Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Psion" data-source="post: 1170932" data-attributes="member: 172">I thought we were talking about roleplaying and the encouragement thereof, but you seem to have shifted into a linearity argument.Center weightedness seems to be a big issue for you. Play tri-stat or something then. No skin off my back. That's your preference. I just think these sort of analyses are niggly and think that in the sort of wild environment we try to represent in a game, such apparently extreme randomness is not only tolerable, but appropriate.Dude, that is so a feature, not a bug. This is a heroic fantasy game.Your maxed out skills are level based. But there is no principle that says all skills much vary linearly with level, and I am a little surprised that someone as critical of d20 as you apparently are would argue that we should go back to 1980 when everything was doled out by level.I refer you back to me previous reply re: using both methodologies.The difference is more pronounced there, I beleive, because what they strive to model is somewhat different. But still, I don't beleive it matters as much as you make it out to be. As evidence, I will point out that Atlas game has dual statted adventure for Ars Magica and d20 (as well as dual statted modules featuring Feng Shui, Unknown Armies, etc.)Now of course, there are ways in which system affects setting details and those become the focus of a story.But you want to know my take on this whole system matters thing?It matters, but mostly inasmuch as the players make it matter. What one person tolerates, the other will find intolerable.The primary reason to use d20 is not because it is some shining example of perfection when it comes to gaming. It's pretty good -- it has a lot of solid mechanics, is a fairly clean system, and it games well. About the 90th percentile, I'd say. But really, there are other systems out there that you could get to work just as well, albeit with their own strengths and weaknesses (which you may find significant or not.)But here's the rub. What makes d20 a superior choice is not the system... there are a number of systems you could chose that would do just as good a job. It's the network and the support. You can find people who know it and will play it, and there are supplements, adventures, and whole games for it for a variety of topics. It is MHO that those who hate d20 because of niggly reasons or emotional commitment do so at their own loss to their gaming happiness.</blockquote>

Verification