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Hot Take: Uncertainty Makes D&D Better
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<blockquote data-quote="Remathilis" data-source="post: 8926298" data-attributes="member: 7635"><p>This should be in size 72 font in the first page of every RPG book. But it needs two corollaries:</p><p></p><p>1. Does randomness add to the scene or destroy it?</p><p>2. Is the range of potential options a reasonable variance?</p><p></p><p>The first is basically a "read the room" moment: would a result (specifically a negative result) increase the mood (tension, drama, fear, happiness, sadness) or will it ruin it. Sometimes tone whiplash is ok, but you must be careful about that because it can also lead to players 'tuning out" from the emotion of the scene. Suspension of disbelief, once lost, is gone forever.</p><p></p><p>The second one is basically "don't let the dice override common sense". You can't roll a persuasion check high enough to have the king abdicate his throne. Yes, even on a nat 20. Likewise, even though people fall off ladders in the real world every day, rolling climb checks on every 10' ladder is annoying. The dice are your tools, not your master.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Remathilis, post: 8926298, member: 7635"] This should be in size 72 font in the first page of every RPG book. But it needs two corollaries: 1. Does randomness add to the scene or destroy it? 2. Is the range of potential options a reasonable variance? The first is basically a "read the room" moment: would a result (specifically a negative result) increase the mood (tension, drama, fear, happiness, sadness) or will it ruin it. Sometimes tone whiplash is ok, but you must be careful about that because it can also lead to players 'tuning out" from the emotion of the scene. Suspension of disbelief, once lost, is gone forever. The second one is basically "don't let the dice override common sense". You can't roll a persuasion check high enough to have the king abdicate his throne. Yes, even on a nat 20. Likewise, even though people fall off ladders in the real world every day, rolling climb checks on every 10' ladder is annoying. The dice are your tools, not your master. [/QUOTE]
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Hot Take: Uncertainty Makes D&D Better
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