I used to think that having everything codified was the way to go; I even wrote the first version of my game to that end. But whenever I played 3ed or Pathfinder at GenCon, I would find myself confused and avoiding combat at all costs. Feats, Spells, Powers..AGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!! Whenever I playtested my game, the system was well balanced, but damn did it just suck the fun out of doing back flips and flying side kicks.

IMHO, sometimes that interpretation element and the on the fly judgments really make the night, especially in a tabletop rpg. Finding the rules holes would result in hilarious situations, some of which would turn the tide of battle! My feeling is that the codification sanitized a game that I wanted to remain organic at my gaming table. I don’t care what bonuses and penalties are going to be applied to parkouring 27 meters and doing a leaping side kick into a snake man’s nose as one action; just let me throw the die and tell me what happens!

I guess after my rant, I’m not saying codification is bad, but I always like to say “Rules are for those who need them”. Perhaps, like me, you feel that you like having the rules should an argument arise for others, but your sensibilities tell you that it is just a game, for having fun, and you would just rather “go with it and let the dice sort it out…”

I think just exposing them to games and the social aspect of the gaming culture no matter WHAT they are is the trick. Between board games every weekend when we don’t have something planned, my biannual trips to GenCon, and running tabletop role playing games one Saturday every other month at my house, my eight year old can’t wait until he is “old enough” to play HiBRiD with us (my game in development that has a lot of guns…)

Keep on gaming…

…oh, and for what it’s worth, I actually prefer Pokemon to Magic….

Wasn’t that something they will be able to do *without* a court order?