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Message: <blockquote data-quote="nedjer" data-source="post: 5300068" data-attributes="member: 83796">I am in awe of the evening's discussion <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f60e.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":cool:" title="Cool    :cool:"  data-smilie="6"data-shortname=":cool:" /> I was on blog duty on much the same topic, but on a more mundane level. As it's on topic:A  full range of RPG gameplay options can include stealth, investigation,  mystery, construction, characterisation, planning, intrigue and all  manner of on-going challenges, missions and quests. These options, (and  the list is far from exhaustive), open up opportunities for a wide  variety of open-ended tabletop roleplaying and design gaming. At the  same time, sooner or later, even the most plot or challenge-focused  adventures are likely to involve direct confrontation. There are plenty of ways to roleplay  conflict, but players and/ or plot will often call for raised shields  and a handy longsword. The standard approach to varying RPG combat is  through the many abilities of monsters, aliens and other lifeforms.  However, the novelty wears off as soon as players become familiar with  their own and most of the monsters’ abilities. From there on it’s a pretty predictable  business of matching players’ abilities to each monster’s weaknesses.  Many RPGs end up trying to introduce greater excitement, if not variety,  by making the player/ s and their opponents as closely matched as  possible. This adds risk, but can make players feel they’re ‘under the  cosh’. Which can bring with it the danger of being sucked into ‘rules  courts’, as outcomes, (on many levels), may hang on interpreting a  clause within the rule set. <a href="http://thistlegames.com/thistle/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/crusades_arsuf_richard.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://thistlegames.com/thistle/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/crusades_arsuf_richard.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a> Sure players want a sense of excitement  and danger, but grinding away at ‘swingy’ combat after ‘swingy’ combat  can get a bit wearing. Adding a dramatic backdrop in terms of a  combat’s place in the plot or novel circumstances offers a partial  solution, as player characters’ motivations, (and meaningful ‘in-game’  consequences), can add tension and give a combat a wider resonance  across the rest of the gameplay. Fighting over different prizes,  possessions and passions may vary the meaning of a combat within the  game as a whole, but it seems necessary to go further to make the most  of what combat can contribute to play. In particular, it seems  worthwhile to go beyond the limits of static rules sets. Rule sets usually take account of a  selection of basic options, including fighting while wading, on  horseback or in the dark. This can be extended in countless directions.  For example fighting: <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">at sea</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">in a swamp</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">on ice</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">underwater</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">amidst lava streams</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">in a tar pit</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">in quicksand</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"> in labyrinths</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">in battle</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">over bridges</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">while becoming ill or poisoned</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">in potentially explosive or destructive locations</li> </ul>These, and many more choices, can be  varied again by deformation of the terrain and/ or events, i.e.  conditions may deteriorate, (or emerge), as things ‘fall apart’. Modern  and Sci Fi settings are all the better, with an endless array of readily  available environmental hazards to choose from, ranging from planetary  conditions to invasive nano-bots. <a href="http://thistlegames.com/thistle/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/porus.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://thistlegames.com/thistle/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/porus.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a> The choice of combat variants available  to players is clearly far beyond knowing the difference between a Storm  Giant and a Stone Giant. Except there’s a problem. How can even the  largest rule sets provide combat mechanics for handling each and every  possible situation. Fortunately, there appear to be a few possible  approaches which might help: <ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Consider what the existing rules have to offer and what might be  added in terms of simple combat modifiers that don’t unbalance play.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Extend the rules to provide fuller consideration of the situation  and add tables to vary possible effects. Modifying magical or physical  effects to suit the environment might well add authenticity.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Take account of knock-on effects and on-going events, including deformation and the emergent properties of the situation.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Populate the ‘combat zone’ with environmental combat options, e.g.  items, physical features and other ‘solutions’, available to the  observant and opportunist without highly specialised skills.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Use combat choreography aka stunt fighting and freeform GMing to  mediate new conditions as they emerge during play. This is a tiring  option, but it does allow the rules to move with ‘the territory’ and  fade seamlessly into the background. That can, in turn, bring the plot  and players’ characterisation into the foreground.</li> </ol>Overall, combat can deliver some of the  most exciting gameplay available in videogame RPGs, Tabletop RPGs and  design games. There’s not that much a player can do about videogame  combat. You get the combat and combat settings which come in the box.  More opened-ended, imaginative tabletop games can do better, as GMs and  players are able to vary, shape and remix the design and play of combat  encounters to much greater imaginative effect.</blockquote>

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