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Category Archives: Game Design
Talent vs. Effort
This comment came in recently on the article In Defense of D&D Stats in Simple Language: The Definition of Charisma: I think the use of the word “empathy” was the one mistake in your article. Psychopaths by definition don’t have … Continue reading
The Splash Damage of Alignment Restrictions
I’ve been trying to come up with something else nice to say about 5E. I don’t think it’s a bad system, I just think it took away a lot of the things I like about running D&D games like agency … Continue reading
On Pathfinder
I told you that story to tell you this one: I’m starting to wonder if I’m done with Pathfinder. The more I read about Pathfinder and the more I understand the designers’ intentions and the way players use it, the … Continue reading
Strategic Healing and the Vigilante Campaign
In the hubbub around themes, I nearly forgot that I promised to update my opinion on the vigilante once our all-vigilante campaign ended. It turns out I was only 80% correct on the class, in that every problem was about … Continue reading
Posted in Campaigns, DMing, Game Design, House Rules
Tagged D&D 5E, Eight Arms, Pathfinder
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Abilities without Limitations (or, the Rule that Proves the Exception)
There’s a phrase I love explaining to people, because I’ve only met about two or three people who understand it: “the exception that proves the rule”. Most folks think it means “the thing that does not fit a rule proves … Continue reading
Posted in Game Design
Tagged D&D 3E, Pathfinder
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On the Vigilante
I’ve been spending some time on the Paizo subreddit since one of my players told me I was on it and, in doing so, that it existed. For the most part it’s very similar to the Wizards boards I frequented … Continue reading
On Unearthed Arcana: Waterborne Adventures, Part 3: a Game of Choice
I’ve spent two posts going over Unearthed Arcana: Waterborne Adventures, which gave me a lot of time to shout about what I like and don’t like about it. But I also had time to think about why I feel the … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, Game Design
Tagged D&D 5E
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On Unearthed Arcana: Waterborne Adventures, Part 2: a Class of Ribbons
I think I could really get into reading articles like Unearthed Arcana: Waterborne Adventures regularly. The article itself is short, the linked content is interesting, and it gives me some insight into the minds of the developers. If articles in … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, Game Design
Tagged D&D 5E
Comments Off on On Unearthed Arcana: Waterborne Adventures, Part 2: a Class of Ribbons
On Unearthed Arcana: Waterborne Adventures, Part 1: a System of Hats
One of the complaints I have about 5E is that it has so few options, and that’s a complaint I expected to have. I have the same issue whenever I pick up any Core D&D book because it can only … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, Game Design
Tagged D&D 5E
Comments Off on On Unearthed Arcana: Waterborne Adventures, Part 1: a System of Hats
On D&D as a Brand
As I’ve mentioned before, I follow professional wrestling, and today I want to talk Sunday’s WWE event, “Hell in a Cell”. Its namesake is the Hell in a Cell match, which is the big brother of a steel cage match. … Continue reading →