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<blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 6073660" data-attributes="member: 42582">I think there is something to be said for scaling the length, in real time, that it takes to resolve a fight, to the dramatic significance of the fight.Many RPGs have multiple resolution methods - simple contests for conflicts that are of modest dramatic significance, and extended contests for conflicts that are of great dramatic significance. HeroWars/Quest and Burning Wheel are two examples. 4e also has this contrast in non-combat (skill check vs skill challenge), and can somewhat support the contrast in combat (all minion combats), though in the latter case the outcome will often be sufficiently predetermined that it may not be worth engaging the resolution mechanics at all.I haven't got a strong sense of how, if at all, D&amp;Dnext is going to toggle between quick and extended resolution. If it requires choosing different monsters - so that all kobold fights are by definition quick (and hence of modest significance) and all beholder fights by definition extended (and hence of great significance) - then I think it will have failed somewhat. The ideal is to be able to use any story element in either quick or extended resolution. Especially within a broader framework of bounded accuracy, that is meant to increase the flexibility for use of various story elements.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="pemerton, post: 6073660, member: 42582"] I think there is something to be said for scaling the length, in real time, that it takes to resolve a fight, to the dramatic significance of the fight. Many RPGs have multiple resolution methods - simple contests for conflicts that are of modest dramatic significance, and extended contests for conflicts that are of great dramatic significance. HeroWars/Quest and Burning Wheel are two examples. 4e also has this contrast in non-combat (skill check vs skill challenge), and can somewhat support the contrast in combat (all minion combats), though in the latter case the outcome will often be sufficiently predetermined that it may not be worth engaging the resolution mechanics at all. I haven't got a strong sense of how, if at all, D&Dnext is going to toggle between quick and extended resolution. If it requires choosing different monsters - so that all kobold fights are by definition quick (and hence of modest significance) and all beholder fights by definition extended (and hence of great significance) - then I think it will have failed somewhat. The ideal is to be able to use any story element in either quick [I]or[/I] extended resolution. Especially within a broader framework of bounded accuracy, that is meant to increase the flexibility for use of various story elements. [/QUOTE]

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