Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 5/3/83; site ukc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!genrad!panda!talcott!harvard!seismo!mcvax!ukc!ncg From: ncg@ukc.UUCP (N.C.Gale) Newsgroups: net.games.frp Subject: Extension of gripe Message-ID: <4940@ukc.UUCP> Date: Fri, 1-Mar-85 08:02:56 EST Article-I.D.: ukc.4940 Posted: Fri Mar 1 08:02:56 1985 Date-Received: Mon, 4-Mar-85 07:54:21 EST References: <11691@watmath.UUCP> Reply-To: ncg@ukc.UUCP Nigel Gale Again Distribution: net Organization: Computing Laboratory, U of Kent at Canterbury, UK Lines: 35 Summary: One of the most serious problems with all the well established frpgames, not least AD&D, is that everyone knows the rules. This becomes really serious if a player knows the rules better than his GM/DM. Such situations might arise as: "no, I think you'll find, if you read Page 316 of the DM's Guide, paragraph B, subsection (1), seats 16 thru 20, that dwarves get +1 on their saving-throws against monster charms when standing on one leg in a pool of Holy Water" OK, so a good DM can bluff his way out, saying that the modification does not apply in this particular situation, because the concentration of mana in the Holy Water has been decreased by a freak magnetic environment brought about by... But the smartarsed player will inevitably feel hard-done-by, because the *Rules* say it should not be. If I had my way, my players would spend most of their time in a state of complete bewilderment, not knowing exactly what is possible, and what is not. In fact, since I have mutilated AD&D beyond recognition, and not shown the players many of my modifications, this is largely the case. They cannot quote the rules at me , because I make them up as I go along. They know that, and accept it. It makes it far more mysterious not knowing what effect a magic missile will have when cast at a man wearing bronze chainmail, not knowing whether a Cloudkill can be Neutralised as Poison, etc etc. It makes it a lot more rewarding to DM, I think, anyway. -Nigel Gale