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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Aldarc" data-source="post: 7694480" data-attributes="member: 5142">I find some of the harsh criticism of Monte Cook's article to be unwarranted, as the criticism seems divorced from the medium and context: i.e. a friendly, light-weight article on the MCG website meant to promote the MCG Cypher System design philosophy. It's not a scathing indictment of the critical fumble that people make it out to be. After all, the article begins with a prefacing note that "it’s a funny moment, and we’ve all been there" before also noting that the natural 1/critical fumble "has some negative connotations," which it undoubtedly does. It may have been too absolute to say "Bruce feels bad" instead of "Bruce may feel bad." And one may say that he moved the argument to a position of feels, which some gamers likely believe to be irrelevant, but it is something which a smart party and GM should be cognizant about since it affects group dynamics. It does not affect everyone or every group the same way, but it should be monitored, especially if it has a long-term negative impact on player enjoyment. Also, one may argue that if the Natural 1 is no longer a critical fumble, then the Natural 20 should not be a critical or automatic hit. Okay. Well, perhaps it would help to know more about the Cypher System first, since a Natural 20 is not an automatic success like it is in some systems. One can roll a Natural 20 and still fail to hit the Level 7+ monster. The only "automatic success" in the game is if you lower the difficulty rating of a check to 0, as in you don't have to bother rolling at all. And a Natural 20 is only a "critical" to the extent that it gives the player the option of either +4 damage or a major effect (temporary blind, disarm, etc.). But players also receive a +1 damage bonus on a Natural 17, a +2 damage bonus on a Natural 18, and a +3 damage bonus or minor effect on a Natural 19. There is no symmetry with the d20 roll in the Cypher System. Furthermore, rolling a Natural 1 is not a critical fumble/failure, nor should it be treated as one in the context of the Cypher System. A GM intrusion, however, represents a greater degree of narrative flexibility in convey that Natural 1. If all Natural 1s are critical fumbles and automatic failures, then that limits the narrative. But a GM intrusion can not only be a critical fumble but also a myriad host of other narrative complications. The player may even succeed at that skill check with that Natural 1, but in the process alert the attention of the guards.</blockquote>

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