tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post3299822570538369585..comments2023-10-14T03:58:59.333-06:00Comments on The Tao of D&D: PlayingAlexis Smolenskhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539170107563075967noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-12585279990605915212009-01-03T13:18:00.000-07:002009-01-03T13:18:00.000-07:00You can play a great game without combat, but I ca...You can play a great game without combat, but I can't remember a good game that had absolutely no conflict.<BR/><BR/>Physical conflict is most commonly associated with D&D, but it is possible to have other types of conflict. Political, social, economic, etc... and yet Machiavelli is almost never referred to by D&D players.<BR/><BR/>I've seen players aspire to overthrow a kingdom using their might and prowess with swords and siege engines. That scenario is a cliche, but there are other ways to do it. A party could attempt to do the same from within court using character assassination, bribery, guile and deceit.<BR/><BR/>The important part is letting the players decide if they want to overthrow a kingdom and let them decide how they want to go about it. <BR/><BR/>I don't know why D&D players always choose swords and siege craft. Other players using a different game system might choose a different approach to achieve the same goal.Strixyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09611546357594535368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871409676946408069.post-33524602141498109712009-01-02T20:50:00.000-07:002009-01-02T20:50:00.000-07:00If your really that much into combat and the tacti...If your really that much into combat and the tactical challenge you should check out 4ed. It pushes that to the forefront. Although, I guess it could be argued that it's not actually challenging cause it's designed (even if they won't admit it) with the premise "Characters shall not die").<BR/><BR/>But "if the party wants a guide, they’re going to have to go find one" and "the curiosity about whether some ambitious goal of mine—invented out of my own head" sound suspiciously like role-playing to me.<BR/><BR/><BR/>D&D is about more than one thing. It's not all role-playing, it's not all combat, mapping is very small part if that for most games, it's not all random(dice), it's not all story(railroading), it's not all DM, it's not all players, it's not all escapism, it's not all power trip I kicked ass, there's more but I'm getting bored. Finally, D&D doesn't have to be all of those or any of those. It works with whatever subset tickles your fancy.Norman J. Harman Jr.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01319655075997712313noreply@blogger.com