Unpopular opinions go here

[aramis erak]

A stronger connection to the setting and more opportunities for role playing. Probably not something anyone wants for adolescent power fantasies, but maybe for other games.

You don't think that's a little bit charged of a description?

Sure, it's a bit charged... but it's also a pretty common for D&D and Rifts players to engage in power fantasies.

Adding honor/reputation/glory doesn't stop the power fantasies, but it does help drive them in directions that pure power fantasy wouldn't. At least in my experience.

 

[MGibster]

Sure, it's a bit charged... but it's also a pretty common for D&D and Rifts players to engage in power fantasies.

It's so common that even Vampire the Masquerade, a game ostensibly about personal horror, often ended up featuring fanged superheroes in trenchcoats armed with Desert Eagle .50 caliber pistols and katanas. The 90s were weird. And you know what? That's okay. Fulfilling power fantasies is a legitimate way to game.

Adding honor/reputation/glory doesn't stop the power fantasies, but it does help drive them in directions that pure power fantasy wouldn't. At least in my experience.

Heck, for D&D it might be a great way to get off the treasure treadmill and reward PCs with something different.

 

[Celebrim]

I find the players tend to be better behaved and a lot more logical in their interactions.

Better behaved? Better behaved??

Is that a synonym for "easier to control"? Is "more logical in their interactions" like when some NPC pulls out a heavy crossbow and says, "Do what I say!" and then they don't?

I have come to believe that the deadlier the combat system, the greater the tendency to roleplay, as players are much less inclined to just say 'screw this, roll for initiative'.

I've never noticed any correlation. But then, that's probably because I consider how deadly a system to be is entirely a function of the metagame.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Neither of those figures in real history were particularly "honorable." I'm not sure how it benefits play to perpetuate those myths, but, obviously, YMMV.

Neither were Samurai, I think is the point. People are people, East or West. They talk big about things like honor, gentlemanliness, chivalry, etc, but rarely pull any of it off in practice.

 

[Lanefan]

And it could also enhance role playing. Imagine doing something in character even though you personally think it's a bad idea.

If it's what the character would do...

(if my dead characters had gravestones this would be carved on most of 'em... )

 

[Jd Smith1]

Better behaved? Better behaved??

Is that a synonym for "easier to control"? Is "more logical in their interactions" like when some NPC pulls out a heavy crossbow and says, "Do what I say!" and then they don't?

Of course not. I run a PC-driven campaign. However, it prevents murder hoboes, because unlike D&D & like-minded systems, there are groups/governments who have the capability to deliver real consequences for PC actions.

I have to ask: where, or from what, does one 'pull out' a heavy crossbow?

I've never noticed any correlation. But then, that's probably because I consider how deadly a system to be is entirely a function of the metagame.

I've always let the dice fall as they may, and now playing online, all my combat rolls are public.

 

[Aldarc]

D&D could easily be designed across only 10 levels.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

D&D could easily be designed across only 10 levels.

Gaining nothing for most groups, and being to the detriment of the groups that use all 20 levels.

 

[Aldarc]

Gaining nothing for most groups, and being to the detriment of the groups that use all 20 levels.

All seven of them.

But Doctorbadwolf, I will say that that there are D&D-esque games out there that condense the 20 level experience of D&D down to ten levels, with the possibility to extend play beyond that. I have Shadow of the Demon Lord/Weird Wizard in mind here in particular.

 

[J.Quondam]

I have to ask: where, or from what, does one 'pull out' a heavy crossbow?

I believe that's one of the main uses of the Bigby's Lubricating Hand spell.