Re: session re****t

On Jan 24, 12:55 pm, del...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 (Del Rio) wrote:
> There's nothing in the system to prevent this kind of thing,
> and truth be told, I think that in a non-script protected
> universe, people would make "creative" use of spells like this
> all the time.  (Collapse a cathedral roof through judicious use
> of Stone to Flesh, anyone?)  Sucks for trying to run a serious
> minded campaign, though.

The exact same concept has been used in other systems, like HERO. There
they even published Planet Man as an example of rule abuse (he'd shrink
planets and carry them in his pocket, taking them out and tossing them
and revoking the shrinking just before impact).

There are basically two approaches to that sort of thing.

The original HERO approach was to laugh at it and leave it up to the GM
to control in his games. HERO was viewed as a toolset open to as wide
of an array of concepts and uses possible- thus any use had to be
judged individually as to it suitability to a specific campaign. This
concept applied not only in construction- but in use during a game
session as an outgrowth of special effects.

The current approach in 5th edition has in large measure turned its
back upon that original concept and has attempted to remove such abuses
mechanically. The result has been vast growth in rule word count, lost
of system flexiability, and the use of 'cute builds' for what were
previously easily managed concepts that didn't need to take up space on
the character sheets.


Personally I'm a big fan of the older method and think it should be
applied to every rpg bought off the shelves. Those are intended for a
wider market than any individual buyer and thus cover styles and
methods not suitable for that individual. IMO, one of the 'must do'
items before starting a campaign is to go through the rules and remove
those things which don't fit the group's needs.

Of course no one is perfect, and things will be missed. In my case,
will remove things on the fly in the middle of the game. I find this,
while a bad option itself, to cause less damage than allowing it entry
into the world history.