Theory

Nobody Plays by the Rules

Dec 2, 2023 · 3 min read · Theory

I was once attacked by a horde of kobolds, and it taught me a lesson. These attacks weren't uncommon, when playing the old Baldur's Gate computer game. I threw a poison cloud spell at the kobolds, and they started randomly falling over, getting up and walking a few steps, then falling over again. As the dozen little …

RPGs Should be Unfair

Nov 28, 2023 · 4 min read · Theory

A 'fair' RPG game immediately cuts the believability from a game. It slays engagement far more than a golden dragon, or a mushroom-man. A 'fair' game takes the fear out of the players, which robs RPGs of one of their unique abilities among games - death. Let me tell you about the 'unfair' things my world did to my …

Railroading: The Definitive Definition

Nov 8, 2023 · 3 min read · Theory Blorb

Railroading chat devolves into nonsense, as people are working with unclear definitions. Here's the solution: 'Railroading' means that an out-of-game white-list constricts in-game actions. A 'white-list' is a complete list of things one can do. A 'white-list of websites' would mean that someone can only connect to …

The Metaphysics of Becoming a Tree

Oct 13, 2023 · 2 min read · Theory

All magic systems imply some ontology, and most of the European ontologies come from Aristotle's view of the world. This is why someone turned into stone might retain their vision, motion, and thoughts. In Aristotle's view, everything has: form (the shape) substance (what it's made out of) telos (what it's for) …

Minimal Verisimilitude in RPGs

Aug 1, 2023 · 3 min read · Theory

I don't believe in 'complex' or 'simple' things - those words point to feelings, not facts, so we may as well debate the nature of beauty. But I can count how many steps a system has, and show anyone the result. RPG systems have a minimum number of steps to retain that nice feeling of realism, and I think that minimum …

Dungeons Need More Space

Apr 23, 2023 · 3 min read · Blorb Theory

The dungeon ecosystem doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I think Tolkien has a fix. Wandering Monsters Don't Make Sense I love the formula. In the cold depths, something approaches, and it wants to eat you. Deep underground, you tread carefully, then stop as you hear heavy footsteps. Or perhaps those aren't feet? …

No Introduction Necessary

Apr 22, 2023 · 3 min read · BIND Theory Memoirs

It's been commented that BIND has no introduction, saying 'what is a roleplaying game?', and I don't think it needs one. Of course, nobody's picking this thing up in a 90's game store, et c., but I feel we have a deeper problem. I think that no RPG - including D&D - really needs an explanation of 'how to do …

Deathless RPGs

Mar 2, 2023 · 2 min read · Theory

RPGs where nobody dies really irk me, because they have rules for dying. If you want an RPG where nobody ever dies (or runs out of food, or whatever), then I won't complain...until the rulebook states 'these are the conditions for death'. We have two problems. Problem 1: Fudging GMs Everyone writes up some dramatic …

Spreadsheets are Great

Jan 27, 2023 · 3 min read · Theory Design BIND

Whenever I'm unsure about a rule, I pull out a basic spreadsheet, and start populating numbers. The image I had for the ghoul spell began with a mage who could raise small things from the dead, like a cat, or dog. Slowly, the dark sorcerer would learn to raise gnomes, then humans, and finally raise undead ogres or …

Always Say the Target Number

Jan 8, 2023 · 3 min read · Blorb Theory

A player rolls the dice, and the table watches the result, like a roulette ball bouncing about. Rothgar has a +4 to make the jump, but the chasm demands a Target Number (TN) of 12. The player rolls 2D6... (( _______ _______ /\O O\ /O /\ / \ \ / O /O \ / O \O____O\ )) ((/_____O/ \ /O / \O O\ / \ / O / \O O\ O/ …