I have stood upon the steps of the Temple of the One True Way. It is not a fun place to be.

The example from today’s comic hit one of my groups recently. I’d always played with multiple dice clattering merrily across the table. My buddy preferred to roll once and double the result. He also happened to be the GM in that game. While I’m sure that all you math nerds out there can explain exactly how the probability curve shifts when you choose one method or the other, I will happily explain the slope of my give-a-shit curve in turn. That’s because crits aren’t the point of today’s comic (though if anyone wants to get into an argument down in the comments I’ll happily grab my bucket of popcorn and watch). Instead, I’m interested in the limits of compromise.

There are a lot of different ways to play RPGs. Just take a quick slog through the Handbook of Heroes backlog to get a taste. You’ve got to choose system. You’ve got to make a policy on PVP. Will there be adult themes? Will you use critical fails? Do you generate stats randomly, or do you use some kind of point-buy system? We’ve all got opinions on these questions. If you’ve spent any time on gaming forums, you know that those opinions can get a little on the strong side. At the end of the day though, the only question that really matters is, “Am I having fun?” Speaking for myself, the crits thing irrationally sticks in my craw, but I’m not about to flip the table over the issue.

Question of the day then. Have you ever quit a game because of this stuff? I’m not asking for RPG horror stories with interpersonal drama, but “I can’t game with dudes who track individual XP” or “it’s not worth it if evil characters aren’t allowed.” Has there ever been a matters-of-taste deal breaker for you? What was it? Let’s hear it in the comments!

WANT THAT SWEET SWEET LOOT? Check out the The Handbook of Heroes Patreon. We’ve got a sketch feed full of Laurel’s original concept art. We’ve got early access to comics. There’s physical schwag, personalized art, and a monthly vote to see which class gets featured in the comic next. And perhaps my personal favorite, we’ve been hard at work bringing a monthly NSFW Handbook of Erotic Fantasy comic to the world! So come one come all. Hurry while supplies of hot elf chicks lasts!