Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

Why Rules-Light Games Are More Fun! (Patreon)

Published:
2023-07-21 22:00:02
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:
haven't archived this post yet. have a subscription? use the importer!

Videos

Content

PDM's manifesto on the advantages of rules-light gaming. Sure to be a future classic. 

Files

Previews only

Rules Light Games

Comments

Bagel-Man

Great video as always PDM!

MrGunn

Outstanding video PDM, well said! Your gaming philosophies pretty much changed my entire approach to GMing RPGs, thank you!

John Rakestraw

I like the idea of keeping the rpg moving along at a good speed, though for my family I have equal amount of players that are on the spectrum and others that are not. Everyone understands that we can’t take all day to make a decision, nor can we rush people to make a quick decision. We all work together to keep the narrative moving. By the way PDM, are you doing any of your Deathbringer scenarios for the online guest at GEN-CON?

Chuck Thorin

I'm still advocating for the term Rules Efficient.

Kevin Beck

This channel has inspired me. The next time I DM, if I do, I'm going to take whatever rules I use, boil them down to the basic basics and run everything else on the fly.

Benjamin Marra

This is my favorite video you've ever done.

Bunni Daniel

You are no way old lol, you're just seasoned with extra pepper. I totally agree with the quick combat/turns thing. If people are taking too long, they tend to wander off to do other things.

David Ford

Wait…dragons and space combat aren’t real? I’ve got some serious questions that I need to consider.

Jeff Krus
>>113453607

Me too... I think rules for the most part are a guide and not always absolute...

Gridlock350 Studios

I think people have a hard time with transitioning to rules lite systems because they feel like it won’t have an answer (in form of rules) to most scenarios. But if people would look at rules lite systems as building bases & implement rules that they like into it or even homebrew rules for certain scenarios then they would become more popular. Not that they’re not already popular, I’m talking more popular & not as much looked down upon Think about how many more of your friends would be willing to play if the rules were easier to learn

MrGunn
>>113486463

@Gridlock350 Studios I agree, Pathfinder and lots of other systems have waaaay too many rules.

Brent Norton

Rules light for me, thank you.

NemoOh

415 pages of character creation in the Mathfinder 2e Core/Players Handbook... and another 700 plus in the Advanced Players Handbook. He is only exaggerating a tad.

Daniel Defazio
>>113454062

No. I am running Deathbringer in person once, in person, and a new scenario called Slaughterous Maximus once.

Jay

Rules light is definitely the way to go for me and my group. Everyone I know seems to homebrew and light rules just make it easier to do just that.

Ian Butterworth

Thank you for the recent video output Professor, but you could have gone to GenCon and left Deathbringer in charge of your YouTube channel. What could possibly go wrong?

Smarting

I prefer Pathfinder 2e as much as Beyond the Wall, but Pathfinder 2e has simply the most output by its company. I like to read rules and Paizo gives me a lot of rules to read, so I am happy. But about trust, there is a German saying: Trust is good, control is better! To just trust some person about their decision was not a good idea for Germans (and the world) in the past, so there is some innate distrust to just go along with a ruling. "Just because I may trust my GM, it doesn't mean I simply will submit to him", such kind of thinking certainly exists under certain young men, who may have bad experiences with bullying or bad father figures.

Adam

I prefer rules-clear game play, with zero lookup. If every thing I need to play doesn't fit on the DM screen then meh. But I do enjoy character crafting. Which is why I always preferred to use GURPS (not with every optional rule) . Skills are still fun and I don't mind front loaded rules. Rules-light systems that I have seen. the character creation seems a bit bland, especially when skills are done away with. Skills were a nice addition to the D&D. Unless players or DM use it as a crutch. Can't just "I roll investigate' , tell me how you are investigating, or what you are looking for. And by the same token. I want to search the body.... "roll investigation". Those are both dumb. you are going to find everything if you search a dead body. Now if you are going to search super quickly, roll an investigation to notice and grab the important items in a single turn. idk. rules light is often too light. in the middle for me I guess.

BrettC

When is this going to be on Youtube? I have some players that need to hear this. Hoping to run into you at Gen Con!

James M Spahn

Any chance of seeing this With My Friends version of Deathbringer?

William Smith

Great video. I have to ask, did you get the "human mind" comment from the IT Crowd D&D episode "Jenn the Fredo"?

Gabe Dunston

Wasn’t he Moss? Fredo, a pimp? No! He took the ring to Mordor.