D&D 4E Anyone playing 4e at the moment?

[Garthanos]

You’re thinking too granularly. I seriously doubt the Avenger class was designed around the reroll mechanic. Rather, I think it was designed to be a divine striker.

Divine a purely story element and striker a concept served by many different mechanics and part of the hero team narrative shrug.

 

[Garthanos]

I’m not putting forth the idea that anyone built a mechanic without consideration for what role it would play in the narrative.

sure seems that way... based on the linked page

"Normally when you design a card, you start with the mechanic. Then the designer adds some basic flavor to explain what the card is doing. Later a creative text person comes up with an actual card concept, occasionally influenced by the designer’s basic idea."

 

[Charlaquin]

sure seems that way... based on the linked page

"Normally when you design a card, you start with the mechanic. Then the designer adds some basic flavor to explain what the card is doing. Later a creative text person comes up with an actual card concept, occasionally influenced by the designer’s basic idea."

Described in the bolded section: consideration for what narrative role the mechanic might play.

 

[Nefermandias]

Just wanted to say that Charlaquin is so patient and nice to people. That's amazing!

 

[Garthanos]

Described in the bolded section: consideration for what narrative role the mechanic might play.

---> Sure and then what does "Later they come up with the card concept" mean to you?

Also if narrative role is considered AFTER you have "started with the mechanic" it still does not mean the narrative role was considered while coming up with the mechanic.

 

[Garthanos]

It can be either, as you just demonstrated. However, a system that is built from the top down is generally more difficult to reskin in, because the mechanics are generally more bespoke and purpose-built to suit a particular narrative, so changing the narrative often doesn’t result in as good a fit.

That sounds to me like an overly complicated or detailed set of mechanics which does not seem to require any particular direction regardless of tendencies. I suspect one could start at the top and still compile simple underlying mechanics and reuse them persistently.

 

[Garthanos]

Just wanted to say that Charlaquin is so patient and nice to people. That's amazing!

Not going into diatribes about the games we play nor over simple disagreements are not entirely lost forms you say?

 

[Garthanos]

The way it is phrased heck "you" start with a mechanic then "the designer" adds basic text ... isn't the best continuity of identity reference in phrasing LOL

 

[Garthanos]

Additionally if the narrative role is there at the bottom too then it is actually narrative considered throughout the design... not "really" mechanic first ... it just means the narrative role gets refined later and starts fuzzy

 

[Charlaquin]

Additionally if the narrative role is there at the bottom too then it is actually narrative considered throughout the design... not "really" mechanic first ... it just means the narrative role gets refined later and starts fuzzy

This is that “missing the forest for the trees” thing.