Best RPG Rule?

Abyssal Maw · January 03, 2007, 11:51:27 AM

Well, thats the thing. When rules work they aren't really that noticeable, so it's hard to go OMG, I LOVE HIT POINTS. Because comeon. Theyre so mundane. And yet, they work great, theyre totally reliable, they enable characters to get into exciting situations and extract themselves when necesary..

PS. OMG I LOVE HIT POINTS!!!

PPS. What Droog just said, actually.

And I don't put much faith in "roleplaying principles" That's asshat theorist territory.

TonyLB · January 03, 2007, 11:57:17 AM

Hit points do, indeed, rock hard. They let you make every combat relevant to the possibility of horrific death, but don't require that every combat (realistically) actually involve a serious risk of horrific death.

You lose half your hit points against a Behold swarm and you don't have to be ... y'know ... worried, but you can certainly respect that they drove you a long way toward the point where, yeah, maybe you'll have to genuinely put your character's life on the line over the next roll of the dice. That's cool!

Marco · January 03, 2007, 12:28:53 PM

Although I don't own it and I've never played it, I think the mechanic from Japanese schoolgirl game Panty Explosion where a player at the table is designated as your rival and gets to narrate your failures is an ingeious idea.

I can't say it's my favorite mechanic or anything but I think it'd be a cool way to have some comedic play.

-Marco

jrients · January 03, 2007, 12:33:09 PM

Hit points are great, but they are even better with the old chestnut save or die. Sometimes your HP total just doesn't matter. You've got to make this one roll or its curtains for your PC.

Dr Rotwang! · January 03, 2007, 12:35:25 PM

Brownie Points from Ghostbusters. Need a boost on your next roll? Spend a Brownie Point and add a die. Fell off a roof and don't wanna end up in the hospital? Awp -- that'll cost ya some Brownie Points.

They're Hit Points and Awesome Sauce in one!

Abyssal Maw · January 03, 2007, 12:56:00 PM

Quote from: TonyLBYou lose half your hit points against a Behold swarm and you don't have to be ... y'know ... worried, but you can certainly respect that they drove you a long way toward the point where, yeah, maybe you'll have to genuinely put your character's life on the line over the next roll of the dice. That's cool!

WEHAT THE HELL IS A BEHOLD SWARM? SERIOUSLY.

UmaSama · January 03, 2007, 12:56:15 PM

Best rule ever is that there are NO rules, only guidelines.

Dr Rotwang! · January 03, 2007, 12:59:12 PM

Quote from: UmaSamaBest rule ever is that there are NO rules, only guidelines.

I was going to offer "The referee shall determine the subsequent flow of events", but that felt like not-a-rule.

James J Skach · January 03, 2007, 01:04:30 PM

The first rule of RPG Club....

TonyLB · January 03, 2007, 01:30:30 PM

Quote from: Abyssal MawWEHAT THE HELL IS A BEHOLD SWARM? SERIOUSLY.

Whoops! Meant "Beholder swarm," as in ... y'know ... a ludicrous swarm of beholders. Yeah, I know, they're solitary. That's why it would be so freaky! But then the image got mangled by my inept typing. Ah well.

Abyssal Maw · January 03, 2007, 01:41:36 PM

Youth Pastor: Hey kids, I know your "Rock and roll musical groups" are very "groovy" and a "trip". But are any of you "shooting up" the "mary jane"?

You probably mean well, but I'm having a hard time finding you credible. I think it all started when I read your advice to run dungeon crawls by having the players sneak cravenly from room to room, while avoiding any trouble.

I mean jesus. It's a DUNGEON. Your'e supposed to walk in there like you own the place, busting down doors and pushing over sarcophagi lids and stuff. If anyone dares step up, you set off fireballs.

TonyLB · January 03, 2007, 01:58:53 PM

Quote from: Abyssal MawYou probably mean well, but I'm having a hard time finding you credible.

Okay. Am I supposed to respond to that in some way, or did you just have to get it off your chest?

Abyssal Maw · January 03, 2007, 02:14:27 PM

Well, for the most part, I'm just "jiving" with you, Pastor.

But here's the deal: I already suspect that many of you are here to evangelize indie crap and keep an eye on us. So when your attempts to talk about stuff seems to come out wrong- like you have 80% knowledge of the subject but it's obvious your'e not really there .. I get suspicious. I mean it's funny too.

Not in a mean way, really. More in a "hey check out the youth pastor!"

Taken altogether, it comes across as more political then insightful.

TonyLB · January 03, 2007, 02:21:13 PM

Quote from: Abyssal MawBut here's the deal: I already suspect that many of you are here to evangelize indie crap and keep an eye on us. So when your attempts to talk about stuff seems to come out wrong- like you have 80% knowledge of the subject but it's obvious your'e not really there .. I get suspicious. I mean it's funny too.

Oh ... wait. You're saying that you think I never played D&D? That I'm trying to learn the game from the outside, without actual experience?

Man, that's ... I should tell my folks about that. They'd get a laugh out of that, they sure would.

Wil · January 03, 2007, 02:24:47 PM

Quote from: Abyssal MawBut here's the deal: I already suspect that many of you are here to evangelize indie crap and keep an eye on us.

Shine on crazy diamond, shine on!