Why Crunchy RPGs Offer Two Games In One

Storytellers need to remind themselves that player agency matters in all facets of the game, not just at the table. They should also be eager to court any source of player “buy in” and enthusiasm, which certainly should encompass the campaign’s theme and narrative, but it can also include game mechanics. If a player organically chooses to change their planned build, and instead focuses on the use of an overpowered magic item the Storyteller gives them, that isn’t agency, that’s the Storyteller dictating a character’s build for them, in essence. So long as reasonable guardrails are in place, the character-building game adds value to TTRPGs.