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That's what they seem to like about it: the options are specifically laid out and finite (no DM adjudication required) but tactically complex.

Yeah sure, but that's not the question.  The question is Would you like simpler or more complex rules to make your experience as a DM easier?   I can't imagine there is a lot of people who a glutton for punishment here... Having a simpler system with more options is an automatic win, you get best of both worlds.  My point is that I don't think this is possible, but if you poll me and say BUT IF WE COULD DO IT would I want it.. answer is yes of course.  If you read the forums some people answered no to this question and pointed out this very concept right out of the gate... aka NO I don't want simpler because that suggests less options and I don't want that.   But you have to read into the question to derive that which most people arent going to do, they are going to answer the question that was asked.. do you want it simpler or more complex ... simpler of course..


I think a more appropriate poll would be to get a bit more specific and realistic, I mean I love Lokiare's attitude and ideas, I think they are great and he has proven that on these forums over and over again, I just think most of them exist in a fantasy world not in the real world.  It would be absolutly fantastic to a have a simple system that carries its weight and has many deep options for players and GM's to go through, but the reality is that the two don't coexist in any game I can think of and never in 4 decades of role-playing have they coexisted.  Its always one or the other or somekind of middle ground.  


I think the poll about editions is more telling.  Both 2nd and 4th edition have a lot of fans from the GM angle and 3rd edition is seen as overly complex.  Of all the systems, 3rd edition has the most options, by a very WIDE margin, in fact I would say 3rd edition has more options than all other editions put together 5 times over.  Really you could say the options were limitless... and simultanously the system was very complex.         

Really? because 4E had feats, skills, a pretty decent number of classes as well as spells, but they also had backgrounds and powers for non-caster classes. I would say based on its run it had close to as many options as 3.xE had. 3.xE only had more because it was around longer. It gets redundant anyway after X number of options any system becomes unworkable or people just ignore options...

You can call it redudent or choose to ignore them, but you can't deny that they where there.  I have about 35 books each with dozens of feats, classes, spells and more options that include completetly alternate background systems, power systems, magic systems.  My 3rd edition collection is larger than all other collections of books I have combined and I would say I have about 2-3% of the books actually available for 3rd edition.

       

Nov 20, 2012 -- 1:52AM, Xguild wrote:

Yeah I get that Lokiare, what Im saying is that its kind of a loaded question.  Its kind of like me saying, Do you like your popcorn fresh, or do you like stale?  I can't imagine a poll like that would create much variety in answers.  If however you said, would you prefer to buy popcorn for 2.99 when its fresh from the popper, or pocorn that has been sitting out for a few minutes for only .99 cents which one would you take... than you might get variety because its not a black and white thing anymore.


Again, everyone will pick simpler because, why would anyone pick complex over simple... I mean its a default answer.  The question really has not context unless you explain the benefits and drawbacks of simple vs. complex which I believe there really are clear ones as one represents less options the other represents more options.        

The questions as written will skew the results. What if someone does or does not like DM'ing but for some reason other than complexity? The game, like life, isn't so black-and-white.

So, in my case, and completely ignoring the skewed poll, to answer the question posed in the subject title - well, I really enjoy DM'ing regardless so to make me like it more, they could pay me I guess? That'd be cool. Or give me a pony. That would also be neat. Or a kitten or something. Or bacon. Yeah, bacon works.

Nov 20, 2012 -- 1:23PM, strider1276 wrote:

Nov 20, 2012 -- 1:52AM, Xguild wrote:

Yeah I get that Lokiare, what Im saying is that its kind of a loaded question.  Its kind of like me saying, Do you like your popcorn fresh, or do you like stale?  I can't imagine a poll like that would create much variety in answers.  If however you said, would you prefer to buy popcorn for 2.99 when its fresh from the popper, or pocorn that has been sitting out for a few minutes for only .99 cents which one would you take... than you might get variety because its not a black and white thing anymore.


Again, everyone will pick simpler because, why would anyone pick complex over simple... I mean its a default answer.  The question really has not context unless you explain the benefits and drawbacks of simple vs. complex which I believe there really are clear ones as one represents less options the other represents more options.        

The questions as written will skew the results. What if someone does or does not like DM'ing but for some reason other than complexity? The game, like life, isn't so black-and-white.

So, in my case, and completely ignoring the skewed poll, to answer the question posed in the subject title - well, I really enjoy DM'ing regardless so to make me like it more, they could pay me I guess? That'd be cool. Or give me a pony. That would also be neat. Or a kitten or something. Or bacon. Yeah, bacon works.

The point of the poll is to find out how complexity affects how people DM. So if it doesn't affect you at all, just ignore the entire poll...