I only believe the designer or adventure writer is better at their job than I am if they actually demonstrate that fact. These days, the fact it's in a book doesn't mean you're good at your job. It means you know someone at a convention, spoke the right DEI incantations, and spent a lot of money *marketing* a kickstarter. RPGs these days tend to not even be playtested that thoroughly.

So no, I almost never play games RAW.

Heck, I keep a rules changelog. I have a campaign sheet which typically includes things like a spoiler-free synopsis of the campaign, what happened last session, lines and veils guidelines...and I keep a list of homebrew rules, when they were implemented, and often why they were changed.

Quote from: Reckall on August 31, 2023, 02:10:25 AM
I always try to play by the rules first, because I feel that you need to understand the system before making your changes. A rule that you don't like on paper may assume a different meaning once you try it interlocked with the others.

Yes, early on in my gaming days I made that mistake more than once.  But, I eventually learned it.

Quote from: GhostNinja on August 30, 2023, 09:37:39 AM

That's not how D&D used to play and it doesn't feel like the D&D I used to play.

That is only one reason it is D&D in name only.  Bloated, over protective of overpowered PCs.

Quote from: Scooter on August 31, 2023, 10:27:23 AM
That is only one reason it is D&D in name only.  Bloated, over protective of overpowered PCs.

Amen to that.  I have more fun running OSE than I ever have play or running 5e.

An example:  Last session of my 5e game (last Friday) the 4 players that could make it went up against a CR5 Gorgon.   The gorgon did a bunch of damage with 3 attacks and even managed to turn one of the players to stone.

Even though a couple of characters went down several times but in the end they were  able to beat the gorgon (with problems) but with a cleric they were able to be revived and continue the attack.   Not to mention even though they lost many hit points they will sleep for 8 hours and get all their hit points back.

In OSE, they sleep for 8 hours and get 1d3 hit points back which is more realistic.   

Quote from: GhostNinja on August 31, 2023, 11:06:12 AM

Quote from: Scooter on August 31, 2023, 10:27:23 AM
That is only one reason it is D&D in name only.  Bloated, over protective of overpowered PCs.

Amen to that.  I have more fun running OSE than I ever have play or running 5e.

An example:  Last session of my 5e game (last Friday) the 4 players that could make it went up against a CR5 Gorgon.   The gorgon did a bunch of damage with 3 attacks and even managed to turn one of the players to stone.

Even though a couple of characters went down several times but in the end they were  able to beat the gorgon (with problems) but with a cleric they were able to be revived and continue the attack.   Not to mention even though they lost many hit points they will sleep for 8 hours and get all their hit points back.

In OSE, they sleep for 8 hours and get 1d3 hit points back which is more realistic.

In AD&D it is 1 hp/day I believe.  Yes, this is why I named 5th The "Snowflake Edition"

Quote from: Scooter on August 31, 2023, 11:17:37 AM

In AD&D it is 1 hp/day I believe.  Yes, this is why I named 5th The "Snowflake Edition"

While I prefer 1d3 per day 1 hp makes sense.

You are right, 5e is "The Snowflake Edition"

Quote from: Jam The MF on August 29, 2023, 12:58:46 PM
Do you run wild and free with the rules, or do you feel obligated to pay homage to the rich history of the game?

Is this the Pinkertons?? 

Quote from: GhostNinja on August 31, 2023, 11:06:12 AM
[
In OSE, they sleep for 8 hours and get 1d3 hit points back which is more realistic.

Hit points have nothing to do with realism. Slow natural recovery simply makes the game more challenging. Those who want to play a challenging game play classic D&D. Those who want to play heroes and tell a story play WOTC D&D.

Quote from: GhostNinja on August 31, 2023, 12:01:51 PM

Quote from: Scooter on August 31, 2023, 11:17:37 AM

In AD&D it is 1 hp/day I believe.  Yes, this is why I named 5th The "Snowflake Edition"

While I prefer 1d3 per day 1 hp makes sense.

You are right, 5e is "The Snowflake Edition"

At 1 per day I allowed Con bonus to be added.

Naturally I houserule. Who doesn't?! However, most of my houserules focus on "quality of life" adjustments, such as abstracting encumbrance or simplifying bloated mechanics. Rarely do I delve into fundamental mechanical changes, and only after I've had significant enough hands-on time to know why a change is needed (or desired).

Quote from: Exploderwizard on August 31, 2023, 12:53:39 PM

Quote from: GhostNinja on August 31, 2023, 11:06:12 AM
[
In OSE, they sleep for 8 hours and get 1d3 hit points back which is more realistic.

Hit points have nothing to do with realism. Slow natural recovery simply makes the game more challenging. Those who want to play a challenging game play classic D&D. Those who want to play heroes and tell a story play WOTC D&D.

Is it really about "challenge" or time management? A party can spend two weeks to fully recover, but can they afford to? A severly-wounded PC should be played accordingly (e.g. avoiding combat and not placing themselves in danger) or they WILL die. Perhaps that's what you meant by "challenge," but I'd just call that roleplaying. And I'd argue, that would be roleplaying the "realism" of the situation.

Modern DnD simply focuses on a different aspect of roleplaying. By making characters more resilient to dying, players can become more invested in them, developing backstories, relationships, and whatnot. There was another thread on here recently where people had said backstories weren't important in early DnD because death was so common. Why develop a character that can be taken out by a well-placed arrow?

So you can call it "snowflake edition" or whatever, but crux is that the games are simply focusing on different playstyles. If you want grittier 5e, you can always houserule it.

Quote from: Exploderwizard on August 31, 2023, 12:53:39 PM
Those who want to play heroes and tell a story play WOTC D&D.

You can't become a hero under snowflake conditions.

Quote from: Effete on August 31, 2023, 01:31:30 PM

So you can call it "snowflake edition" or whatever, but crux is that the games are simply focusing on different playstyles. If you want grittier 5e, you can always houserule it.

Right children's play style with 5th or mature play-style with TSR editions.

Quote from: Theory of Games on August 29, 2023, 04:57:42 PM
Only the BroSR idiots think the game should be ran RAW. Gygax himself didn't play by the rules HE CREATED 

RAW can be fun but eventually groups find the holes in the system and patch 'em with house-rules.

Gygax's home game, was not AD&D.

Quote from: Scooter on August 31, 2023, 01:31:50 PM

Quote from: Exploderwizard on August 31, 2023, 12:53:39 PM
Those who want to play heroes and tell a story play WOTC D&D.

You can't become a hero under snowflake conditions.

When everyone is a hero, no one can actually be a hero.