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Wil Wright, creator of the Sims series, wrote an essay a while back (sorry, I can't be bothered to google a link right now) that theorized a difference between games and toys. His definition of the difference, like yours, relied on the codified existence of a "win" condition. IIRC, his reason...

Have to spread XP around, etc. Thanks for a much clearer statement of what I was trying to get at upthread. Deliberate effort was what I was groping blindly towards. :)

This is an interesting stance. Could you expand a bit on why you would consider some RPGs art and not others (I'm presuming that D&D isn't unique in your view an not art)?

Well I did say I expected the heat :). Performance is an outstanding method of creative expression and I agree as an audience member of many fine musicians that the performance can be better at communicating with the audience then the studio recording. But I can't re-attend that performance...

True enough though the Ebert quote didn't include skill or creative imagination. I'll accept your combination of the two definitions as a much better definition than either standing alone. I still stand by my belief that their is a fundamental difference between art and activities that seek...

I voted no, but like Danny it's a soft no. First, their is a whole realm of life experiences that meet Mr. Ebert's definition that are not art. My mother's death from cancer comes to mind. Second, I don't believe that a work that leaves no trace of itself behind can truly be considered art...

90%, damn I'm old. I couldn't remember the Barbarian's name. I haven't read Gord since the mid-80s.

It's not really a game until people start playing it. Until then it's just a pretty book of suitable size to put on a coffee table. Being dismissive of people's experience playing the game is insulting and intellectually dishonest.

No. D&D is about adventure. Adventures which tend to include a lot of combat, but adventure still has pride of place.

I recently re-read the 1st ed. DMG for this time in a couple of decades. I think your analysis is pretty spot on. The one thing that I still appreciated (to your point about the 4ed. DMG) was the extended example of play. I think it runs 6 full 2 column pages and is an outstanding guide to...

Excellent point. The number of surges at start of day and recovered would have to vary by class. Defenders will still need access to more healing and Essentials non-spell casters to fewer dailies. I'll have to keep this point in mind as I start working on actual numbers for class and level...

delericho, some very interesting ideas in the OP. I think I'm going to try the 1 AP per encounter in my next session and see how it goes in play. I agree with you on the weakness of daily powers and healing surges. I see them as related problems and have been giving some thought to how to tie...

We added a new player to our weekend game who brought a Blackguard. Seems very solid in heroic.

True enough, thanks for the catch. We used this at our table often enough we just announced "I close defensively" to shorthand it.

This tracks pretty closely to my SCA tournament experience. The first person to move into range has to be prepared to defend their opponents blow. My tactic, in D&D terms, is to move and use the standard to adopt all out defense to turn the first blow.

My D&D group in the early 80s called it the 5 minute day. It was a reference to how fast we could burn through the healer's cure spells. Our pronounced preference for multi-class clerics and druids was a player attempt to extend the adventuring day. 3e having a 15 minute work day was an...

I would eliminate feats.

I would take feats down a different path completely. First I would reduce the number given. Probably down to 1 at 1st and then start of each tier; and an additional feat at each level you increase 2 stats (4, 8, etc.). Second, I would limit their scope to mechanical specialization and...

I'm pretty neutral about them. But I've never loved any editions death mechanics. Very much actually, I also like the strict action economy of a turn. In the broader context of the action economy I think a minor action is the best place for them. I'm still old school enough that I want...

How about running the fight straight, but make it clear early in the fight that the ambushers are willing to be bought off? Maybe a "stand and deliver" kind of ambush instead of an immediate ass kicking ambush?