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Tag: Star Wars

Experience is the Point

On March 3, 2020March 3, 2020 By MichaelIn Game DesignLeave a comment

I saw a post the other day that mentioned a D&D game where the DM awarded experience points, not for doing stuff, but for playing in line with your alignment. It was touted as a good idea. A comment pointed out the issue that alignment is often subjective. The OP replied with, "Make it Objective." …

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Magic (is stupid)

On January 28, 2020January 28, 2020 By MichaelIn D&D, Game Design, Shadowrun, Star Wars, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Magic, in most role playing games, is stupid. I don't really know how else to put it. Magic is a very complex subject and as it tends to be a power that allows its wielders to exert control over reality; it creates significant hurdles to achieve a balance between fun and fairness, play-ability and wonder. …

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Player Determinism

On July 24, 2019 By MichaelIn D&D, Game Design, Star WarsLeave a comment

The phenomenon of Player Determinism is a strange one to my mind. I’ve found this post the most difficult to write of the three despite it being the one I’m most passionate about. Perhaps that is the problem after all? As with previous posts, I want to start with a general defining of my terms …

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Phase Two: The Rise of DM Determinism

On July 16, 2019 By MichaelIn Conventions, D&D, Game Design, Geek Thoughts, ShadowrunLeave a comment

In my last post (sorry for the delay), I wrote about how D&D – played as intended – is a very specific kind of game. I touched on the idea that D&D expects the DM to be the ultimate, but neutral, arbiter of the game. The DM breathes life into the spaces the PCs explore …

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Star Wars: the Force Awake?

On April 16, 2018April 16, 2018 By MichaelIn Star WarsLeave a comment

So, Star Wars is a hot-button issue for our little geek community these days… I’m going to skip over all of that though. I want to ruminate about the Force. This post evolved from a lunch conversation with my wife, a lifetime of being a Star Wars fan, and 20+ years of running/playing/thinking about Star …

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