response 27 of 32:

Nov 27 06:57 UTC 1999

phenix: you wanna be a hero, go ahead.   I want to be a gamer.  And
occasionally an artist.  Hero?  The stakes ain't high enough in gaming to let
me (or you, or anyone) be one when gaming.
        And the reason I'm ragging on your sorry little ass (and from
discussion, it is) is 'cause you aren't willing to just defend your (valid
and enjoyable) form of gaming, but want to discredit the rest of us.  But when
you get down to it, There's More than One Way to Do it, and more importantly,
there's more than one reason.  
        You want to be subject to implacable fate?  That's your poison; me,
I rule the dice (rather than the other way 'round), and let my character be
the hero (or anti-hero, or heroic villain, or black-hearted menace), while
I get on with my life.
        The dice?  They're the hand of fate, pushing things in ways that we
didn't expect, providing the raw wool and wheft that we, as human beings and
creators can turn into a tapestry of our own design.  Likewise the cards, or
any other random system, or even the various plans of the players before they
sit down a the gaming table.  
        But let them rule you, and you're in for a world of hurt (not to
mention some pointless games).