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  1. loverdrive

    D&D General How much control do DMs need?

    Well, what can I say, skill issue. Git gud. Suspension of disbelief is an active process, not some kind of line in the sand.
  2. loverdrive

    Why do RPGs have rules?

    There are games that pretty explicitly codify into rules things that have nothing to do with the fictional universe. If my character in Fate has an aspect *The Protagonist, within the universe of the game, it means only two things: jack and s##t. It still bears direct influence on what happens...
  3. loverdrive

    Why do RPGs have rules?

    I'll read all the previous posts a bit later, but here's my two cents. The way I see it, the rules are needed to structure the process, kickstart the creativity and provide constraints that everybody understands. Modelling the fictional universe, I'd say, is the least important and least...
  4. loverdrive

    D&D General How much control do DMs need?

    It's that constraints prevent them from screwing up. DMs and players are utter complete idiots that will run the game off the first cliff given the opportunity, and it's the designer's job to protect them from themselves.
  5. loverdrive

    D&D General How much control do DMs need?

    In russian-speaking wargaming community we call it "roster", but now I'm not entirely sure if it's the correct word. I recall some app calling these "army lists"? Idk. Basically, the way I see this imaginary game, there would be a list of various threats, monsters, bandits, traps, automated...
  6. loverdrive

    D&D General How much control do DMs need?

    I don't think time invested by the GM matters, really. From the outside, the difference between carefully planned assassination where the GM took sniper's capabilities into the account, rolled dice or whatever the same way she would do for the PCs, and a decision to screw that player in...
  7. loverdrive

    D&D General How much control do DMs need?

    Yes, it is artificial. Games are artificial, they are made to be enjoyed. The abilities of PCs and NPCs don't need to be symmetrical. PCs represent actual living people in our meat-space, they are interface to engage with the game. NPCs aren't people. They exist to be interacted with, they...
  8. loverdrive

    D&D General How much control do DMs need?

    Overall, balance gives freedom. Imagine like you are playing a fighting game with your friend. Situation A: the game is brilliantly balanced, not a single character has an intrinsic edge over another, there's a legitimate counter-play to every move in the playbook -- so you can pick whatever...
  9. loverdrive

    D&D General How much control do DMs need?

    No. Just no. It only makes sense if you think that rules can and should be possible to be processed by a computer, meat or otherwise. There are rules to writing haikus, the author must abide the structure, but pretending like the poet is nothing but a "meat computer" is, frankly, asinine.
  10. loverdrive

    D&D General How much control do DMs need?

    ...what? — What if the GM makes an illegal move? — The players will point to the rules and ask how the hell that move was triggered. — So I guess just like in other games
  11. loverdrive

    D&D General How much control do DMs need?

    If the question is "what will happen if the GM deliberately and maliciously breaks the rules", well, there's no clear-defined procedure. Just like there's no procedure for dealing with players who cheat with their dice rolls. If the question is "what if the GM makes a move they cannot make due...
  12. loverdrive

    D&D General How much control do DMs need?

    No, because nobody cares whether NPCs get a chance to act or not. From narrative perspective PCs are more important, and from the gameplay perspective, GM's ability to participate in the process isn't predicated on NPCs, so they are significantly less valueable.
  13. loverdrive

    D&D General How much control do DMs need?

    I must point out that this is not how magic in Blades works. Whispers aren't D&D wizards, their immediate magical abilities are constrained to talking to ghosts and perceiving the ghost field (which is something everyone can do with Attune action). There are special abilities Tempest and Compel...
  14. loverdrive

    A better term

    As an example, Lifts: Powered by the ABpocalypse utilizes physical exercises instead of dice, yet the way it is played is barely different from any other PbtA game (well, except all the lifting weights thing). Should it be classified as a tabletop RPG? Or, the game I'm currently making requires...
  15. loverdrive

    D&D General How much control do DMs need?

    No, not without directly violating rules. More than that, in many PbtA games, even if "rocks fall" situation is actually justified (say, there's an avalanche coming, but one of the PC willingly ignores that danger), the player is the one deciding whether their character will live or die. They...
  16. loverdrive

    Commentary thread for that “Describe your game in five words” thread.

    Fifteen shots in the balls Dark Heresy has this hit location mechanic, and, well... My gal shot her rifle fifteen times. All fifteen landed in the "lower body". I guess I inadvertently recreated Sniper Elite! Also I came home and drawn a picture of her: I tried to replicate Blanche style...
  17. IMG_20230425_013258_011.jpg

    IMG_20230425_013258_011.jpg

  18. loverdrive

    Describe your last rpg session in 5 words

    Fifteen shots in the balls
  19. loverdrive

    D&D General How much control do DMs need?

    ...sure? Clint_L asked if there's a point in using miniatures in Dungeon World. I said yes, there is a point, as clearly conveying positional relations between combatants has value in a game that has a lot of combat scenes. The way I see the question posed, it's not about counting cells on a...
  20. loverdrive

    A better term

    Interpersonal RPGs sounds like an amazing name!
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