I have never been a fan of session zero. It's hard enough to get together so when we do, let's just play the freaking game. As to the rules as written, I think deviating from rules is written as justified if you are playing in a game world that supports logical inconsistencies, and say a mythical underworld. For example, player says, "I have information I can see 60 ft in the dark according to the rules..". No none of the GM response and the minotaur's lair you can't see diddly squat, this is a whole new brand of dark. On the other side I would totally say you're 100% spot on when you say the game has to come out of player agency, not storytelling. And yeah, don't fudge the dice.No, not even then! 😊
rule zero feels like a treacherous gift where it pretends to make life easier on the game master while actually forfeiting responsibility of the game developer. Classic "Bethesda games fixed by modders" situation. Yes it's nice to choose whatever mods you want (in a single player game, but different for multiplayer!!) but this is NEVER AN EXCUSE for the game developer to NOT DO THEIR JOB and release a functional and coherent and balanced and well maintained product.
The law of unintended consequences usually wins.
I have never been a fan of session zero. It's hard enough to get together so when we do, let's just play the freaking game. As to the rules as written, I think deviating from rules is written as justified if you are playing in a game world that supports logical inconsistencies, and say a mythical underworld. For example, player says, "I have information I can see 60 ft in the dark according to the rules..". No none of the GM response and the minotaur's lair you can't see diddly squat, this is a whole new brand of dark.
On the other side I would totally say you're 100% spot on when you say the game has to come out of player agency, not storytelling. And yeah, don't fudge the dice.No, not even then! 😊
rule zero feels like a treacherous gift where it pretends to make life easier on the game master while actually forfeiting responsibility of the game developer. Classic "Bethesda games fixed by modders" situation. Yes it's nice to choose whatever mods you want (in a single player game, but different for multiplayer!!) but this is NEVER AN EXCUSE for the game developer to NOT DO THEIR JOB and release a functional and coherent and balanced and well maintained product.