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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Doug McCrae" data-source="post: 5279691" data-attributes="member: 21169">I think there are three justifications for SoD:1) The thrill of the big gamble.2) Simulationism. What is being simulated here is mythology/fantasy fiction. Or rather, aspects of it.3) Gamist challenge. The challenge is in scouting and/or gathering information so the PCs can identify, and presumably avoid, monsters with SoDs. This is really a justification for any very dangerous encounter existing in the game world, not just those with SoDs.Imo, the first is the only really sound justification, the others are significantly flawed. As you say, the medusa of myth doesn't give a save and is a single creature not a species. Personally I don't think non-rules based gamism works. It's not a real challenge, it just comes down to a GM call. Win? Fail? GM decides. Again there's no reason why there should be a save. Upthread Verdande expressed the view that if your character is rolling a save, then you, the player, have failed. Well, why should randomness enter into it then? That can only allow the inferior player to prosper, from this gamist perspective. So why allow a save?#2 and #3 don't give a good justification for the S part of SoD, just the D. #1 is the only reason to want the full SoD, because the gambler loves the big risk. He loves his fortune turning on a die roll.One could say that #1 is gonzo old school and #3 is 'serious bizness' old school.</blockquote>