67
votes
Accepted
What's a frame challenge?
A frame challenge is where an author answers a question in a wholly different way the querent never asked for, or potentially expressly forbade, but in a way the author feels will actually solve the ...
- 36.9k
55
votes
Accepted
Should users refrain from answers (or partial answers) in comments?
You should not answer in comments. Not partial answers, not full answers. Not "leads on" an answer. Not "I would answer but I'm tired/just woke up/am drunk so I'll just say this..." Not answers ...
- 172k
45
votes
Is this site for experts, or not?
If you play RPGs, you're an expert and welcome.
The line "Asking Expert questions, getting expert answers" has a particular history dating to when it was just the original three sites. "Expert ...
- 239k
39
votes
How can I ask a good homebrew review question?
1. State what you want to achieve, and why you want a review.
In order to give you feedback on whether your material is functioning well at its purpose, we need to know what that purpose is. Please ...
37
votes
Can we affirm that RPG.SE embraces a plurality of playstyles?
Some resources: Challenging the frame of a question.
First, we require that people Be Nice. Insulting other play styles isn't being nice.
Second, if you are going to dissent in an answer, make sure ...
37
votes
Accepted
Does "Ask the DM / GM" equate to "Primarily opinion based?"
They're not the same
This is a common equivalence that I've seen applied too, but it's a false equivalence. The idea seems to be that every GM could rule differently, so the answer is as diverse as ...
- 239k
36
votes
Can we affirm that RPG.SE embraces a plurality of playstyles?
This is much like the questions we get on religious sites about whether one sect should be excluded or given preference to another. The SE policy on this for religious sites is that all sects are ...
- 102k
32
votes
Accepted
Is homebrew an acceptable answer to a question?
If, after well articulated research, you can reasonably suggest there's something missing for what's being sought in the originating system, and the querent doesn't explicitly forbid homebrew, you can ...
32
votes
Accepted
I've been told my question is better suited to a forum, but where should I go?
General RPG discussion forums
Roleplaying Games SE's main chat room
It's not actually a forum, but can sometimes be useful for questions that need quick back-and-forth discussion to sort out.
Pros:
...
31
votes
Should users refrain from answers (or partial answers) in comments?
I'll step in and provide some background here -- the reason why you see things that resemble "partial answers" in other Stacks is because troubleshooting is an iterative process. "Try turning it off ...
- 10.7k
30
votes
Accepted
If an answer to question A can be found in question B, should we close A as duplicate of B?
We close Question A as a duplicate of Question B only when all of the following is true:
It's the same question, or Question A is already covered obviously as a subset of Question B. "Obvious&...
- 36.9k
30
votes
What are the citation expectations of answers on RPG Stack Exchange?
Stack Exchange is a rigorous Q&A community with a mission to build up a reliable knowledge base for future readers. It's sort of like Wikipedia in that regard. To accomplish this mission we need ...
29
votes
Accepted
Are questions about alignment on topic?
Only specific kinds of alignment questions are on topic.
There are a variety of kinds of alignment questions, some of which can be constructively handled by our site and some that can not. There's not ...
- 172k
29
votes
Accepted
Is there a style guide for posts?
We don't have a local style guide because we don’t have a house style to encourage.
There are a few common practices that we inherit from a few different sources though, which are practical matters ...
- 239k
23
votes
Don't signal your edits in text
No really, we mean it.
When, in the course of natural events (i.e. not searching specifically for it) you see signs of a poorly edited-in edit, correct it.
And regarding d7's claim about the ...
23
votes
Why are site comments being deleted?
In the interests of visibility, I'll say I'm (part of) the reason comments are being deleted.
In my year on the site I've flagged comments ~230 times for deletion. I'd estimate based on my "helpful" ...
nitsua60Mod
- 98.7k
23
votes
Is profanity allowed on RPG.SE?
The policy as stated is pretty clear. But.
Generally the policy is not enforced. Enforcing it capriciously is not appropriate and having a blanket "no swearing" policy is wrongheaded at best.
...
- 102k
23
votes
Accepted
Don't signal your edits in text
People come here with questions (often from Google) to find answers. They shouldn't have to sort through a pile of "Edit", "Edit 2" amendments to work out what the answer is. There ...
- 36.9k
21
votes
Accepted
Is profanity allowed on RPG.SE?
After discussion, the mods believe we should stick to the standard SE "no expletives" policy to promote a friendlier and more civil site.
As on English.SE, exceptions can be made for actual ...
- 172k
21
votes
Eek! A troll in the Stack! What do I do?
You may have met a troll (intentional or not). Don't worry, the Stack's got you covered.
This is actually really easy: you do nothing. Nothing different to normal, that is. All the habits you've ...
nitsua60Mod
- 98.7k
19
votes
Is profanity allowed on RPG.SE?
I admit, I'm a long time lurker and a relatively new joiner. That said, I think pragmatism is an operative word. Unfortunately, this also introduces individual judgment, cultural variance, and a ...
- 361
19
votes
Accepted
How should we use Community Wiki, Part III
Community Wiki seems pointless.
After reading through the history of CW on RPG.SE, and the blog post about CW, it seems like there really isn't much use for Community Wiki here. The main arguments ...
- 46.9k
19
votes
Why is an answer being downvoted without any comments?
If someone hasn't explained their downvote, chances are there's nothing much helpful they can say, or their comment would be the kind that historically causes problems. Or, they just haven't gotten ...
- 36.9k
18
votes
Can we affirm that RPG.SE embraces a plurality of playstyles?
We are all roleplayers, and there is a lot of room in this tent for the many ways we play. We have no need for comments that suggest there is one universal "true" way to play RPGs, disparage other ...
- 239k
18
votes
Are questions about rule intent on topic?
Yes, they are on topic and should be left open.
Designer intent can be found on blogs, interviews, lectures, conference presentations, and more.
This logic of restricting designer questions is flawed. ...
- 11.7k
17
votes
When a Question Changes Completely, Should it be a New Question?
Yes
Questions can be clarified, but new questions aren't clarifications and should be posted as separate, new questions.
The correct course of action is to revert to the last version that wasn't a ...
- 239k
17
votes
A question has some facts majorly wrong: should I be correcting them in comments or an answer?
I suggest the guideline of asking yourself this question: to what extent is correcting the errors itself solving the problem they're facing?
If you're substantially solving their problem by ...
- 36.9k
17
votes
Accepted
What should I do when a question does not specify the game system being used?
The “Don’t Guess the System” policy was repealed under the platform “Let experts make expert decisions”, and what we want to do here is put to paper some of the ways an expert can identify the system ...
- 107k
16
votes
Why are site comments being deleted?
A tidy site is safer from trolls
Another, way less obvious reason to ruthlessly remove comments used for anything other than managing Q&A posts: innocent but chatty comments would provide “weeds” ...
- 239k
15
votes
Why are site comments being deleted?
Sorry for the very late answer, but this is trending topic recently on rpg.SE, and one that has been bothering me recently.
I agree that a lot of comments should be deleted. While I don't mind ...
- 12.5k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible