Combat as Sport or Combat as War

[jodyjohnson]

Based on this thread

http://www.enworld.org/forum/new-ho...ombat-war-key-difference-d-d-play-styles.html

How do we rate?

I think 5e needs to appeal to both to capture the feel of all editions.

 

[Libramarian]

Bugger. I meant to choose I prefer becmi/ad&d and caw. That's what I get for trying to do a poll on my phone.

 

[Hassassin]

I chose two edition preferences, because it depends on the campaign. Both with CAW, but different in other ways.

 

[Kynn]

I worry that if I don't say CAW then someone's gonna call me a wimp.

 

[Tony Vargas]

Yeah, if you read the original thread, it is prettymuch just calling anyone who doesn't play old school a pansy.

 

[trancejeremy]

I don't think it was meant to be belittling - just postulating that one is just focused on tactical (focused more on individual battles or contests) thinking and planning vs strategic (the long haul or war)

 

[Tovec]

Yeah, if you read the original thread, it is prettymuch just calling anyone who doesn't play old school a pansy.

I never did old school, and I still disagreed with you. Don't assume everyone who disagrees with you are calling you names.

The CAW/CAS talk was about thematic choice and I would have loved to contribute more to the original thread but it just accelerated beyond my ability to keep up.

 

[Aenghus]

As I see it the DM can always win if he really wants to. The players need a at least a chance to win, games where the PCs always lose tend to fall apart.

So in groups that work, the PCs need to succeed at least part of the time. It's just a question of where the DM draws the line on what works and what doesn't.

I prefer combat as sport as a player and a DM because it's less stressful for me. DM's vary amazingly on what they consider valid tactics and strategy and what they don't in a combat is war style and figuring out what's what can be a painful process, and one I don't find fun. There is no guarantee that what emerges as effective tactics in CAW will be fun, interesting, or acceptable or believable from a particular PC, especially as I tend to play heroic PCs with moral qualms.

I think Combat as Sport is easier for new players and casual players. Combat as war needs lots of investment and preparation on the part of both players and referee, and misunderstandings and different interpretations can make the style backfire badly.

 

[JamesonCourage]

I prefer combat as war, highly value combat as sport, but as a GM, I don't prepare for either. I just see what happens. As always, play what you like

 

[S'mon]

I found this poll hard - practically speaking I enjoy both. If I had to give up one I'd give up CAS, because giving up CAW means giving up versimilitude, which I value, for a 'movie set' feel. But I'm fine with CAW leading up to a broadly CAS battle - the CAW sets the stakes and affects the EL, but within parameters. That's how I've tended to run 4e, since moving away from a more purely CAW approach. I run 1e more or less pure CAW, and 3e as CAW (low level) tending to an uneasy regulated-CAW at high level.