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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SweeneyTodd" data-source="post: 4316402" data-attributes="member: 9391">I think that people just have different takes on how rule systems should operate.I personally really like that much of play isn't heavily influenced by the rules; the thing that matters when you are involved in game play that doesn't involve combat or challenges is the social dynamics at the table, and no rule system can do that part for you. It's up to every table to figure out how they want to handle the parts of the game that don't interact heavily with the mechanics should be run -- because there is no right answer.From the perspective of 4e, yes, it doesn't matter on your character sheet if you're a former sailor or farmhand. It's not trying to arbitrate that kind of stuff. That doesn't mean it doesn't respect that kind of play, though. It just means that your character is not described solely by the mechanics (which is honestly true in any RPG). An argument could be made that skill ranks in 3e kept you from saying "Oh, yeah, I used to work as a..." whenever something relevant to that profession came up. My question is, is that something the system needs to handle? Opinions will vary, my own is that if you are playing with folks who will happily trod all over their character's backstory for a minor mechanical benefit... you guys need to have a conversation, and that has a much better chance of fixing any roleplaying disconnect than the rules would have.</blockquote>

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