What Was Gygax Thinking?

[robertsconley]

I just want to note that this is different from the summary I gave earlier. Either I was mistaken (definitely possible) or HM 1e is different from 3e, which I think is what Rob is using.

I am using a simplistic example, paraphrasing HM to illustrate the general concept rather than the actual specifics. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Here is the relevant section in the 1e DMG (page 110), in true Gygaxian block of text format.

"Now and then a player will die through no fault of his own. Yet you do have the right to arbitrate the situation. You can rule that the player, instead of dying, is knocked unconscious, loses a limb, is blinded in one eye or invoke any reasonably severe penalty that still takes into account what the monster has done"

It's rather nice of Gygax to want to help his players avoid a visit of the Grim Reaper. But how can he be sure that they don't have it coming? It also gives new meaning to the whole Satanic panic thing. I mean, what kind af deals did Gygax have to make to accomplish this I wonder.

 

[Marshal Lucky]

As a counterpoint, the more crunch in combat, and likewise the longer it takes, the more you lose the corollary to the frenetic pace of combat in reality and with it the sense of urgency and tension. So the more the rules try to make combat realistic by modeling individual components, the more they lose the overall reality of how combat feels.

I don't think so: Phoenix Command has super-detailed combat measured in half-seconds. This turns every fight into its own little Sam Peckinpah movie:

22:32

 

[TristramEvans]

I don't think so: Phoenix Command

you, uh, don't think Phenix Command combats take a long time to resolve?

 

[Fenris-77]

you, uh, don't think Phenix Command combats take a long time to resolve?

What day is it? We can plan a demo...

 

[Arminius]

Key words above are “Sam Peckinpah”. ( Marshal Lucky forgot to set the clip to 22:50 or thereabouts.)

 

[Marshal Lucky]

you, uh, don't think Phenix Command combats take a long time to resolve?

No, I just think the way it slows things down reminds me of Sam Peckinpah's slow-motion fight scenes. The tension, the frenzy can be built up before the blood spews all over.

Key words above are “Sam Peckinpah”. ( Marshal Lucky forgot to set the clip to 22:50 or thereabouts.)

That's right: I typed the wrong starting point. D'OH!

 

[Fenris-77]

Marshal Lucky - I just want you to know that your signature image is my absolute favorite of anyone's on the Pub. Wonderful!

 

[Voros]

DEATH SPIRAL