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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Guest&nbsp; 85555" data-source="post: 5522280">I think we just disagree on this point, which is fine. IMO because you are eliminating one mechanic, and replacing it with an existing mechanic (and therefore not adding a new one) you are subtracting. I think the core mechanic in d20 accomplishes this quite elegantly. It eliminates a number of mechanics and replaces them with a single mechanic. So I would still call that subtractive design. Now it isn't as subtractive I suppose as completely elminiting the concepts those mechanics support, but it is still subtractive I think. Also d20 isn't guided fully by this principal. Clearly in the end you have a bigger game, but there are subtractive elements. I was basing my interpretation on this on the guy's 1st paragraph:"Subtractive design is the process of removing imperfections and  extraneous parts in order to strengthen the core elements. You can think  of a design as something you build up, construct and let grow, but it&<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/misc.php?do=dbtech_usertag_hash&hash=8217" target="_blank">#8217</a>s  pruning away the excess that gives a design a sense of simplicity,  elegance, and power."To me that sounds like he is to produce efficiency and elegance, and subtraction is simply the means to achieve that. My sense is it removes things that are not essential I think. But it wouldn't remove essential elements for the sake of subtraction. I believe we basically agree and just have expressed our conclusions a little differently.</blockquote>

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