Crazy Jerome
First Post
Burning Wheel fulfills its promise, but the problem with it on this question is that the promise is odd and complex enough that not everyone is going to understand what BW is promising until they've done it. You play it, look back, and realize, "Hey, this is exactly what they said would happen." Though in fairness to BW, it also tells you to read the first 60 pages or so and go play, and that you probably won't understand what it is promising until you do so.
I think for Next to succeed on this front it's got to face square on that it is attempting to be several different games, and thus needs separate promises clearly called out. 4E's biggest failing in this regard is that it is 2 or 3 good games but with all the promise and advice muddled together. Then obviously "Basic" needs to be only one of Next's game, and with the promise in it distilled to only what applies in that subset.
For example, don't make vague statements about DM's fudging various rolls, decisions, etc. If the current style being discussed needs certain kinds of fudging to really sing, tell people flat out to do it and why it will matter. And then in the next style where that really is counter-productive, tell them that.
I think people that can understand that sometimes you dress up, sometimes you wear casual, sometimes you lounge around, sometimes you wear sports apparel, sometimes you wear grungy work cloths--can handle a few clearly explained differences in needs.
I think for Next to succeed on this front it's got to face square on that it is attempting to be several different games, and thus needs separate promises clearly called out. 4E's biggest failing in this regard is that it is 2 or 3 good games but with all the promise and advice muddled together. Then obviously "Basic" needs to be only one of Next's game, and with the promise in it distilled to only what applies in that subset.
For example, don't make vague statements about DM's fudging various rolls, decisions, etc. If the current style being discussed needs certain kinds of fudging to really sing, tell people flat out to do it and why it will matter. And then in the next style where that really is counter-productive, tell them that.
I think people that can understand that sometimes you dress up, sometimes you wear casual, sometimes you lounge around, sometimes you wear sports apparel, sometimes you wear grungy work cloths--can handle a few clearly explained differences in needs.
