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Incorrect. "Optimized" means "make the best or most effective use of (a situation, opportunity, or resource)." How can a character that isn't optimized for combat also be good at combat? You're running with the goalpost, dashing from character builds to player agency - because you have the space...

To counter the OP's stated 'other opinion' "that you can tell what a game wants you to do based on where it puts the weight of its rules", I posit the AD&D 1e Players Handbook. The section on magic is nearly 30x larger than the section on combat, but the system doesn't require all players to...

Just asking questions, like yourself.

Looks to begin with a False Premise of a "repeated idea": By who? For what purpose? In what context? Then you went to "the obvious example" (D&D), which ran you into a False Entomology (the AD&D 1e Players Handbook has 67 pages on Magic ... and TWO on combat). Then, confronted on your...

This is the exact TTRPG I've been hunting! Thank you, Morrus!

LoL you guys are quoting Ron Edwards? That internet troll? The guy who posted the below about players of "traditional RPGs": AND You quote that person and all your attempts at credible theory-crafting burn away. There's people who think Hitler had some "good things to say" in Mein Kampf and...

So setting is never a source of opposition? How would you define your use of the term "setting" here? Many words have multiple meanings and I want to have a clear understanding of what you're posting. What do you mean by "generic concerns" for PCs here? What would be examples of "specific...

A great post for novice Gamemasters. GMs have always prepped campaigns, facilitated the game, responded to players and presented opposition. One could argue these are the basics of Gamemastering and it is important that this kind of information is given to new GMs. I remember as part of my...

This. I was looking for a link to the actual play. Is it available? Sort of on topic: those familiar with both GURPS 4e and any edition of BRP, which do you prefer and why?

Looks like a Call of Cthulhu retro-clone. How is it different from the classic horror TTRPG?

You're running a campaign that you haven't completed prior to starting? Why? Here's a link to information that can help you.

Most importantly, being able to "dial-up" NPC assistance advances the campaign if/when the group gets stuck in a situation where they lack the necessary resources to advance a scene. I can't imagine anyone other than the most "control-freak" kind of GMs having an issue with this.

Most if not all TTRPGs should have your house-rule as a written rule.

Barbarians of Lemuria is a fun rules-lite "Sword & Sorcery" game that uses 2d6 + Ability + Combat trait or Career. I can't recommend it enough.

Very touch-and-go, as the encounter begins with a good level of open hostility from both the NPCs and PCs. With your example of Eomer and Aragorn, unless one had read the book(s), there would be no knowledge of the deep love the former had for the latter, making the gift of horses expected...

Pretty ubiquitous tropes. I like going with "The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend": the party encounters someone who, while morally-opposed to them, hates the Big Bad even more and grants them aid/the MacGuffin to defeat the Big Bad. Of course, once the BB is routed, there's a chance the party's...

Seems we're talking around the larger issue of what does it mean to "win" here? Different playstyles define "winning" in different ways, just as they would approach "theme" differently.

I like your approach and it makes great sense.

I think theme is most important but it spreads: game/story, setting and character can all have different themes, each one having something else to reveal to the audience/participants. I'd argue escaping some level of theme is very difficult but not impossible. My use of the term "theme" here...

This x100! "Spamming" can very much be a CharGen thing if I'm creating a character very effective at combat. Depends on playstyle most probably. I agree that you don't always want to burn the world, but the shock and awe of Physical spells can be very useful in certain situations.