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Message: <blockquote data-quote="LostSoul" data-source="post: 5320346" data-attributes="member: 386">I think that the problem exists in both cases (if the rules don't say you can't grab a swarm, then you can; likewise, if the rules provide an exhaustive list of every possible difference based on the situation).  Both focus on the rules instead of the "fiction".  Now, it's not that the "fiction" has to be realistic or a perfect simulation of something - that's not what I think the problem is.It's that, if you're concerned about what the rules say above everything else, you don't have as many opportunities to inject that "moment of judgement" into the game.  The players don't contribute as much creativity to the game.I'm not saying that the rules should be ignored, either.  I think the rules should be followed to the letter (and ditched or changed if they don't work).  What I think good rules do is that they give you lots of moments of judgement where players can inject that creativity into the game.Compare these three rules:Sneak Attack: If a rogue can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from her attack, she can strike a vital spot for extra damage. The rogue’s attack deals extra damage any time her target would be denied a Dexterity bonus to AC (whether the target actually has a Dexterity bonus or not), or when the rogue flanks her target Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet. With a sap (blackjack) or an unarmed strike, a rogue can make a sneak attack that deals nonlethal damage instead of lethal damage. She cannot use a weapon that deals lethal damage to deal nonlethal damage in a sneak attack, not even with the usual –4 penalty. A rogue can sneak attack only living creatures with discernible anatomies—undead, constructs, oozes, plants, and incorporeal creatures lack vital areas to attack. Any creature that is immune to critical hits is not vulnerable to sneak attacks. The rogue must be able to see the target well enough to pick out a vital spot and must be able to reach such a spot. A rogue cannot sneak attack while striking a creature with concealment or striking the limbs of a creature whose vitals are beyond reach. Sneak Attack When you make an attack with a light blade, a hand crossbow, a shortbow, or a sling and hit an enemy granting combat advantage to you, that enemy takes extra damage based on your level. You can deal this extra damage only once per turn. Sneak Attack If a rogue can catch an opponent when he is unable to defend himself effectively from her attack, she can strike a vital spot for extra damage based on the rogue's level.  If the opponent lacks vital spots to strike, the rogue may not Sneak Attack the target. The DM determines if the target is vulnerable to the rogue's Sneak Attack based on the player's description of the attack.I think that, in the third case, we'll see more personalized content from the people in the game.</blockquote>

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