Cup of Head

A Bit From Column A and .....

   I am happy to be a part of two, very fun and very different role playing groups. One is online and one is a real life table top. Group A enjoys playing different rule sets and different settings. They enjoy painting the picture of what is happening and are more interested in cool stories and outcomes then they are in being successful or ethical (the two are practically synonymous for me). Group B enjoys the tactical side of role playing and trying to overcome the opposition within the rules as they are provided and slightly modified in advance. It is a utilitarian approach that focuses on numbers as a representation of real life events.

   I myself enjoy both styles. But what I am learning about myself is that I enjoy neither in exclusivity. In fact, I rather abhor both styles the less they rely on the other. Group A is very good about getting into an accent, a character, a personality, a moment, or a theme. They tell the GM that they want to "reach back, and with all my might, swipe at the demon's head with my blood drenched sword." Problem is that the rules call for a modifier for an attempted head shot and the sword is unfamiliar to the character. The minuses to the attack role, according to the rules, would make it practically impossible to hit. So they miss. Then the demon plows through them in spectacular fashion and we all have a laugh and roll up new characters, or worse, pick up a whole new rule set we aren't gonna learn or get good at.
   Group B, in the same scenario, says "I swing at the demon, but I brace first to get the plus 2, then I will abort to a defensive posture to increase my defense." After consulting the charts and the calculator, the hero misses but so does the demon and we move on to the next phase; rinse and repeat.
   Group B is very good at mowing down GM opposition. We are a SWAT team. Well trained, cooperative, and thorough, we move through agents and bosses with precision; bland though it may be.

  Like my best friend always says, the truth is somewhere in the middle. All role players everywhere would benefit from finding where they fit on this scale and add a little from the other column. I wish Group A was more tactically minded. I wish Group B would add some flavor to the combat.
   I think I have a solution. Both groups could (IMO) improve their experience and success by following this rule: Be tactical in what your character is doing within the rules, THEN describe the results with colorful, descriptive, and dramatic flare.
   The above event would instead go like this. "My character wants to do an offensive shot on the demon. I'll use my Holiness power to give me a +1 this round. (rolls) I hit! My sword draws back and glows with Divine light, as it comes down I see the fear in the demon's eyes. Is it his impending doom or the presence of the Almighty that scares him. It doesn't matter. I wipe the blood from my blade."
   Now isn't that more fun.    
   Meh, whatever...... where are my dice?