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| gameinfo:definitions [2025/05/28 19:42] – [House rules] restless | gameinfo:definitions [2025/06/05 15:29] (current) – [Rules lawyer] restless |
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| [[dict>image_credits|{{ :meta:catpissman.png?nolink&120|Cat Piss Man, and his attendant bugs}}]] | {{ :meta:catpissman.png?direct&120|Cat Piss Man, and his attendant bugs}} |
| ==== Cat piss man ==== | ==== Cat piss man ==== |
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| ==== Dissociated mechanics ==== | ==== Dissociated mechanics ==== |
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| Dissociated mechanics are the crazy-quilt, layer-upon layer of varying resolution rules for every subsystem of [[dict>old-school_gaming|old-school]] role playing games. One thing uses a pile of d6s, thief skill use percentile dice, saving throws and attacks use a d20, another check uses 2d6 plus modifiers... every one a little different and has different rules for modifiers. Sometimes there's a rule for something that is well-defined, but in a given spell, monster or adventure locale description there's an entirely different mechanic specified //just// for that situation. | Dissociated mechanics are the crazy-quilt, layer-upon-layer of varying resolution rules for every subsystem of [[dict>old-school_gaming|old-school]] role playing games. One thing uses a pile of d6s, thief skill use percentile dice, saving throws and attacks use a d20, another check uses 2d6 plus modifiers... every one a little different and has different rules for modifiers. Sometimes there's a rule for something that is well-defined, but in a given spell, monster or adventure locale description there's an entirely different mechanic specified //just// for that situation. |
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| Dissociated mechanics drive some gamers mad. I //love// 'em. | Dissociated mechanics drive some gamers mad. I //love// 'em. |
| ==== House rules ==== | ==== House rules ==== |
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| A modification of [[dict>rules-as-written|rules-as-written]] that becomes a permanent feature of a group's playing rules. Essentially, a modification that a group plays by that gives their game some local flavor or reflects the group's playstyle. You can find a compilation of the [[:rules:part_6_house_rules|house rules]] [[:rules:part_6_house_rules|here]]. | A modification of [[dict>rules-as-written|rules-as-written]] that becomes a permanent feature of a group's playing rules. Essentially, a modification that a group plays by that gives their game some local flavor or reflects the group's playstyle. You can find a compilation of the [[:rules:part_6_house_rules|house rules]] [[:rules:|here]]. |
| ===== K ===== | ===== K ===== |
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| {{ :meta:rocksfall.png?nolink&120|Rocks fall, everyone dies... a classic, and a touch more verisimilitude than the old "bolts of lightning from the sky!"}} | {{ :meta:rocksfall.png?direct&120|Rocks fall, everyone dies... a classic, and a touch more verisimilitude than the old "bolts of lightning from the sky!"}} |
| ==== Killer DM ==== | ==== Killer DM ==== |
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| ==== Know-it-all ==== | ==== Know-it-all ==== |
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| {{:meta:knowitall.gif?nolink&225 |Yeah, they're kind of like that.}}A [[dict>stereotypes_gamer|gamer stereotype]] that, well, knows everything... or claims he does. He's a member of the SCA so he knows you can sleep comfortably in plate armor during the height of summer and do handstands in it as well. He's probably also a demolitions expert so that he can speak to the sort of effects that a **Fireball** spell would really have. The same guy is a co-founder of Locksport International so he knows exactly what his chances of picking that chest's lock should be and would always find the poisoned needle trap. He has played (or implies he secretly helped design) every game in existence so he knows how these things should work better than you do. This guy has even baked Dwarven waybread (from a recipe that he got from real Dwarves!). | {{:meta:knowitall.gif?direct&225 |Yeah, they're kind of like that.}}A [[dict>stereotypes_gamer|gamer stereotype]] that, well, knows everything... or claims he does. He's a member of the SCA so he knows you can sleep comfortably in plate armor during the height of summer and do handstands in it as well. He's probably also a demolitions expert so that he can speak to the sort of effects that a **Fireball** spell would really have. The same guy is a co-founder of Locksport International so he knows exactly what his chances of picking that chest's lock should be and would always find the poisoned needle trap. He has played (or implies he secretly helped design) every game in existence so he knows how these things should work better than you do. This guy has even baked Dwarven waybread (from a recipe that he got from real Dwarves!). |
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| While the [[dict>rules_lawyer|rules lawyer]] sees the letter of the rules being some sort of laws of physics for the game, the know-it-all will be discontent if one thing goes against his sense of how it should be from his perfect, all-encompassing experience. He makes others who just want to get on with playing the game want to gouge their eyes out. | While the [[dict>rules_lawyer|rules lawyer]] sees the letter of the rules being some sort of laws of physics for the game, the know-it-all will be discontent if one thing goes against his sense of how it should be from his perfect, all-encompassing experience. He makes others who just want to get on with playing the game want to gouge their eyes out. |
| ==== “Old-school” gaming ==== | ==== “Old-school” gaming ==== |
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| {{:meta:osrocks.png?nolink&230 |Yes. Yes, it does.}}[[dict>image_credits|{{ :meta:grognard.png?nolink&120|A grognard after my own heart... as long as he's not a power-gaming douchenozzle.}}]] | {{:meta:osrocks.png?direct&230 |Yes. Yes, it does.}}{{ :meta:grognard.png?direct&120|A grognard after my own heart... as long as he's not a power-gaming douchenozzle.}} |
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| Old-school gaming means different things to different people. To some it's the crusty old rule set with its descending armor classes, cookie cutter character classes and [[dict>dissociated mechanics|dissociated mechanics]]. To others it's the way the game is run, with rulings-not-rules, describe what you're doing and don't just use the numbers off your character sheet and the like. To some it's about the game content: a [[dict>sandbox]] where you can do whatever you like, you don't ride the [[dict>railroad|rails]] of somebody else's story. | Old-school gaming means different things to different people. To some it's the crusty old rule set with its descending armor classes, cookie cutter character classes and [[dict>dissociated mechanics|dissociated mechanics]]. To others it's the way the game is run, with rulings-not-rules, describe what you're doing and don't just use the numbers off your character sheet and the like. To some it's about the game content: a [[dict>sandbox]] where you can do whatever you like, you don't ride the [[dict>railroad|rails]] of somebody else's story. |
| The OSR has been called many things: the "old-school renaissance" for the return to the older editions, the "old-school revival" and for those who are more militant about it, the "old-school ruckus." Lately, I have taken to calling it "old-school retail" because it used to be a scene where there was a lot of sharing of ideas freely, but now everybody wants money to cross their palm for their participation therein. | The OSR has been called many things: the "old-school renaissance" for the return to the older editions, the "old-school revival" and for those who are more militant about it, the "old-school ruckus." Lately, I have taken to calling it "old-school retail" because it used to be a scene where there was a lot of sharing of ideas freely, but now everybody wants money to cross their palm for their participation therein. |
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| Lately, the OSR has been pretty toxic (like everything else) and somewhat socially-intolerant. I prefer to say I just prefer [[dict>classic_d_d|Classic D&D]] rather than claim I am pro-OSR. | Also as of late the OSR has been pretty toxic (like everything else) and somewhat socially-intolerant. I prefer to say I just prefer [[dict>classic_d_d|Classic D&D]] rather than claim I am pro-OSR. |
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| ==== Rules lawyer ==== | ==== Rules lawyer ==== |
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| [[dict>image_credits|{{:meta:ruleslawyer.png?nolink&120 |I'm not entirely sure if all rules lawyers have horse teeth or not.}}]]A [[dict>stereotypes_gamer|gamer stereotype]] that sees the rules as an absolute and a tool to mercilessly beat the DM or other players into submission for the rules lawyer's advantage. The rules lawyer can only accept what's written, word-for-word, as the absolute truth of the game, and the spirit means nothing... unless it is in his favor. He loves to argue about the rules instead of just playing the game, and as such they usually don't want to hear anything about [[dict>rule_zero|rule zero]] and should be reminded that Shakespeare wrote, "kill all the lawyers." Apparently, Shakespeare was a gamer! | {{:meta:ruleslawyer.png?direct&120 |I'm not entirely sure if all rules lawyers have horse teeth or not.}}A [[dict>stereotypes_gamer|gamer stereotype]] that sees the rules as an absolute and a tool to mercilessly beat the DM or other players into submission for the rules lawyer's advantage. The rules lawyer can only accept what's written, word-for-word, as the absolute truth of the game, and the spirit means nothing... unless it is in his favor. He loves to argue about the rules instead of just playing the game, and as such they usually don't want to hear anything about [[dict>rule_zero|rule zero]] and should be reminded that Shakespeare wrote, "kill all the lawyers." Apparently, Shakespeare was a gamer!{{ :meta:fb_img_1447337413658.jpg?direct&200|Once the blood starts, it's the nicest crimson glow...}} |
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| A couple points of irony about the rules lawyer:{{ :meta:fb_img_1447337413658.jpg?direct&200|Once the blood starts, it's the nicest crimson glow...}} | A couple points of irony about the rules lawyer: |
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| * While one would not expect this, often times the best friend of a rules lawyer is a [[dict>know-it-all|know-it-all]], because they can take two different viewpoints to argue towards a common reading of the rules against a DM. | * While one would not expect this, often times the best friend of a rules lawyer is a [[dict>know-it-all|know-it-all]], because they can take two different viewpoints to argue towards a common reading of the rules against a DM. |
