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Schools of thought--Where we all stand on the big questions
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<blockquote data-quote="jdrakeh" data-source="post: 4598961" data-attributes="member: 13892"><p>I took the test, though I echo Jack99's sentiment about some questions apparently being colored by edition bias. My commentary is in green italics. Erroneous assumptions/false dichotomies in red. </p><p></p><p><u><strong>Schools of Thought:</strong></u></p><p></p><p>High magic (FR) V. Medium Magic (GH, 1e) V. <span style="color: Yellow">Low magic (Conan) settings</span></p><p></p><p>Home made settings V. <span style="color: yellow">Give me a base setting I’ll do the rest (1e Greyhawk)</span> V. <span style="color: yellow">Give me a detailed setting and keep detailing it (2e FR).</span></p><p></p><p>Settings growing alongside novels (FR novels being the prime example here of togetherness) V. <span style="color: yellow">Settings and novels being separate.</span></p><p></p><p>Low level games (1-10) V. <span style="color: yellow">Mid level games (10-20)</span> V. High level games (20-30+) are my favorite</p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">Detailed combat rules for combat moves, attacks and actions (anything other than swinging a weapon giving specific mathematical bonuses or penalties, for ex. -2 terrain, +4 blinded +2 full attack, -2 concealed, etc.)</span> V. <span style="color: yellow">Let the DM wing combat moves, attacks and actions (giving it his own bonus or detriment based on a quick gut check)</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>Most systems I've played (even D&D 3x) rely a bit on both. Likewise, I enjoy either, depending upon what game I'm playing and other factors. </em></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">Multiple worlds and settings to adventure in</span> V. I only really need and use one.</p><p></p><p>Narrative critical (it bashed the side of your head, blood is your left eye making it difficult to see and you’re a bit dizzy) V. <span style="color: yellow">Criticals which give some mathematical detriment (it hit your arm, you’re now -2 to attack with your primary weapon)</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">Wizards at high levels ARE AND OUGHT TO BE feared</span> V. Wizards at high level are completely unbalanced. Nerf, Nerf, Nerf them to death.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">Tabletop grid and dry erase</span> V. No grid</p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">Miniatures</span> V. No miniatures V. Miniatures only or the complicated stuff.</p><p></p><p>Tiles V. <span style="color: yellow">No tiles</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">3d structures on the gaming table (things like mountains, hills, trees, etc. )</span> V. No structures</p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">Modules</span> V. <span style="color: yellow">I’ll make up my own stinkin’ adventures</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>A bit of both. I rarely use modules as-written, but I also have a life outside of gaming, which means that I typically don't have enough time to write entire campaigns from scratch.</em></span></p><p></p><p>Adventure paths V. <span style="color: yellow">standalone modules</span> V. Didn't you see what I said above? I’ll make up my own stinkin’ adventures</p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>I tend to modify standalone adventure modules to create adventure paths and campaigns. </em></span></p><p></p><p>Lots of Houserules V. <span style="color: yellow">Moderate houserules</span> V. We may tinker here and there, but we play it mostly by the book.</p><p></p><p>Magic item stores V. <span style="color: yellow">No magic item stores.</span></p><p></p><p>Roll play V. <span style="color: yellow">Role play</span></p><p></p><p>PDF magazines V. <span style="color: yellow">Paper</span></p><p></p><p>PDF core rules V. <span style="color: yellow">Paper</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">PDF modules</span> V Paper</p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">PDF supplements</span> v. Paper</p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">Laptop for the DM at the gaming table</span> v. <span style="color: yellow">Pen and paper</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>I use both. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. </em></span></p><p></p><p>Laptop for players at the gaming table v. <span style="color: yellow">Pen and paper</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">Mood music while playing</span> v. None</p><p></p><p>Sound effects while playing v. <span style="color: yellow">None</span></p><p></p><p>Boxed sets V. <span style="color: yellow">Hardcover books</span></p><p></p><p>Gygaxian V. <span style="color: yellow">Non-Gygaxian</span></p><p></p><p>Non-weapon proficiencies V. <span style="color: yellow">Skills</span> V. <span style="color: yellow">Just wing it, do a Dex check or something</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>I like both of the indicated options, depending upon what game I'm playing. </em></span></p><p></p><p>Kits V. Prestige classes V. <span style="color: yellow">Neither</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">Core classes</span> V. Kits and/or prestige classes</p><p></p><p>Feats V. <span style="color: yellow">No feats</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">Class based system</span> V. <span style="color: yellow">No classes, just a character with various skills, abilities, and attributes.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>I've actually come to find that I most enjoy systems such as Rolemaster and D&D 3x that combine both a skill system <u>and</u> classes. </em></span></p><p></p><p>Feats V. Book of Nine Swords-style progression trees V. <span style="color: yellow">I already said no feats</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">Classed monsters with skills, feats, etc.</span> V. <span style="color: yellow">Non-classed monsters, they just have special abilities.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>Another "I like both, depending upon the needs of the current game" answer.</em></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="color: yellow">Detailed world politics and economies</span> V. Who gives a crap, lemme go kill something and take its stuff.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">Rolling for social interaction results</span> V. <span style="color: yellow">Roleplaying all of them out, the results are what you personally glean from it.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>Aaaaaaaaaand another</em></span> <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkRed">Describing exactly how you are searching V. Rolling a d20 for search results</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>Ideally, both of these things. They aren't mutually exclusive.</em></span> </p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">DM Rulings</span> V. <span style="color: yellow">Rules</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>Rules when they are written, DM ruling when no applicable written rules exist.</em> </span></p><p></p><p>Player skill V. <span style="color: yellow">Character abilities</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">Heroic</span> V. <span style="color: yellow">Superhero</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>Yep. You guessed it — depends on the game. Achilles, Hercules, etc were all arguably superheroic, frex. Conan generally wasn't. </em></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: darkred">Game balanced encounters V. The world’s a dangerous place, your 3rd level wizard might open that door and out pops Orcus.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>I don't like either extreme but, instead, prefer a more even-handed approach than either option presented here.</em></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">Save or die, life’s a bitch</span> V. Hey, not fair, I invested a lot of time in that 15th level guy and he shouldn’t die because of one bad roll.</p><p></p><p>Classes balanced against each other per level V. <span style="color: yellow">Every class has its place, and some are more powerful than others at certain things, or at a lot of things.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: DarkRed">Rogues being able to sneak attack/backstab in combat because of flanking V. He’s a thief, he doesn’t belong in combat, shoot an arrow from far away if you want to be in combat.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>As mentioned in another thread, Thieves can backstab in combat in editions that lack flanking rules (notably AD&D 1e and AD&D 2e). This comparison is invalid, based on that reality.</em> </span></p><p></p><p>Every character being able to do something every round of combat V. Sometimes you just gotta hang back and let the meat shields or fireball howitzers do their thing.</p><p></p><p>Combat-centric/focused/driven V. Roleplay/intrigue/politics/economics –centered/focused/driven</p><p></p><p><span style="color: darkred">Every combat encounter should be somewhat of a challenge V. Sometimes, your epic level characters kick down a door and it’s just a mouse in there, eating some cheese, and that’s ok, because the world is made up mostly of those kinds of encounters. That's not to say we still won't fireball it and take its now melted cheese...</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>Again, prettly clearly a false dichotomy. Neither answer suits me, at all.</em> </span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">We use CR</span> V. <span style="color: yellow">We don’t use CR.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>When I'm playing a game that uses CR, I use it. When I'm playing a game that doesn't use CR, I don't.</em> </span></p><p></p><p>XP should be gained for the GP value of treasure looted V. <span style="color: yellow">Nope, just for the kill.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>Treasure is its own reward. </em></span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: yellow">We use an XP system</span> V. The DM just gives it out once in a while as he decides he wants us to progress in levels.</p><p></p><p>10d6 caps to 3rd level damage spells V. <span style="color: yellow">My 30th level wizard’s fireball can, like that meteor from 600 million years ago, cause the next ice age.</span></p><p></p><p>Characters take their place on the battlefield leading troops in battle V. <span style="color: yellow">The battle happens while we do things only a PC group can do which helps determine the overall battle’s outcome.</span></p><p></p><p>My favorite setting of all time is: <span style="color: seagreen"><em>HarnWorld</em></span></p><p></p><p>Chanmail V. <span style="color: yellow">OD&D</span> V. <span style="color: yellow">Holmes D&D</span> V. AD&D V. Moldvay B/E/C/M D&D V. Rules Cyclopedia D&D V. Second Edition V. Thrd Edition 3.0 V. Revised Third Edition 3.5 V. Fourth Edition V. Castles and Crusades V. Savage Worlds V. OSRIC V. True20 V. Mutands and Masterminds V. Pathfinder V. <span style="color: yellow">Basic Fantasy RPG</span> V. Gurps V. Hackmaster V. Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed/Evolved V. <span style="color: yellow">Rolemaster</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: seagreen"><em>Also, add HarnMaster. I like variety in the games that I play. </em></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jdrakeh, post: 4598961, member: 13892"] [COLOR="SeaGreen"][/COLOR]I took the test, though I echo Jack99's sentiment about some questions apparently being colored by edition bias. My commentary is in green italics. Erroneous assumptions/false dichotomies in red. [U][B]Schools of Thought:[/B][/U] High magic (FR) V. Medium Magic (GH, 1e) V. [COLOR="Yellow"]Low magic (Conan) settings[/COLOR] Home made settings V. [COLOR="yellow"]Give me a base setting I’ll do the rest (1e Greyhawk)[/COLOR] V. [COLOR="yellow"]Give me a detailed setting and keep detailing it (2e FR).[/COLOR] Settings growing alongside novels (FR novels being the prime example here of togetherness) V. [COLOR="yellow"]Settings and novels being separate.[/COLOR] Low level games (1-10) V. [COLOR="yellow"]Mid level games (10-20)[/COLOR] V. High level games (20-30+) are my favorite [COLOR="yellow"]Detailed combat rules for combat moves, attacks and actions (anything other than swinging a weapon giving specific mathematical bonuses or penalties, for ex. -2 terrain, +4 blinded +2 full attack, -2 concealed, etc.)[/COLOR] V. [COLOR="yellow"]Let the DM wing combat moves, attacks and actions (giving it his own bonus or detriment based on a quick gut check)[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]Most systems I've played (even D&D 3x) rely a bit on both. Likewise, I enjoy either, depending upon what game I'm playing and other factors. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR="yellow"]Multiple worlds and settings to adventure in[/COLOR] V. I only really need and use one. Narrative critical (it bashed the side of your head, blood is your left eye making it difficult to see and you’re a bit dizzy) V. [COLOR="yellow"]Criticals which give some mathematical detriment (it hit your arm, you’re now -2 to attack with your primary weapon)[/COLOR] [COLOR="yellow"]Wizards at high levels ARE AND OUGHT TO BE feared[/COLOR] V. Wizards at high level are completely unbalanced. Nerf, Nerf, Nerf them to death. [COLOR="yellow"]Tabletop grid and dry erase[/COLOR] V. No grid [COLOR="yellow"]Miniatures[/COLOR] V. No miniatures V. Miniatures only or the complicated stuff. Tiles V. [COLOR="yellow"]No tiles[/COLOR] [COLOR="yellow"]3d structures on the gaming table (things like mountains, hills, trees, etc. )[/COLOR] V. No structures [COLOR="yellow"]Modules[/COLOR] V. [COLOR="yellow"]I’ll make up my own stinkin’ adventures[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]A bit of both. I rarely use modules as-written, but I also have a life outside of gaming, which means that I typically don't have enough time to write entire campaigns from scratch.[/I][/COLOR] Adventure paths V. [COLOR="yellow"]standalone modules[/COLOR] V. Didn't you see what I said above? I’ll make up my own stinkin’ adventures [COLOR="seagreen"][I]I tend to modify standalone adventure modules to create adventure paths and campaigns. [/I][/COLOR] Lots of Houserules V. [COLOR="yellow"]Moderate houserules[/COLOR] V. We may tinker here and there, but we play it mostly by the book. Magic item stores V. [COLOR="yellow"]No magic item stores.[/COLOR] Roll play V. [COLOR="yellow"]Role play[/COLOR] PDF magazines V. [COLOR="yellow"]Paper[/COLOR] PDF core rules V. [COLOR="yellow"]Paper[/COLOR] [COLOR="yellow"]PDF modules[/COLOR] V Paper [COLOR="yellow"]PDF supplements[/COLOR] v. Paper [COLOR="yellow"]Laptop for the DM at the gaming table[/COLOR] v. [COLOR="yellow"]Pen and paper[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]I use both. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. [/I][/COLOR] Laptop for players at the gaming table v. [COLOR="yellow"]Pen and paper[/COLOR] [COLOR="yellow"]Mood music while playing[/COLOR] v. None Sound effects while playing v. [COLOR="yellow"]None[/COLOR] Boxed sets V. [COLOR="yellow"]Hardcover books[/COLOR] Gygaxian V. [COLOR="yellow"]Non-Gygaxian[/COLOR] Non-weapon proficiencies V. [COLOR="yellow"]Skills[/COLOR] V. [COLOR="yellow"]Just wing it, do a Dex check or something[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]I like both of the indicated options, depending upon what game I'm playing. [/I][/COLOR] Kits V. Prestige classes V. [COLOR="yellow"]Neither[/COLOR] [COLOR="yellow"]Core classes[/COLOR] V. Kits and/or prestige classes Feats V. [COLOR="yellow"]No feats[/COLOR] [COLOR="yellow"]Class based system[/COLOR] V. [COLOR="yellow"]No classes, just a character with various skills, abilities, and attributes.[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]I've actually come to find that I most enjoy systems such as Rolemaster and D&D 3x that combine both a skill system [U]and[/U] classes. [/I][/COLOR] Feats V. Book of Nine Swords-style progression trees V. [COLOR="yellow"]I already said no feats[/COLOR] [COLOR="yellow"]Classed monsters with skills, feats, etc.[/COLOR] V. [COLOR="yellow"]Non-classed monsters, they just have special abilities.[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]Another "I like both, depending upon the needs of the current game" answer.[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR="yellow"]Detailed world politics and economies[/COLOR] V. Who gives a crap, lemme go kill something and take its stuff. [COLOR="yellow"]Rolling for social interaction results[/COLOR] V. [COLOR="yellow"]Roleplaying all of them out, the results are what you personally glean from it.[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]Aaaaaaaaaand another[/I][/COLOR] ;) [COLOR="DarkRed"]Describing exactly how you are searching V. Rolling a d20 for search results[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]Ideally, both of these things. They aren't mutually exclusive.[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR="yellow"]DM Rulings[/COLOR] V. [COLOR="yellow"]Rules[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]Rules when they are written, DM ruling when no applicable written rules exist.[/I] [/COLOR] Player skill V. [COLOR="yellow"]Character abilities[/COLOR] [COLOR="yellow"]Heroic[/COLOR] V. [COLOR="yellow"]Superhero[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]Yep. You guessed it — depends on the game. Achilles, Hercules, etc were all arguably superheroic, frex. Conan generally wasn't. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR="darkred"]Game balanced encounters V. The world’s a dangerous place, your 3rd level wizard might open that door and out pops Orcus.[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]I don't like either extreme but, instead, prefer a more even-handed approach than either option presented here.[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR="yellow"]Save or die, life’s a bitch[/COLOR] V. Hey, not fair, I invested a lot of time in that 15th level guy and he shouldn’t die because of one bad roll. Classes balanced against each other per level V. [COLOR="yellow"]Every class has its place, and some are more powerful than others at certain things, or at a lot of things.[/COLOR] [COLOR="DarkRed"]Rogues being able to sneak attack/backstab in combat because of flanking V. He’s a thief, he doesn’t belong in combat, shoot an arrow from far away if you want to be in combat.[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]As mentioned in another thread, Thieves can backstab in combat in editions that lack flanking rules (notably AD&D 1e and AD&D 2e). This comparison is invalid, based on that reality.[/I] [/COLOR] Every character being able to do something every round of combat V. Sometimes you just gotta hang back and let the meat shields or fireball howitzers do their thing. Combat-centric/focused/driven V. Roleplay/intrigue/politics/economics –centered/focused/driven [COLOR="darkred"]Every combat encounter should be somewhat of a challenge V. Sometimes, your epic level characters kick down a door and it’s just a mouse in there, eating some cheese, and that’s ok, because the world is made up mostly of those kinds of encounters. That's not to say we still won't fireball it and take its now melted cheese...[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]Again, prettly clearly a false dichotomy. Neither answer suits me, at all.[/I] [/COLOR] [COLOR="yellow"]We use CR[/COLOR] V. [COLOR="yellow"]We don’t use CR.[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]When I'm playing a game that uses CR, I use it. When I'm playing a game that doesn't use CR, I don't.[/I] [/COLOR] XP should be gained for the GP value of treasure looted V. [COLOR="yellow"]Nope, just for the kill.[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]Treasure is its own reward. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR="yellow"]We use an XP system[/COLOR] V. The DM just gives it out once in a while as he decides he wants us to progress in levels. 10d6 caps to 3rd level damage spells V. [COLOR="yellow"]My 30th level wizard’s fireball can, like that meteor from 600 million years ago, cause the next ice age.[/COLOR] Characters take their place on the battlefield leading troops in battle V. [COLOR="yellow"]The battle happens while we do things only a PC group can do which helps determine the overall battle’s outcome.[/COLOR] My favorite setting of all time is: [COLOR="seagreen"][I]HarnWorld[/I][/COLOR] Chanmail V. [COLOR="yellow"]OD&D[/COLOR] V. [COLOR="yellow"]Holmes D&D[/COLOR] V. AD&D V. Moldvay B/E/C/M D&D V. Rules Cyclopedia D&D V. Second Edition V. Thrd Edition 3.0 V. Revised Third Edition 3.5 V. Fourth Edition V. Castles and Crusades V. Savage Worlds V. OSRIC V. True20 V. Mutands and Masterminds V. Pathfinder V. [COLOR="yellow"]Basic Fantasy RPG[/COLOR] V. Gurps V. Hackmaster V. Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed/Evolved V. [COLOR="yellow"]Rolemaster[/COLOR] [COLOR="seagreen"][I]Also, add HarnMaster. I like variety in the games that I play. [/I][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
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