Combat as Art - Boss Design and Reflections on Violence

When running "Combat as Sport" players and refs are mostly concerned with a "balanced game" where mastery over rules, procedures, execution and options results in victory. When running "Combat as War" the table is primarily concerned with the tactical infinity of conflict, using any and every imaginable advantage at their disposal to attain a win. In "Combat as Art" one is less concerned with victory, but the drama of conflict itself; What it says about the world, the characters, about violence itself. Were a battle to take place on an open field, Sport would be concerned on exact measurements between opponents. War would be concerned about whether you can set the field ablaze. But Art? Art asks how you to describe the crimson spray across wilting grass as your blade finds its mark, then asks you what you feel...The Drama of Violence (You Can Skip This Part)I recently playtested my Craved from Brindlewood Mononoke-inspired zenpunk exorcist horror game (gosh that's so many buzz words)…