D&D (2024) The Problem with Healing Powercreep

[Micah Sweet]

Cool. So change the narrative of the game to match your preference instead of saying "These rules aren't possible to represent in the narrative of the game"

I'd rather change the rules to match the narrative, but fair enough.

 

[Chaosmancer]

I mean, they are not the same thing. We can of course houserule them to be the same thing, but that's different.

What is the mechanical difference between them?

I think these trigger in the fiction at the moment the character realises they're about to be hit, and no I don't think they're unconscious per se.

So, you think the character has enough time to make a conscious decision to dodge better, after realizing they are going to be hit, but not be capable of dodging the blow in the first place?

 

[Chaosmancer]

I mean sure, but that is Oberoni Fallacy stuff. We indeed can change a rule we don't like. Doesn't make the criticism of the original rule invalid.

But the problem isn't the rule. The problem is the fiction you are applying to the scenario you are running the rule in. And the Fiction is incredibly innately malleable. There is nothing about the worlds of DnD or the Fantasy genre that prevents this, nor are those things so deeply entwined that all DnD worlds have the same narratives.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Drew Hayes is one of my favorite authors. That's cool

Yeah he's a great guy. He pulled together a lot of superhero writers a few years back. The group kind of fell apart, but we did manage to lobby Amazon into making Superhero an official genre on their store and do a few anthologies called The Good Fight.

If you like his stuff check out Cheyanne Young (though she's pivoted to YA) and Jim Zoeteway' Legion of Nothing.

 

[Chaosmancer]

I'd rather change the rules to match the narrative, but fair enough.

By writing "this is a real thing the character experiences" in the rule book? What's the difference other than your personal preference that everything be explicitly locked in the rulebook?

 

[Crimson Longinus]

What is the mechanical difference between them?

The difference is in what the mechanic represents.

So, you think the character has enough time to make a conscious decision to dodge better, after realizing they are going to be hit, but not be capable of dodging the blow in the first place?

Yes. In the last moment they turn their body so that the impact is not as bad. It was about to hit their head, but they move so that it only scathes the shoulder etc.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Yeah he's a great guy. He pulled together a lot of superhero writers a few years back. The group kind of fell apart, but we did manage to lobby Amazon into making Superhero an official genre on their store and do a few anthologies called The Good Fight.

If you like his stuff check out Cheyanne Young (though she's pivoted to YA) and Jim Zoeteway' Legion of Nothing.

Well... considering how AWESOME I've found a lot of the superhero genre on Amazon, I have to thank you guys for that

 

[Crimson Longinus]

But the problem isn't the rule. The problem is the fiction you are applying to the scenario you are running the rule in.

The fiction is part of the rule.

 

[Micah Sweet]

By writing "this is a real thing the character experiences" in the rule book? What's the difference other than your personal preference that everything be explicitly locked in the rulebook?

What about all of this isn't personal preference?

 

[Chaosmancer]

The difference is in what the mechanic represents.

What does 1d6 damage represent? Heck, what does "damage" represent? In the Sentinels RPG damage is applied ot a health pool, but can represent anything from space lasers, bullets, or losing moral. In DnD damage is applied to a health pool, but can represent acid, fire, or an axe.

"Damage subtracted from a health pool" is the same mechanic, and can be used in multiple different games. It doesn't suddenly become a worse mechanic because you've switched genres

Yes. In the last moment they turn their body so that the impact is not as bad. It was about to hit their head, but they move so that it only scathes the shoulder etc.

Having unconsciously done that exact thing at least once, I disagree that you can do that as a conscious choice