OT: It seems the culture wars are beginning to spill over to RPGs?

[swaghauler]

I find that a game (especially in Campaign form) will take on a life of its own. I like the idea of having detailed NPCs but I find that it is easier to allow them to "gain depth" as the game progresses. That random supply clerk the players interact with is just like the grocery store clerk you interact with in real life. What do you REALLY KNOW about the last person who checked you out at the store? I do however like to vary my players challenges. I have been hitting them with everything from Navigational Challenges (not easy in the jungles of Central Africa) to having to build a bridge to move important supplies to a UN Refugee camp. They even had to relocate an entire African village while "under rebel pressure" ala "Tears of The Sun." This gaming group has surprised me with how willing they are to game out "noncombat" scenarios. While I understand the author's point; In the end, Realism MUST be tempered with ease of game play.