Statblocks: rules?

[ThirdWizard]

A statblock is like a mobius strip. There is no beginning nor end, only enlightenment.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Rule = A way to handle some game mechanic. "Roll a d20 and add your BAB and Strength bonus to make a melee attack roll." This is a rule.

Crunch = A part of the "rules" already spelled out for you. "The monster has a melee attack bonus of +8." This is crunch.

Fluff = Flavor text that includes world information, but no rules or statistics. "The monster is capable of terrible blows against even the most well-trained knights." This is fluff.

 

[Raven Crowking]

So is a statblock rules?

The fluff and crunch thread seems to be heading down a weird road. The question of weather or not statblocks were rules or not came up, so I'm putting it to the community.

Actually, the question that first came up was pretty much what you asked in your poll. Are stat blocks crunch? Rules? Both? Neither?

If one makes the argument that stat blocks are crunch, and that crunch is rules published in a rpg game book, then you've got rather a weird situation on your hands. This is one of those areas where, despite protestations to the contrary, it quickly becomes clear that we do not all use the terms "crunch" and "fluff" in the same way.

Obviously, when pointing out an if/then proposition, one is attempting to demonstrate the logical consequences of the "if" statement. It does not mean that one necessarily accepts the "if" statement to be true. In fact, this sort of statement is often used to test whether the "if" statement is true.

I would argue that there are two types of stat blocks to consider: that of an individual creature and that of a generic creature.

Using the physics analogy, any stat block offers measurements by which the rules of the game can be applied. This is not so different from how one needs to make measurements in order to determine the structural integrity of a bridge, for example. Saying Bobby Jo Bob's strength is 19 is useful in determining how the rules apply to Bobby Jo Bob, but it doesn't mean anything about the rules themselves.

On the other hand, generic stat blocks are used to determine specific stat blocks, so they are more than a simple case of measurement. "Blobula PCs gain a +2 to Strength" is a statement derived from the generic Blobula stat block. I would be willing to accept that these stat blocks may, therefore, be rules. At the very least, they have a different relationship with the rules than specific stat blocks do.

 

[Arnwyn]

This is why, regardless of the insistence of some, "crunch" is a silly word to use in the context of gaming.

Not a great metaphor.

 

[ThirdWizard]

One will only discover the truth in the statblock when one stops searching.

 

[fanboy2000]

The whole "is a character sheet a rule" question is what propmted me to start the poll. I'm also liking the diaglo's statement that statblocks are visual aids.

RC, while what you say is pertinent to the thread, I'm keeping my arguments about fluff/crunch confined to the other thread, so as not to violate the multiple threads/one topic rule.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Can someone please lay out to me what the difference between rules and crunch are. They're the same thing from my understanding.

 

[IronWolf]

Can someone please lay out to me what the difference between rules and crunch are. They're the same thing from my understanding.

This looked pretty good to me:

http://www.enworld.org/showpost.php?p=2125523&postcount=12

 

[twofalls]

... it quickly becomes clear that we do not all use the terms "crunch" and "fluff" in the same way.

Isn't this self evident? We don't use language the same way across broad spectrums. Crunch and fluff by their very natures are a bit subjective. You wont find them defined in the game terms which are being used here on Enworld in the Oxford dictionary, thats for certain.