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Well I was referencing D&D as a whole, because it's tricky to disentangle the various historical factors by which D&D editions evolved. So D&D is very popular in the mainstream, and Rolemaster not nearly as much, for example. And for whatever it's worth, AD&D with unified mechanics seems...

I understand the difference between hardcore vs "pretend" simulationism, but I never really understood why it was so important to polarize players by heavily differentiating between purist for sim vs high concept simulation. I don't have an interpretive theory, only a mere opinion: that D&D --...

As it pertains to this discussion... So with people clearly believing that GNS innaccurately lumps other playstyles into "Exploration", can Ron Edwards be considered to have made an honest effort to inquire and understand playstyles beyond Gamism and Narrativism, such that GNS can be described...

Don't you mean +2 in WIS? :)

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the practical difference between "interpretive theory" and a carefully crafted opinion piece dressed up in an important-looking suit?

The thing that really confuses me is the blurred lines between hit points (already fluffed by many as having a significant amount of luck and fortune) and AC and saves and now fate points. So if your PC is backstabbed by a rogue and takes 50 hit points but still fighting on, then it's not...

As mentioned or hinted at in the other thread, I'd first like to see races deconstructed as a synergy of: 1. Non-human morphology/genetics 2. Cultural/environmental traits So a typical mountain dwarf has genetic hardiness and a culture of stonework. An orphaned dwarf growing up on a human farm...

Ya, that was the prevailing logic against applying a -2 Str penalty to female PCs. That is, if you don't want a super strong female warrior, just don't give her an 18 Str.

I agree it's a grey area. Another aspect is that if fate points are used with predictable results, whereas nothing is truly certain through the eyes of the PC. If a rogue sneak attacks your PC and you use a fate point, you could fluff it as your PC hearing a twig snap, but as soon as you pulled...

I don't think that's what he was referring to. You're referring to a reflex action, which seems to be occuring in a moment of slow time. He's referring to a rewind action, from Author stance. Say you got hit from behind by a rogue's sneak attack. If you didn't see it coming, you couldn't negate...

This might be controversial and impossible, but I'd like to try a campaign setting or optional add-on in which the PCs have access to a resurrection "machine" (like in Diablo where the character self-resurrects at a temple or checkpoint) via an elite organization or artifact or regeneration...

I have a few quibbles with this. I get the fantasy logic, but I think D&D only pays lip service to this concept. 1) I'd imagine that dwarven clerics of Moradin and elven clerics of the Seldarine are no less suited to their priestly roles than human clerics. I'm not sure that non-human...

I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist: here's some controversy as requested. If Race is of #2 importance, then here is my revised list of character traits in order of importance: 1) class 2) race 3) gender 4) ability scores 5) customizable options Disclaimer: I'm not actually advocating a return...

Regarding racial culture, I am not a politically correct person by any stretch of the imagination, but I would reference labels like 'stereotype' and, well, 'racist' to put a contrast to 'iconic' racial traits. For example, I'm OK with racial rules that "stereotype" dwarves as being masters at...

Interesting... there was some speculation that races could be deconstructed into themes or suchlike. But Monte states that class is more important than themes, and then puts Race as #2 and customizable elements are down to #4. So I think that puts to rest the idea that Race will be a theme -- at...

I agree 100%. I think that many of the arguments about "nod to realism" and how magic works and wuxia fighters and low/traditional vs high/anime fantasy are actually setting-specific issues. The problem, of course, is what goes into "core" or baseline story, and what goes into setting-specific...

Sorry, I haven't had any prior exposure to those discussions. I agree with @Plane Sailing that the title of this thread is unfortunate, because there's no point in criticizing 4E, as this is the New Horizons thread. So trying to put the points into context... the links you indicated (and I...

Can you share, or is it classified?

I don't think that whoever wrote the 4e elemental thought about it at all one way or another. Or if they did, they disregarded an idea that was unbalancing or didn't fit the math IMO.

Then there would be a Darwinian contest of size between fire elementals. Predator elementals would go around absorbing the smaller elementals, in order to increase in size. Some would justify this as preemptive self-defense (the bigger I am, the less likely I am to be absorbed by other fire...