I had an additional thought that I wanted to share about the new Pathfinder 2nd edition.
It appears to me they are going for a popular style of gameplay. I've been searching the internet for a definition, but I can't find the exact definition I want, so I am making up my own terminology. I'm going to refer to it as "Exception Based Gameplay". In Exception Based Gameplay the base rules are very simple, but cards or feats can override or expand upon the base gameplay. These games often have a rule that says something to the effect that rules on specific cards supersede the general rules. Thus gameplay can start simple, but grow more complex as the game progresses.
Examples of these games include Magic the Gathering or Fluxx. Each game is fairly simple, but as cards come into play the rules and resulting strategy get more and more complicated. Magic needs dedicated referees to adjudicate the rules in any competitive scene because they can get so complicated. I would not include chess or Risk as an EBG candidate because while the rules start fairly simple and it's the complex strategy of these rules interacting rather than adding more rules as the game progresses. Other games just start with rules too complex to fit the EBG mold.
A Pathfinder 2nd edition example is Charge. Normally you can move, move, then attack in three actions, but with Charge you can move, move and attack with only two actions. As a character gathers more feats, they will get more and more options in combat. What this does is provide a very nice ramp-up of complexity. A 10th level character will have many more options than a 1st level character, but a player will have worked up to that from the beginning so the myriad of options will not be confusing. I think Pathfinder fully embracing EGB will improve the learning curve for new players, which definitely excites me.
I would love to hear in comments if there is an established term for Exception Based Gaming.
As promised, here are some of the key resources if you want to follow the reveals for the 2nd edition.
- Paizo Blog: If you want information as soon as possible, you best go right to the source.
- Pathfinder 2nd Edition Compiled Info: A frequently updated list of all interviews, actual plays and gleaned information from multiple sources. One can get lost for hours here.
- Pathfinder Reddit: This page updates with the latest news very quickly.
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