tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post842915165083057747..comments2023-10-14T03:58:59.333-06:00Comments on The Tao of D&D: EscapismAlexis Smolenskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-35529701968162124532013-02-01T12:25:21.318-07:002013-02-01T12:25:21.318-07:00Excellent post. "Escapism" all too often...Excellent post. "Escapism" all too often gets reduced to retreating into humdrum pleasantries that we can't afford in daily life. It can just as well be a retreat into savage excess and danger where few people in their right minds would willingly go in real life. Terror and desperation transport you away from suburbia and office drudgery quite effectively. Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11677895164302972957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-66016633770501000012013-01-31T15:19:04.586-07:002013-01-31T15:19:04.586-07:00Oh, I know what Peru Ubu is getting at. That was ...Oh, I know what Peru Ubu is getting at. That was obvious.<br /><br />And I know you get this, Butch. But I wrote the post to destroy the whole argument Peru's question implies, the argument that's been on the net and has existed prior to it for decades now: Does the game HAVE to be serious?<br /><br />I don't merely argue that I play that way. I am arguing that every player in every game everywhere who doesn't get the chance to play this game at the highest level, the one I just described in this post, is either,<br /><br />A) Cheated<br />B) Very unfortunate<br />C) Too dumb fuck stupid to care<br /><br />I argue that D&D has been in the bi-wing and strut phase long enough. It's time to build propellers, so we can learn enough about the game to build jets.<br /><br />People who want to fly kites need to get the fuck out of the discussion.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-83639764923220271282013-01-31T14:33:03.468-07:002013-01-31T14:33:03.468-07:00I think what Peru Ubu is getting at, though, isn&#...I think what Peru Ubu is getting at, though, isn't whether you can lose yourself in the game, but rather the tug of war between realism and, I guess for lack of a better word, playism. <br /><br />We all want to lose ourselves in the game, but when players talk about <i>realism</i> they often are asking: do I have to track every copper spent? every ounce carried? every calorie consumed?<br /><br />Some players love doing that; some don't. <br /><br />It would be far easier to allow players to assume that, for example, they spend some predetermined amount per day. Let's say 1 g.p. per day. You're not actually spending a gold coin every day, of course; it represents the provisions you buy in the market before you leave town, and eat in the dungeon; the tolls and tariffs paid at various bridges and walled cities; the cloak that has to be replaced every year or so. Round it all up and let's say you're spending 1 g.p. every day just to maintain the status quo as an adventurer. <br /><br />Is this realistic? No, but it's much easier to play this way.<br /><br />If your question is, "Does Alexis play this way?" The answer is no. :)Butchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00470617214750867482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-39168800107227052722013-01-31T14:14:51.497-07:002013-01-31T14:14:51.497-07:00Escapism: one of the Three Pillars making up the f...Escapism: one of the Three Pillars making up the foundation of the game.<br /><br />[you've really been on fire this month with your posts by the way...the only reason I'm not commenting on all of 'em is I figure you'd get tired of the puffery]<br /><br />JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-79328516404727935512013-01-31T13:33:05.938-07:002013-01-31T13:33:05.938-07:00A good adventure should end with the same glowing ...A good adventure should end with the same glowing feeling of release and elation one experiences after surviving a plane crash or good sex.<br />The end to every campaign should be satisfyingly bittersweet.<br /><br />Creating that finish does not fall squarely on the DM, the players themselves must share the load.joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12351926278188565029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-35721079877708624762013-01-31T13:24:46.012-07:002013-01-31T13:24:46.012-07:00I think the worst part of the whole tract is how M...I think the worst part of the whole tract is how Marcie's character, Black Leaf, didn't get a saving throw to avoid the poison trap. But -- hey -- that's just me! LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-29794905325932093832013-01-31T13:03:48.861-07:002013-01-31T13:03:48.861-07:00After reading this: "where they are ONE AND T...After reading this: "where they are ONE AND THE SAME with their characters." I had to link to this: http://media.chick.com/tractimages67491/0046/0046_03.gifAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com