Do You Use Your RPG Rules as Written?

[TheAranan]

Considering my current setting consists of no magic (just psionics), only one race from the core rulebooks (humans), and an itemless magic item system... I'd have to vote "no" on this.

 

[Celtavian]

re

No. I hope next edition they are more consistent with the RPG rules. Just yesterday I found out Sonic Weapon from of the Spell Compendium affects all ammunition fired from a bow under the effect of the spell, most similar spells allow for only 50 projectiles. This is out of whack with the standard way such spells are supposed to work. Players being players will seek out any spell that seems better than another similar spell. The new Spell Compendium has a pile of spells that are better than anything else at their level. It is making it a pain to design encounters.

 

[Nifft]

I use several rules exactly as written.

I use my RPG rules exactly as I have written my RPG rules.

What answer shall I pick?

Snarkily yours, -- N

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

the overarching rule of efficacious blandishment

Most RPG’s have the equivalent of what the Dying Earth calls ‘the overarching rule of efficacious blandishment,’ a rule which says, ‘you’re the referee, apply (or ignore) the rules as you see fit.’ Therefore I have no hesitation in voting yes.

Also

When running any game I decide whether the players:
1) succeed without the need to make a roll,
2) need to make a roll to see whether or not they succeed, or
3) don’t need to make a roll because they can’t succeed.

There are no other options, so that, in essence, is a RPG.

 

[Hussar]

No. I hope next edition they are more consistent with the RPG rules. Just yesterday I found out Sonic Weapon from of the Spell Compendium affects all ammunition fired from a bow under the effect of the spell, most similar spells allow for only 50 projectiles. This is out of whack with the standard way such spells are supposed to work. Players being players will seek out any spell that seems better than another similar spell. The new Spell Compendium has a pile of spells that are better than anything else at their level. It is making it a pain to design encounters.

While I am unfamiliar with that particular spell, I would wonder what the duration is for it. Since it only affects one weapon, it is far less effective than, say, greater Magic Weapon, which affects 50 arrows for several hours and can be distributed among many people. How many people actually fire 50 arrow in a single day? As a group, they actually might.

So, you have a choice. One person gets a nifty weapon, or everyone in the group does. IME, most elements that seem out of whack are actually fine.

 

[Wombat]

Something always gets altered, shuffled, lost, forgotten, added to, or improved.

I am a rules-tinkerer of the Old School, even having done so back in my wargaming days prior to D&D

 

[Bagpuss]

At least to start with and unless I spot something obviously broken IMHO, I tend to stick with them as I'm lazy like that.

 

[William Ronald]

Generally, I do use rules as written. However, I am a strong believer in Rule 0 and that a GM has a right to say no to allowing certain things in a campaign. (For example, if I believe that a class or prestige class is inappropriate for a setting, I will say no to it. Similarly, I may alter something that I believe is imbalanced or absurd.)

 

[kigmatzomat]

I use the RAW as long as they are internally consistent. I generally choose the interpretation that is most consistent with the rest of the system (which doesn't always agree with the FAQ, unfortunately).

 

[xnosipjpqmhd]

I wrote my RPG, and I still don't always go by the rules I wrote. ;-)