Do you go in RAW 100%?

[Dannyalcatraz]

In all probability, the very first game of AD&D in 1977- my gateway to the hobby- was probably run RAW. But I have no way of knowing. Since I started DMing, I’ve probably never run a campaign in any edition that was RAW.

Most game systems I’m running for the first time, I probably run RAW or damn nearly so, because that’s the easiest way to learn the system. Whether I HR anything after that is highly dependent on how my players & I feel about the system.

AFAIK, I’ve never run a session of HERO any way except RAW.

 

[...m...]

In all probability, the very first game of AD&D in 1977- my gateway to the hobby- was probably run RAW. But I have no way of knowing.

...if your first game was in '77, it was either OD+D or holmes basic, so the ruleset was ambiguous and strictly RAW gameplay wasn't technically feasible nor even really comprehensible...

 

[sevenbastard]

Usually I start cheating as soon as possible, so nope.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

...if your first game was in '77, it was either OD+D or holmes basic, so the ruleset was ambiguous and strictly RAW gameplay wasn't technically feasible nor even really comprehensible...

Well, sorta. AD&D’s MM was first released in 1977, and the PHB in ‘78.

So I’m probably misremembering the date, because I had both when we started.

 

[MNblockhead]

Start crunchy raw but mix things up over time.

I try to run the game rules as written as much as I can, at least until I feel I, and the players, have a solid understanding of them. Inevitably, for crunchy rule sets and long campaigns, I'll start changing to alternative rules, third-party changes/additions, and home brew.

I like long campaigns and when you want to go the distance, you've gotta keep things fresh in the bgameroom.

 

[stonehead]

It's worth pointing out that if you leave the realm of DnD-likes, a lot of games out there are much easier to run 100% RAW, because the rules are written less intrusively.

Apocalypse world, Cypher, Fate/Fudge, etc. A lot of game systems are character creation, resolution mechanic, damage tracking, end of rules. You could house-rule these if you tried, but there's never going to be a "I don't like the rules for ______, I'll house-rule it" because there are no rules for _______. There are only the basic rules.

 

[chuckdee]

The OP is asking two different questions and they're really two different threads.

1. Is it possible to truly play any game RAW?
2. Is it desirable to play any game RAW?

Or, to carry on the Jeff Goldblum theme, your GMs were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should

 

[aramis erak]

So I am curious.
Who here would claim that they play ANY TTRPG 100% rules as written with no alterations or omissions? House ruling things not covered by published rules would be allowed but if there is a rule for it, you have to use that rule 100% unaltered for a situation it applies to. 40+ yrs in the hobby and I know I never have. I suspect it can only really be possible for games that have properly minimalist rulesets. But let's say any edition or incarnation of Dungeons and Dragons. Have you every played it 100% straight up RAW with no alterations or ommisions?

My first run of almost every game is done that way.
D&D never got that until 3.0, however...
I never ran BECMI/Cyclo without optional add-ons, to wit, the Gaz modules and, later, the PC-series modules.
The ones I can't envisage running without houseruling the hell out of them don't make it to table.
While I've never run vanilla base Rolemaster, every option I have used was in RM or RMC1 as an official option. Vanilla base RM is a pretty simple (if table heavy) game...
I have run MERP (which is readily seen as RM-Light) RAW, once. It was a great game... but it wasn't tolkienian at all in tone.
when I run MegaTraveller, my houserules are essentially a new edition... but I have run it RAW, a few times, back in the 80's...

 

[aramis erak]

AFAIK, I’ve never run a session of HERO any way except RAW.

Given how flexible the core is, that's not much of a restriction... My only actual houserule for Hero was allowing power modifiers on Luck and Unluck. Mostly for a -1/2 "Affects Magic Only"...

It's worth pointing out that if you leave the realm of DnD-likes, a lot of games out there are much easier to run 100% RAW, because the rules are written less intrusively.

Yup!
Anyone going into design really needs to play things that are not D&D, and play them RAW, before trying to "improve on D&D."

Besides, there are more than 10000 RPGs already...