hero of their story, and a unique take on the setting.