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Pyat’s Non-Universal Rules of Gaming*
*Note: I believe these behaviours arose out of a sort of grim dynamic that existed between my high-school gaming buddies and a particularly misanthropic GM. For good or ill, the guidelines below have remained with me and largely shape my habits in most games. I make no guarantees about how welcome the application of these rules will be in any given player group.
Rule One: “Shake the Pillars of Heaven”
The goal of your character should not be comfort and security, nor wealth, nor admiration, but rather to have his or her name written in letters of fire across the pages of history. It is not important if you are remembered as a hero or a fool – it is enough to be remembered.
Rule Two: “Chaos is a friend of mine.”
When your party can’t directly take control of a situation, it is sometimes possible to remove control from the opponent via an unexpected action. Smash the Dragon Orb! Jump into a garbage compactor! Initiate the Corbomite Maneuver! And do it NOW. Like the man said, “Better to act quickly and err than to hesitate until the time of action is past.”
Rule Three: “He can never know that he is dead."
Your character, that is. Don’t treat your character as disposable, don’t be suicidal – but also remember that you are in the game to help tell an interesting story. All interesting stories have an end, preferably one involving a tremendous explosion.
Rule Four: “Try not to die like a dog.”
If you think you are going to die, don’t spend your last combat round looking for a healing potion or medpak. Take off your hat and face the Infinite with a sneer, a smile, a leer, a wink, or a snarl – whatever works best for your character.
*Note: I believe these behaviours arose out of a sort of grim dynamic that existed between my high-school gaming buddies and a particularly misanthropic GM. For good or ill, the guidelines below have remained with me and largely shape my habits in most games. I make no guarantees about how welcome the application of these rules will be in any given player group.
Rule One: “Shake the Pillars of Heaven”
The goal of your character should not be comfort and security, nor wealth, nor admiration, but rather to have his or her name written in letters of fire across the pages of history. It is not important if you are remembered as a hero or a fool – it is enough to be remembered.
Rule Two: “Chaos is a friend of mine.”
When your party can’t directly take control of a situation, it is sometimes possible to remove control from the opponent via an unexpected action. Smash the Dragon Orb! Jump into a garbage compactor! Initiate the Corbomite Maneuver! And do it NOW. Like the man said, “Better to act quickly and err than to hesitate until the time of action is past.”
Rule Three: “He can never know that he is dead."
Your character, that is. Don’t treat your character as disposable, don’t be suicidal – but also remember that you are in the game to help tell an interesting story. All interesting stories have an end, preferably one involving a tremendous explosion.
Rule Four: “Try not to die like a dog.”
If you think you are going to die, don’t spend your last combat round looking for a healing potion or medpak. Take off your hat and face the Infinite with a sneer, a smile, a leer, a wink, or a snarl – whatever works best for your character.
