ge -----

From: "Gary" <geeman@SOFTHOME.NET>

Sent: Monday, July 14, 2003 5:48 PM





> [...] or the generalized comments regarding the utility of the rules or

> rules in general somehow acting as the antithesis of imagination (a

> highly suspect conclusion, BTW.)



If you can`t see how an over-strict interpretation of the rules can stifle

imagination, try this: every time you come up with something not explicitly

covered in the rules, like the No Magic Zone realm spell (6/12/2000), using

RP in place of xp (7/2/01), or creating new derivations of bloodlines via

land`s choice (3/18/03), or any of the other dozens of ideas you propose on

the list regularly, just repeat this to yourseld, "not in the rules, can`t

do it, don`t want to break the game".



Yesterday, you wrote:

` "D&D does it, therefore BR should mirror that" seems to be thinking

espoused by many folks who mistake "cant" for "can`t" when it comes to

changing things for a specific setting.`



It seems very much to me that we are complaining about similar colors on the

same pallet. Just because something makes it into print, whether its the

Dragon Disciple or a definition of being gaseous, doesn`t mean I can`t

change it, adopt it, or ditch it.



You said so yourself: "Like many folks out there in the BR wonderland, I

personally look at all this kind of thing as source material and will take

and leave whatever I want"



This hardly sounds like someone who doesn`t "*want* to resolve situations

outside of the rules", but rather someone who is willing to make the rules

serve another purpose, the rules as a means, not an end. After all, if you

feel free to chose what rules you will adopt, aren`t you just giving into

some game-busting desire? And god forbid your source material turn out to

be folklore, literature, or the movie that you just saw. Because that

wouldn`t be on topic.



Tell me, how is a willingness, because that`s all I offered in my original

post, in which I suggested that a gaseous being could not attack an

incorporeal undead, how is a willingness to consider alternate versions of

teh gaseous state any different from your own favorite hobby horse - the

paladin must be a lawful good knightly figure? I mean the rules detail his

code. And no game busting characters like a paladin who can be chaotic

good. No way, no how, can`t be done, not in the rules, check pages 41 and

43, very clear on this point.



Kenneth Gauck

kgauck@mchsi.com