Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Scurvy_Platypus" data-source="post: 4552074" data-attributes="member: 43283">Newsflash:Sometimes a GM ignores or changes the rules because it suits him.Internet (WOTC) - Stephen Radney-MacFarland wrote an article specially targeted at the elite segment of "D&D" (Dungeons and Dragons) players that have a subscription to the restricted content portion of the Wizards of the Coast website.Although a number of people were unable to actually read the article because of their lack of subscription, they were teased with the following description:"Stephen makes a shocking confession about altering and even ignoring the rules, then elaborates a list of reasons why that's sometimes the best thing to do. You can follow his example by following his advice."Nerdrage appears to be attempting to gain momentum, with some claiming "Oh my GOD!!! He just said I should toss out the $500 I just spent on new rulebooks and make stuff up!" Other members of the "community" meanwhile are pointing out the desperate need for other "DMs" (Dungeon Masters) to recognize that the books are in fact "guides". While nobody has in fact pointed to the "Dungeon Master Guide" as evidence of the "guidance" based nature of the rules, sources report with confidence that there is a high degree of possibility that such a thing might be mentioned.Several sources have indicated that they in fact already discard rules and modify things to suit their own particular needs and have done so for a number of years. It seems unlikely however that the widening rift between the two factions will be bridged by these radicals.This schism is hardly new to the area D&D. The two main faction are "RAW" (Rules as Written) and an other side that has yet to be cutely named.The "RAW" school of the belief is that the rules have been written for a reason and if they've been listed, they should be followed with as little deviation as possible. The moderate school in contrast feels that people should change things if it doesn't work for members of their "group".To date, the sectarian violence continues with little hope for a peace accord. Internet forums see constant warfare, although things have been somewhat calmer in recent months. Experts say the calm is a deceptive one."Pretty much right now, everyone is still kinda freaking out about the new edition." says tr0llBABE, a noted expert in the D&D field. "Eventually everyone is going to calm down and once they do that, they'll realize that there are people not only playing a different edition than they are, but that these people are using the rulebooks in different ways. Once that happens, the violence will reignite."Dungeons and Dragons is a marginal game played by an uncertain number of people. It's an early version of the murder simulators currently popular with children. Unlike current simulators such as Doom, Half-life, Prey, and others which are "played" on the computer, D&D is a paper simulation, relying on pencils and plastic dice to determine the gore soaked outcome of the participants actions.Several participants will gather together and form a cell or "group". This is organized and led by the "Dungeon Master", a person that typically wields absolute authority.Critics of the D&D movement, such as Jack Chick, offer a dire warning:"THEY'RE GOING TO HELL!!! Their souls are going to BURN for their evil!!"It's unclear at this point as to whether they are referring to the RAW or the moderates, but either way it seems likely that this will continue for some time.</blockquote>

Verification