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| [This post is inspired by this comment] |
Heard joke once: Man goes to RPG forum. Says he's confused. Says rules seem intimidating and contradictory. Says he can justify multiple interpretations of a mechanic in a system that's vague and uncertain. Forum says, "Ruling is simple. Great clown Dungeon Master is in charge. Go and talk to your DM. That should clear it up." Man bursts into tears. Says, "But forum... I am Dungeon Master." Good joke. Everybody laugh. Roll on snare drum. Curtains.
-Dwiz
I think you and I are on the same page on this "rulings not rules" meme that others are so fond of. If you're designing a game or even an adventure, and there's a situation that you know is going to come up, don't tell every GM "figure out for yourself how to decide how to resolve this", tell them how to resolve it. That is, tell them a rule.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty comfortable applying a "rulings over rules" philosophy most of the time but you'd think that if I'm reaching out to my fellow GMs out there about something then maybe, just maybe, it's because I'm a bit stumped. Maybe I'd like to hear how some other GMs would make the ruling themselves. I KNOW I'm the authority, I ain't need to be told that shit.
DeleteIt's lonely at the top.