Story First, rules Second

I think the title pretty much sums up my thoughts on how gaming is experienced. Although I do tend to start rules lawyer-ing when doing Pathfinder Society GMing, but that just because it is not a home game where I can play fast and loose with the rules.




Now I understand rules and follow them as best as possible, but there are those sweet moments that can capture the imagination and propel the game further and truly entertain both the players and the GM.

EXAMPLE  - Brandi the rogue is running across rubble strewn castle walkway with one side being open to the courtyard and the other side fortified wall. She spots one of her companions in trouble with a brigand. The Brigand's back is to Brandi, however there is a 15ft gap in the walkway, so she runs and leaps across does a roll and springs up to sneak attack.
Sounds awesome and fun, right? However Brandi is a total of 30ft away 5ft on her side of the gap and 10ft one the other side. With running she would need to make a jump check and then an acrobatics check for the roll on other side to spring up and attack. This would take her standard action and move action normally just to make it there and then all she would do is help with a flanking bonus.
Boo!
I increased the difficulty slightly on the two rolls to justify adding an attack to the effect also allowing since it doesn't really effect the outcome of the encounter. Brandi made her rolls and got her surprise attack and vanquished the opponent!
In my opinion that sums up the rule of cool since it was awesome and a maneuver that is still recalled by that group.

Another EXAMPLE is with character creation. There are players out there that design their characters to do one thing and one thing well, Yes some people truely enjoy that, I once play with a guy who always played a cleric and if siad character died, he erased the name and continued playing. To his his own, I once made a barbarian/sorcerer using Pathfinder and APG, where he suddenly sprout claws and he believed he was cursed and that would cause him to rage in turn. Now figuring out how to get him planned and created was alot of work and he really was not min-maxed in the least but damn was he interesting.


I am prepping to run Carrion Crown for a home group that has 3 other GM from PFS in it so the rules are definitely covered. its the barrage of questions regarding character creation that has brought up these thoughts.


Going to See Cowboys Vs Aliens this weekend so be prepared...