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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Crazy Jerome" data-source="post: 6099895" data-attributes="member: 54877">I think we are back hard on the old (dawn of hobby old) point that running a fantasy RPG session shares a lot with reading a fantasy novel, but in other ways they are nothing alike.  This is critically the difference between "simulation" and "emulation".If you want, for example, Aragorn to be described on the character sheet in a way that makes him recognizable to a LotR fan, you'll simulate him via the system one way.  OTOH, if you are more interested in having a character act in a way that makes him recognizable to a LotR fan, you'll emulate him via the system in a different way.  There will be considerable overlap, of course, though much of this will be color, not mechanics.  People really far along the curve seeking immersion won't see this, I think, because for them color and description is what they hang their hat on.  If you want to play someone like Aragorn, describe him appropriately and then read LotR for insights.  Whereas the emulation crowd is after a different effect:  we give the character to someone who has no clue about LotR, but still get play somewhat as expected.  The problem with discussion of mechanics on the simulation front is that it depends on a shared set of source material, and at least some overlap in reactions to that material.  Frankly, even if mechanics were readily agreed upon, I think my take on literary fantasy would be incompatible at the table with some others, simply based on their take on literary fantasy.  Never mind simulating something in play--we don't even agree sufficiently about the story as it was told in print.  In contrast, the problem with discussion of mechanics on the emulation front is that it depends on shared play experience.  Until someone experiences emulative play, they are only seeing it thinly, through a fog, if at all.  And unless it looks attractive, they have no particular reason to gain the experience.  If WotC couldn't resolve the difference well enough in the 4E DMG to avoid contradictory advice with a small team, I don't really see it being bridged in the larger arena of the fanbase.  At best, we'd have champions of each side at WotC, with all of them playing in all modes, and those with preferences being equally protective of the other side.  That's a lot to ask.  So I expect Next to go back to being a fairly nifty beer and pretzels fantasy game with a few nods thrown towards the sim crowd to make them buy adventures and read them.  I'll play it and have fun, because I like shallow fantasy gaming some times.  If we get more than that, I'll be pleasantly surprised.</blockquote>

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