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What is "grim and gritty" and "low magic" anyway?
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<blockquote data-quote="Bendris Noulg" data-source="post: 1421650" data-attributes="member: 6398"><p>I would venture another outlook: Low Level D&D is the only part of D&D that even <em>remotely</em> resembles the fantasy genre, and the higher level you get, the less the game resembles the genre from which it was born.</p><p> </p><p>In the end, this is the general complaint many LM/GnG gamers have: They don't want to be <em>confined</em> to low levels in order to emulate the genre. I've not seen Wulf's book yet (it's near the top of my list, though...), but what you find most of "us" doing is making an attempt to open high level play to characters without the burden/dependance of magic that Core balance/expectations <em>appears</em> to impose. The idea that low magic games should be confined to low levels is patently false; It illustrates a misconception that magic is <em>necessary</em> in order to play the game right and that low magic games should be <em>confined</em> to low levels because that's when magic is "light". However, what this belief translates as is "because you have chosen not to use high magic, your characters are mentally and physically crippled and can't get past 5th Level." That is just as rediculous as it is wrong. I would posit the opposite: That without depending on magic as a crutch and cure all, characters will be tougher, smarter, faster, and more heroic because genetic evolution dictates that it <em>must</em> be so.</p><p> </p><p>You do realize that Gandolf is listed on page 5 of the ELH as an expample of an Epic Character. Consequently, so are Conan, Fafhrd, and the Gray Mouser, three characters not exactly known for their huge stock piles of gold and endless lists of magical trinkets.</p><p> </p><p>Experts, being that (1) they existed within a farming community and while likely not farmers themselves, they likely have suitable Skills, and (2) they were intended to represent the "common folk" during World War I (i.e., "little people" caught up in sweeping world events that changed history). By the end of FotR, they likely have Rogue Levels, and by the end of RotK, Merry has Fighter Levels while the others likely continued as Rogues (although Samwise and Frodo likely qualify for Ranger Levels from their journey).</p><p> </p><p>What I see is the opposite: The game that used to only be limited by our imaginations is now wearing a high magic straight jacket and those that are comfortable in that straight jacket can't understand why someone else would want to get it off and scratch an itch.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bendris Noulg, post: 1421650, member: 6398"] I would venture another outlook: Low Level D&D is the only part of D&D that even [i]remotely[/i] resembles the fantasy genre, and the higher level you get, the less the game resembles the genre from which it was born. In the end, this is the general complaint many LM/GnG gamers have: They don't want to be [i]confined[/i] to low levels in order to emulate the genre. I've not seen Wulf's book yet (it's near the top of my list, though...), but what you find most of "us" doing is making an attempt to open high level play to characters without the burden/dependance of magic that Core balance/expectations [i]appears[/i] to impose. The idea that low magic games should be confined to low levels is patently false; It illustrates a misconception that magic is [i]necessary[/i] in order to play the game right and that low magic games should be [i]confined[/i] to low levels because that's when magic is "light". However, what this belief translates as is "because you have chosen not to use high magic, your characters are mentally and physically crippled and can't get past 5th Level." That is just as rediculous as it is wrong. I would posit the opposite: That without depending on magic as a crutch and cure all, characters will be tougher, smarter, faster, and more heroic because genetic evolution dictates that it [i]must[/i] be so. You do realize that Gandolf is listed on page 5 of the ELH as an expample of an Epic Character. Consequently, so are Conan, Fafhrd, and the Gray Mouser, three characters not exactly known for their huge stock piles of gold and endless lists of magical trinkets. Experts, being that (1) they existed within a farming community and while likely not farmers themselves, they likely have suitable Skills, and (2) they were intended to represent the "common folk" during World War I (i.e., "little people" caught up in sweeping world events that changed history). By the end of FotR, they likely have Rogue Levels, and by the end of RotK, Merry has Fighter Levels while the others likely continued as Rogues (although Samwise and Frodo likely qualify for Ranger Levels from their journey). What I see is the opposite: The game that used to only be limited by our imaginations is now wearing a high magic straight jacket and those that are comfortable in that straight jacket can't understand why someone else would want to get it off and scratch an itch. [/QUOTE]
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