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Yea, I wouldn't agree with that. As long as part of the rules procedure is "describe a fictional state", which will then be the driver for the next procedure, then you're in the vicinity of a role-playing game.

Make that Dex save, lol. Yea, just can't agree with that. I don't think they can, and I think that's important.

I mean, if the player's decision-making is driven by "this name sounds cool" or something equally trivial, that's not bad, but it is a pretty good example of low-stakes "let's just see what happens" play. I think a major division in this thread is the relative tolerance (or desire) for the game...

Because when "what the DM has written in his notebook can overrule anything else happening at the table", they have de facto unlimited authority. I, as a DM, don't want unlimited authority. I, as a player, don't want the DM to have unlimited authority.

A "choose your own adventure" book also lets you as a player make choices based on limited information to reveal what consequences ensue. I don't consider that sufficient agency for me to engage with in a roleplaying game.

Yes, because it's fair and transparent, and at least in the B/X model of play, is a rule-stated procedure. Now, it also matters as to the intent of the discussion. If the players are traveling to a city 3 days away, and decide to stay in an inn for during their travels, I'm not going to bother...

Not to mention that the actual range of "butterfly effect" knock-off effects from any action is so broad as to be unable to be simulated in a very short time frame. If I leave my house for work ten minutes late, that could cause a change in traffic pattern that ends up causing a fatal...

Then we have a broad disagreement on our interpretation of other posters' statements. It's a pretty key sticking point for me.

And again, exploring the DM's pre-generated world is a conservative approach I find exhausting.

The difference here is in the first examples the notes said how the tavern keeper acts, not a check. In the latter, there's a check. The rules are specifically telling to make up a consequence that arises from the character's action and ties back to the player. That's a big, big, big, big...

There is absolutely a point where being "partially subjective" renders "mostly objective" meaningless. Sort of like putting a vampire outside and telling them "But it's only partly sunny!" :) I simply think that DMs who believe "my mental processes for determining the next outcomes of the...

The DM making decisions to adjudicate the world without the need to reference any sort of resolution mechanic? Or at least having some discussion at the table? Making decisions about the shape of play all by themselves by creating notes outside of the table session? To me, that is definitely a...

So totally objective, except for all the subjective parts. :)

I do think a lot of what “living world” play is intended to look like resembles simulation games like Civ or the Paradox “grand strategy” games. (With its focus on individual rulers taking actions, Crusader Kings is the most salient example.)

How I've always interpreted (and played) "character-focused", but not "arcs and storytelling" is as "Don't start with the end in mind." I think there are some games that get framed as "The players pick their goals, and the DM just puts challenges in front of them until they do that." That's...

I have lost considerable PC time because my wife and daughters are obsessed with this game. I think they're on Day 40-something right now; I don't think they found Room 46 yet.

Assuming I don't have pre-knowledge of the type of encounters that might be coming, a 1st and a 3rd. One cast of shield/absorb elements/silvery barbs for emergencies, and you tend to get the most bang for your buck from 3rd level slots. If you do have some idea of upcoming encounters, than...

If I recall correctly, deeds were pretty common for DCC Fighters; you start out with a 1/3 chance of a deed if you hit, and it goes up to 2/3 (I think, can't remember if the deed die goes up to d6 or something higher). Maybe tie it to the die roll, such that any even roll that's a hit is a deed?

Yea, I would agree with this. The source of the setting notes isn't nearly as important as the fact that those notes can be asserted in play as a mechanic for resolution. But I would also clarify that I generally find an extant campaign setting more palatable for my own play style over a pure...

I really think the vital distinction between these playstyles is that for the "living world" proponents, what the DM works on and creates outside of the game space, in the time between table sessions, has its own authority and agency. The DM is allowed (and expected) to assert the authority of...