As the new “Chief Rules Lawyer” I want to say some things:
- Dragon Storm is meant to be fun. We are not going to make rules that make the game less fun.
- Rule 3.4 in the Dragon Storm rule set states that the Game Master has the right to change anything that he or she wants to change and is the final authority on things in his or her game. This rule will apply in all cases and over rule anything else. The swirling magics of Grandilar make for interesting areas in which abilities and spells to not work the same as in other areas. This even applies to the same area in different times (or different games). This is a part of Dragon Storm and shall remain as one of the features of Dragon Storm. Dragon Storm is very unique in that any DS character can join any DS game; one of the ways this works is with the use of Rule 3.4. Rule 3.4 also allows players to be creative in the way they use cards. We do not have a card for everything (though I now have a Shovel card), so there will be some instances where you have to force fit a card that is close and the GM will have to rule whether that is possible.
- Not all cards are created equal. There will be some cards that are just more powerful for their cost than others. You change into a were-cat and using a one point ace and get +3 str, while someone else changes into a Dragon with a one point ace and gets +6 str. It happens! There will be some cards which are very expensive and have little power, while others are cheap and powerful. Not all cards are created equal and I will not get into the business of making card errata because some card is thought to be too weak or some other card is thought to be too powerful. (See #1 above)
- Not all races and classes are the same! Different races and shifter types get different abilities. It is the way of the game. In the past people tried to make it so that every race and type could get every ability. It won’t happen. This is not the #&% game system where every character can learn every ability and every spell; this is Dragon Storm where every character type is different. Also remember to see #3 above, not all races are as powerful.
- Some cards are intentionally vague. See #2 above and refer to Rule 3.4. Cards that are left vague are that way for a reason. Use your imagination and see what the Game Master will allow. Some cards were written that way because they can be used in multiple ways, or will not function the same way every time. That can make things fun. (See #1 above)
- All Spells are not equal. Some spells say “touch” or have a printed range. Unless the GM rules otherwise (see #2 above), different spells have different ranges and not every spell is line of sight.
- There is not a card for everything. Blank cards are available. Just be sure to declare them to the Game Master at the start of a game and because they are not official cards, they are subject to rule 3.4. (I have my “Obvious” card, and I will play it if the Game Master allows it.) This also applies to things like a Zachtos longsword which is really a Firewall longsword, or the +1 luck charms that Kirk Rich gave out back in 2007.
- I think I got best job out of this deal. Just remember that my button says “Rule 3.4 covers that!”
- Mark R