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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 6596218" data-attributes="member: 42582">A brief repost seems in order:<a href="http://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/1545/roleplaying-games/dissociated-mechanic" target="_blank">Justin Alexander</a> saysIn the case of Wushu, fidelity to the game world is being traded off in favor of narrative control. In the case of 4th Edition, fidelity to the game world is being traded off in favor of a tactical miniatures game.The "narrative control" that he refers to in relation to Wushu has, some paragraphs earlier in his essay, been described as follows:“I leap into the air (1), drawing my swords in a single fluid motion (2), parrying the samurai’s sword as I pass above his head (3), and land behind him (4).” . . . n the case of Wushu these mechanics were designed to encourage dynamic, over-the-top action sequences: Since it’s just as easy to slide dramatically under a car and emerge on the other side with guns blazing as it is to duck behind cover and lay down suppressing fire, the mechanics make it possible for the players to do whatever the coolest thing they can possibly think of is (without worrying about whether or not the awesomeness they’re imagining will make it too difficult for their character to pull it off).No doubt it's obvious to Justin Alexander why leaping into the air, drawing one's swords in a single fluid motion, parrying the samuria's sword and landing behind him; or sliding dramatically under a car and emerging on the other side with guns blazing; is awesome narrative control, whereas having the goblins charge the fighter but be cut down en route (Come and Get It); or having the sorcerer teleport out of the exploding fireball, thereby taking no damage (Swift Escape); or having the evil war devil's allies besiege a protagonist (Besieged Foe); is not awesome at all but rather a mere "tactical miniatures game".But the difference escapes me. My take-away is that Alexander enjoys Wushu, doesn't enjoy 4e - perhaps because it uses too many miniatures and not enough cars? - and felt the need to write thousands of words explaining why this wasn't a mere preference for cars over miniatures, but was an intellectually-driven choice that any rational person should agree with.</blockquote>

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