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What is "grim and gritty" and "low magic" anyway?
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<blockquote data-quote="Altalazar" data-source="post: 1438302" data-attributes="member: 939"><p>As someone who has played in both high, low, (and mostly medium core) magic, I pay attention to threads on all of them. I have had fun with all of them. Perhaps I've just been lucky, but I've managed to have a good time basically with every gaming group I've ever been in. </p><p></p><p>What you suggest is an interesting idea - having each side "police its own" so to speak, but then that still leaves me out because I really have no preference for low or high magic. I play core magic simply because that is the default, that is what the game is balanced for, and I haven't felt ambitious enough to change it. (Plus, my world was built with that as a basis originally, and I rather like my world so want to keep using it). </p><p></p><p>But if someone else is running a game, I really don't care that much. I just find out what the world is like, then come up with a character & personality (the most fun part) and then try and make stats for it that make it work.</p><p></p><p>In terms of these discussions, I try to keep it civil. It does irk me when I see an undercurrent of insult or put-down about someone due to the system they use - I hope I haven't done any of that myself. I try to distill out of it all what the real issues are - which are sometimes unstated and can get lost in the noise (especially when the insinuations of inferiority/superiority fly). </p><p></p><p>High and low both have strengths and weaknesses, but then that doesn't make one better than the other. In low, it is easier to control the plot on one level, because the player power level is very limited in ways it probably wouldn't be in high magic. In high magic one could be tempted to nerf everything because it is much easier to control the plot if you go back to low (because of all the variables and options created by magical power) - but that ultimately really isn't necessary. And one needs to realize that even in low, if players are clever or don't take a route the DM has anticipated, you can have just as much DM-fiat and trumping to stop that route as you can with an unanticipated high-level spell in high magic. </p><p></p><p>So in the end, it is a matter of taste. You are not wrong for wanting only to have vanilla ice cream and disdaining chocolate. Others are not wrong for only wanting chocolate ice cream and not liking vanilla. And I like both chocolate and vanilla, and throw in some whipped cream and bananas too.</p><p></p><p>One certainly couldn't argue that vanilla was a "better" flavor than chocolate. Or that people who like vanilla only are stupid. Or that whipped cream is better than cool whip. Now i'm hungry.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Altalazar, post: 1438302, member: 939"] As someone who has played in both high, low, (and mostly medium core) magic, I pay attention to threads on all of them. I have had fun with all of them. Perhaps I've just been lucky, but I've managed to have a good time basically with every gaming group I've ever been in. What you suggest is an interesting idea - having each side "police its own" so to speak, but then that still leaves me out because I really have no preference for low or high magic. I play core magic simply because that is the default, that is what the game is balanced for, and I haven't felt ambitious enough to change it. (Plus, my world was built with that as a basis originally, and I rather like my world so want to keep using it). But if someone else is running a game, I really don't care that much. I just find out what the world is like, then come up with a character & personality (the most fun part) and then try and make stats for it that make it work. In terms of these discussions, I try to keep it civil. It does irk me when I see an undercurrent of insult or put-down about someone due to the system they use - I hope I haven't done any of that myself. I try to distill out of it all what the real issues are - which are sometimes unstated and can get lost in the noise (especially when the insinuations of inferiority/superiority fly). High and low both have strengths and weaknesses, but then that doesn't make one better than the other. In low, it is easier to control the plot on one level, because the player power level is very limited in ways it probably wouldn't be in high magic. In high magic one could be tempted to nerf everything because it is much easier to control the plot if you go back to low (because of all the variables and options created by magical power) - but that ultimately really isn't necessary. And one needs to realize that even in low, if players are clever or don't take a route the DM has anticipated, you can have just as much DM-fiat and trumping to stop that route as you can with an unanticipated high-level spell in high magic. So in the end, it is a matter of taste. You are not wrong for wanting only to have vanilla ice cream and disdaining chocolate. Others are not wrong for only wanting chocolate ice cream and not liking vanilla. And I like both chocolate and vanilla, and throw in some whipped cream and bananas too. One certainly couldn't argue that vanilla was a "better" flavor than chocolate. Or that people who like vanilla only are stupid. Or that whipped cream is better than cool whip. Now i'm hungry. [/QUOTE]
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