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<blockquote data-quote="Joshua Randall" data-source="post: 7616501" data-attributes="member: 7737">Disagree. The GM is as much part of the RPG system as the rules themselves. That's what makes it an RPG, as opposed to some other kind of game or activity.(Yes, there are now &quot;GM-less&quot; &quot;RPGs&quot; but I would argue they are either (A) actually GM-full, just spread across multiple bodies; or (B) not RPGs in the traditional sense.)Early automakers could, in fact, assume that the driver was part mechanic as well - similar to how early RPGs could assume that the GM was part game designer and tinkerer.As both products became more mature, and more people started using them, the products themselves because less &quot;mechanic&quot; focused and more easy to use. Automatic transmission as the easy car example. Codified rules for almost every possible combat situation as the RPG example (as seen in 3e and 4e).Absolutely true and not just for the GM. This is why it's important to expose yourself to lots of different rules systems (software) - so you can make an informed decision about what kinds of games you like.Disagree. Software has an entire discipline around it to measure and improve its &quot;goodness&quot; - usability / UX / HCI / whatever you want to call it.RPG rules could also be measured in a similar way. Indeed, I think 4e doesn't get enough credit for being a much better Designed (in the UX Design sense) and Usable game than any edition of D&amp;D, before or since.Haha, true!&quot;Well yeah of course the 1e initiative rules suck but any good DM had his own house rules....&quot;&quot;Well yeah of course some of the 2e kits were flagrantly broken but any good DM would tweak them....&quot;&quot;Well yeah of course the 4e skill challenge rules were a flaming dumpster fire(*) but any good DM would have his own way of running skill challenges....&quot;(*) I say this as a huge 4e lover. But sorry. Skill Challenges are f--king terrible.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Joshua Randall, post: 7616501, member: 7737"] Disagree. The GM is as much part of the RPG system as the rules themselves. That's what makes it an RPG, as opposed to some other kind of game or activity. (Yes, there are now "GM-less" "RPGs" but I would argue they are either (A) actually GM-full, just spread across multiple bodies; or (B) not RPGs in the traditional sense.) Early automakers could, in fact, assume that the driver was part mechanic as well - similar to how early RPGs could assume that the GM was part game designer and tinkerer. As both products became more mature, and more people started using them, the products themselves because less "mechanic" focused and more easy to use. Automatic transmission as the easy car example. Codified rules for almost every possible combat situation as the RPG example (as seen in 3e and 4e). Absolutely true and not just for the GM. This is why it's important to expose yourself to lots of different rules systems (software) - so you can make an informed decision about what kinds of games you like. Disagree. Software has an entire discipline around it to measure and improve its "goodness" - usability / UX / HCI / whatever you want to call it. RPG rules could also be measured in a similar way. Indeed, I think 4e doesn't get enough credit for being a much better Designed (in the UX Design sense) and Usable game than any edition of D&D, before or since. Haha, true! "Well yeah of course the 1e initiative rules suck but any good DM had his own house rules...." "Well yeah of course some of the 2e kits were flagrantly broken but any good DM would tweak them...." "Well yeah of course the 4e skill challenge rules were a flaming dumpster fire(*) but any good DM would have his own way of running skill challenges...." (*) I say this as a huge 4e lover. But sorry. Skill Challenges are f--king terrible. [/QUOTE]

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