Mechanics or story?

[Hjorimir]

I just want quality, regardless if it is crunch or fluff. From WotC, might as well go with crunch as their fluff is rather flat. But some games, it is the fluff that is the huge draw (eg. the Shadowrun setting is amazingly good).

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I want some of both. If I had to choose, I would take mechanics over story.

If I buy story, I'll probably end up modifiying it anyway.
I can make up a story of my own that my friends will accept and enjoy.

If we buy rules we will probably agree to use them as written, or with slight modifications we can easily agree on.
If I try to make up the rules, we will surely have many arguments over them as we find problems.

 

[Odhanan]

Can't vote. I don't consider these aspects to be opposed or even different from one another. They blend and support one another.

 

[Arnwyn]

Neither. Both on their own are unacceptable to me.

(And, for the record, where does "adventure module" lie?)

 

[Scott_Rouse]

This is a really tough question but in the end (personally speaking) I am much more confident in my ability to create good story (or at least that I think is good) vs good game mechanics.

With a base of well made mechanics I could create story around the platform.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

This is a really tough question but in the end (personally speaking) I am much more confident in my ability to create good story (or at least that I think is good) vs good game mechanics.

With a base of well made mechanics I could create story around the platform.

OMG WIZZARDS IS SWITCHIGN TO NO FLUF BOOCKz!!!!!111!!!1!!!one!!!!

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Mechanics. Story I can write, but it's balanced mechanics I have problems with.

This is precisely what I was going to post, but using slightly different words.

I like to write the fluff for myself. That is why I write the story hours here. Want to read a tale about a Duskblade, Favored soul, Wizard, and Psion? See my sig. You'll get my interpretation of crunch without seeing any of the crunch. [Seriously, take a read. There are two stories there, the first is complete with about 180,000 words while the second will be about the same length when it is finished.]

I don't buy fluff books. I do read them. I usually pick them up at the book/game store and rifle through them, skimming for cool ideas. Then, once I've gleaned the five (or ten at most) really cool ideas contained within, I put the book back on the shelf, buy a crunch book, and go home. I tweak and mold the cool ideas from the fluff book until the fit my world the way I want it too.

The fluff is fun and easy for me to come up with. It is the crunch (actually, it is the ensurement of balance) that I struggle with. If someone else can do the crunch, I'm a happy man!

 

[Drowbane]

I just want quality, regardless if it is crunch or fluff. From WotC, might as well go with crunch as their fluff is rather flat. But some games, it is the fluff that is the huge draw (eg. the Shadowrun setting is amazingly good).

If only the Shadowrun mechanics were 1/10th as good as the Setting...

Shadowrun d20?

 

[Mark CMG]

(snip)

Love the new avatar.

 

[questing gm]

If it's for a published setting, i go for fluff anyday (which is what i voted for)

But if i create my own fluff, i would hunt down the mechanics that would prefectly demonstrate the sort of game it would be running on.