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<blockquote data-quote="Manbearcat" data-source="post: 8447837" data-attributes="member: 6696971">I understand this sentiment.However (needless to say), I don’t find it compelling in any area of life, TTRPGs included.When D&amp;D GMs eschew structure for freeform, resolution mechanics for extrapolation/fiat (principled or seemingly arbitrary), what is actually happening doesn’t become magical pixie dust or something possessed of an ethereal quality that renders it inscrutable (or even exempt from being “a thing” at all).We can analyze it and classify it andfind its place in a taxonomical structure. The only reason to not put forth this effort (that I can think of) is similar to the inclination to zoom out to the stratospheric view of TTRPG play priorities and say THERE ARE NO PRIORITIES THERE IS ONLY “THE FUN TM”; to render play impervious to a deeper understanding of (a) why we actually play this game instead of that one and (b) what is actually happening at the table to ensure we don’t accidentally stumble into that gameplay instead of this gameplay.I mean the reality that “GM Decides” (extrapolation based on process simulation, adjudication based around genre logic, Force applied to ensure metaplot stays online) can be binned multiple different ways is a pretty&nbsp; potent line of evidence for this (GM Decides is system whether people want to classify it as that or not).</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Manbearcat, post: 8447837, member: 6696971"] I understand this sentiment. However (needless to say), I don’t find it compelling in any area of life, TTRPGs included. When D&D GMs eschew structure for freeform, resolution mechanics for extrapolation/fiat (principled or seemingly arbitrary), what is actually happening doesn’t become magical pixie dust or something possessed of an ethereal quality that renders it inscrutable (or even exempt from being “a thing” at all). We can analyze it and classify it and find its place in a taxonomical structure. The only reason to not put forth this effort (that I can think of) is similar to the inclination to zoom out to the stratospheric view of TTRPG play priorities and say THERE ARE NO PRIORITIES THERE IS ONLY “THE FUN TM”; to render play impervious to a deeper understanding of (a) why we actually play [I]this[/I] game instead of [I]that[/I] one and (b) what is actually happening at the table to ensure we don’t accidentally stumble into [I]that[/I] gameplay instead of [I]this[/I] gameplay. I mean the reality that “GM Decides” (extrapolation based on process simulation, adjudication based around genre logic, Force applied to ensure metaplot stays online) can be binned multiple different ways is a pretty potent line of evidence for this (GM Decides is system whether people want to classify it as that or not). [/QUOTE]

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