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Author and game designer Ari Marmell recently penned the importance of fluff in game systems.
It lurks in the dark of the subconscious, waiting for just the right moment to spring forth. It emerges in the midst of anything D&D-related: Discussions, purchasing, planning for games. It’s been present throughout every edition (or at least every edition during which the game’s fans had a substantial net presence.) Not everyone plays host to this vile creature, but many do—and they do not realize that both the game as a whole, and their games in particular, are suffering for it.
Okay, that’s maybe a tad silly. But I’m actually being serious when I say that there’s a common meme I see popping up in a lot of discussions, here on EN World and other messageboards as well. And I’m serious when I say that it’s a subversive yet attractive idea that is actually harmful to the game.
You ready? Here it is.
“Oh, I don’t need the fluff. I can come up with that stuff easily enough. Just give me the crunch, and I’m fine.”
Sound familiar? You may have said it yourself. I know you’ve at least heard it. And here’s the thing. It’s just flat-out wrong; has been for every edition, and will continue to be so. If you subscribe to that belief, I can promise you that your game isn’t as good as it could be.
Full post here.