The time that is given

After re-reading my previous post, I had another one of those mini-epiphanies: Fourth Edition Dungeons and Dragons can never play like older editions of Dungeons and Dragons because they’ve added a layer of rules in order to give players options during certain situations.

Let me explain, older games, and I’m talking second edition and older (I wouldn’t include the Player’s Options books near the end of 2e btw.), had only a few things listed in the rules that a PC could do in any given situation. And the further you go back in the rules, the fewer things you’re going to find. Now, I’m a UX designer by trade (User Experience) and I’m a HUGE fan of simple. If you can hit the mark with a simple solution without adding extra layers of complexity then you’ve done your job. Continue Reading »

OK, for those of you who have played a role playing game where there’s an incremental or numerical value representing intelligence you’ll follow this short discourse quite easily. For those who haven’t, well go out and pick up a game of Dungeons and Dragons.

How many times have you ever come up with this great idea or retort or question and then paused as you glanced at your character sheet…”Oh whoa…my intelligence score is pretty damned low. I wouldn’t think of that.” and begrudgingly dropped the idea?  I certainly know that I have. Which brings into question the idea of a numerical score for intelligence. Continue Reading »