Recent content by Theory of Games

"interesting" is very subjective. How would you define it?

What other Fantasy authors have you read, because your statements here are very specific to Tolkien (and unnamed writers you like?) Also Tolkien was a scholar of mythologies and drew the races of his writings from mythological sources. Those same sources inspired ALL other Fantasy writers. It's...

How do you know what serves the most players?

The act of exploring a new and unusual location. Yes. Yes. Yes.

What's the topic again? Realistic combat that's simple: There is none. But whoever makes such a game will be very wealthy very quickly.

Well. AD&D is terrible because the DMG is book of curses on the head of whichever DM is crazy enough to try to run the tangled mess. All because Gary didn't want to pay Dave royalties any longer. Really Gary? Exceptional, no doubt, but not the rule. Well I said "winwinwin" but of course they...

I ran SD a few months ago for a group (one of the players begged). It was ... I began as a DM running Basic & then AD&D. SD had the feeling of ... Bumper Cars®. You know like, it was fun, but the Advantage feature and the Death Saves turned the experience into "sanitized" fun. It's the...

Yeah my first mistake here was even entertaining a conversation about "What if John McClane was a D&D character". D&D could never ever do Die Hard or anything resembling it. Next point --- We didn't fudge dice, but we did use tactics like avoiding fights with a lot of stealth and negotiation...

It's weird. It's weird when people start talking about alternative systems to D&D - then just go back to talking about D&D. You'll never escape that system unless - you just leave. You can do it, I promise, because others already have. Put your worn D&D stuff on the shelf (better, in the...

Healing potions are such a crutch in D&D. Reminds me of the old Popeye cartoons where whenever he was in a jam, Popeye'd just pop a can of spinach and save the day like Superman. I never give them to PCs - they earn them by defeating monsters for their treasure troves. Ultimately, I blame...

With all due respect, that's not how Metacurrencies work. They're a resource that's spent to "help the character". https://rpgmuseum.fandom.com/wiki/Metacurrency According to Gary & Tim (Kask), Hit Points are an abstract that emulates (like you pointed out) durability, avoidance and luck...

IME when we see the novel's/film's protagonist endure severe injuries to win the battle, I wouldn't say - from a ttrpg perspective - that some Metacurrency/"edge" helped the character. I see an exceptional character rising above adversity because they have natural abilities and skills superior...

The last sentence contradicts the first. And adrenaline only does so much. A ttrpg attempting to emulate combat needs rules for blood loss, shock and physical impairment - which is why I praise GURPS during these kinds of discussions. The system isn't perfect, but if a group is looking for more...

Can you name a ttrpg more important to the hobby and industry?

Bullfinch's Mythology was my gateway to ttrpgs (Basic then AD&D). People give Tolkien credit for mythological creatures he didn't create. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulfinch%27s_Mythology I tried to read LotR, but Tolkien's writing was so dry and boring I went on to enjoy Terry Brooks'...