Roll for Effect or Intent?

[bloodtide]

It is always a wonder to me that you espouse such anti-protagonist preferences. Please don't take that as a dig. If you are having a good time and your players are returning to the table, more power to you.

But the idea that a player can't toss a rock to distract a guard is wild to me. It is such a well established trope, it is effectively a law of nature. I mean, what horrors would await a character trying to swing on a chandelier or challenge the killer of their father to a duel?

Well, it can be said that I am very much against Silly Action Movie Stuff and Silly TV Stuff. And all those Tropes. Like how often you see the magic "off button" on the back of peoples heads. One hit to the head and 'click' the person is knocked out.

I'm not saying it is impossible to distract any guard. And some guards, like very dumb goblins might fall for the 'toss a rock'. But the average NPC won't. Again , just like the average player would not fall for it.

I love swashbuckling, so swinging works great in my games. As does a challenge to a duel.

 

[Charlaquin]

I don’t understand this dichotomy at all. Every action should have both an intent and an approach to trying to achieve it. A roll is called for to resolve uncertainty in whether the approach succeeds in achieving the intent or not. You can’t divorce one from the other.