tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post1864028662356399738..comments2023-10-14T03:58:59.333-06:00Comments on The Tao of D&D: Wiggly All Over the PlaceAlexis Smolenskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-84000635196195108922013-08-30T12:31:13.673-06:002013-08-30T12:31:13.673-06:00The connections are intentional, though I am not &...The connections are intentional, though I am not "taoist." If I did have a religion, I'd have to be some kind of reactionary fundamental paganist, the sort that spits on all things post-Sumerian.<br /><br />The chief accusation is because I don't expound taoism itself. Many people in the west think 'taoism' is a dogmatic ideal, and feel ripped off that I'm not specifically repeating the exact words of Lao Tzu ... as though Lao Tzu himself would not see the rank humour in that expectation.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-52031878186601208962013-08-30T11:51:46.801-06:002013-08-30T11:51:46.801-06:00It's funny that people have told you your blog...It's funny that people have told you your blog has nothing to do with Taoism, because I see profound connections between the two which I assumed were intentional. Taoism is about "going with the flow", not imposing your will on the world but allowing it to guide you, to go the way things naturally ought. This is exactly what your DMing style promotes. Get out of the players' way, follow them rather than the other way around.Giordanistihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18375496443176258588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-47236919663958512772013-08-29T10:45:03.582-06:002013-08-29T10:45:03.582-06:00I think it cheapens the experience to refer to it ...I think it cheapens the experience to refer to it that way, Neklan. Yes, I agree, D&D is a collaborative artform, but only in the way that LIFE itself is a collaborative artform. Art is the effort to achieve something specific, to capture a firefly in a bottle, if you will ... whereas life isn't measured by any standard except life. Life doesn't need a purpose, it simply is ... and living characters participating in the play ground don't need a purpose either; they don't need a <i>story</i>, they aren't collaboratively making something, they just ARE.<br /><br />Which, I suppose, really emphasizes the 'Tao' in this blog's title, the same Tao with which I've been told again and again this blog has nothing in common.Alexis Smolenskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-54018318538771117702013-08-29T10:39:41.798-06:002013-08-29T10:39:41.798-06:00You know, I feel the same way with my plans as a p...You know, I feel the same way with my plans as a player. A couple of times, I've told you motivations, long-term goals, but I also felt weird about that, since I knew those goals were flexible and only <i>true</i> for the moment. To restate your post, along with several of your previous ones, D&D is a collaborative artform, if everyone participates in the development, you get better results.Maximillian Boiihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09712157905126165888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-55165822708323422552013-08-29T03:36:35.108-06:002013-08-29T03:36:35.108-06:00This, among some other of your posts on GMing, are...This, among some other of your posts on GMing, are good sources of inspiration and motivation.<br /><br />I got a little too "straight" in my last games of Conan, almost forgot to take pleasure and a step back. Too caught up in this "bull-shit, self roleplay" preparation, on one hand, and in the "my world must be defined perfectly, let's keep the players where I know everything" on the other hand.<br /><br />Needless to say, it made THEIR world less enjoyable and "closed". So to hell with that. I'll continue to work on my world, but not restrain them to the mapped parts. Let them loose in it, roll with it, and everybody will have fun.<br /><br />So yes, definitely a worthy post, much needed !Vlad malkavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14287760654547816927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-91166424979748370582013-08-29T01:03:27.784-06:002013-08-29T01:03:27.784-06:00Speaking, or not, of wiggly non-narratives and rol...Speaking, or not, of wiggly non-narratives and role-playing games, check out this video of Douglas Rushkoff talking about 'Game of Thrones' and the collapse of traditional narrative. You'll like it.<br /><br />Scroll forward to about 30:00-31:00 thereabouts. His points start around 35:00.<br /><br />http://www.rushkoff.com/blog/2013/7/1/rushkoff-at-harvard-present-shock-dave-weinberger-and-game-o.htmlmjuliushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09710248588764690217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-25787376981292430242013-08-28T18:36:26.305-06:002013-08-28T18:36:26.305-06:00Kismet, it is the nature of the beast. It doesn...Kismet, it is the nature of the beast. It doesn't deter me.<br /><br />This, by the way, is an excellent post and conveys the reality of how I do many things beautifully.<br /><br />Some DMs seem to design like every goddamn thing in the world has to be Chekov's gun...and they do it because they think they are making a work of fiction instead of making a world. Not every gun belongs to Chekov...YagamiFirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09280013813938686538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-28412799138515374302013-08-28T14:23:46.912-06:002013-08-28T14:23:46.912-06:00I find it amusing the thread was closed.I find it amusing the thread was closed.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09713474414545493887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-420447645499479632013-08-28T12:01:28.631-06:002013-08-28T12:01:28.631-06:00"A world wiggly all over the place ..." ..."A world wiggly all over the place ..." I like that.<br />When I realized in my late teens that a little preparation and some routine with improvisation, as well as the occasional great idea in-between (and good humor) was sufficient to run a long-time campaign successfully, I loved DM-ing even more.<br />I do not work as much with hex-maps as do others, but I think I will try it out for some time.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your approach!lars_alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05219440507891240916noreply@blogger.com