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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ainamacar" data-source="post: 5777944" data-attributes="member: 70709">I certainly don't think the idea that extra discussion will, on average, help games is tendentious.  The examples you give are apt.  I do find it surprising that something like modularization, which ostensibly changes only the rules, actually has a 2nd order effect on the game by encouraging those discussions.Ahh, that's another good one!  Even if only one of those design options makes it into the game, the idea of modularization (or at least a willingness to try multiple options) may have improved the non-modular element.  It's something the players could never notice, but would nonetheless be a real effect.The contrast thing is so widespread.  For example, it is very difficult to argue why a particular set of rules is "rules-light" or "rules-heavy" without comparing it to a particular game.  Differences are easy to see, but the absolute is difficult.  Same thing for normal hearing and those with perfect pitch.  In quantum mechanics we can only observe phase differences, not absolute phase.  And so on.Likewise with my original example.  Establishing solid campaign expectations beforehand isn't strictly superior to not doing so, even if it is on average.  For example, the early discussion could give rise to a disagreement that is never resolved and prevents the campaign from starting.  If they hadn't discussed things in such depth the campaign would have started and it is conceivable the offending element would never have come up to unravel the game.  I can see the headlines now: "Modularization encourages discussions which ruin perfectly good games!"I think we could start a support group. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" /></blockquote>

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