Community

A response to: community.wizards.com/wrecan/blog/2009/1...

I've heard the combat investment argument and I don't buy it.

Even in systems with clunky combat rules that are not the focus of the game, I've seen and heard players resort needlessly to combat. That may have been partly the influence of other more combat-focused games, but I think it's also because combat is quicker, easier, and more fun in comparison to most non-combat.

Combat involves every player in some way. Non-combat often involves one primary character, with the other players struggling to figure out how to contribute. In any case, non-combat rarely has a built-in round-robin mechanism to give everyone a turn in the spotlight.

Combat has a clear goal, motivations, and end point with clear rewards. Non-combat is often vague,