Note
These are still fairly incoherent; I intend to work on them some more.
The title of this section is deliberately misleading, because this particular issue is often presenting in this misleading manner, as if “real roleplaing” was something antithetical to Hack-n-Slash. in fact, Hack-n-Slash isn’t opposed to Roleplaying, it’s just one particular style of roleplaying.
Here are some styles.
Another one of those everlasting debates in roleplaying gamers is Light vs. Crunchy.
I think this is another one of those things that comes down to taste.
Some people like lots of rules: it makes it easier for them to decide on things, and gives them a framework to work within, even if they end up fudging almost everything, because they have something they can use to make comparisons.
Other people like fewer rules: it makes things easier for them to decide, because they’re not hampered by having to look things up and struggling to fit a situation into a rigid framework.
Personally, I like both, depending on the situation.
The Designer’s Notes for Fudge are a very good explanation of where Fudge fits on the Light vs. Crunchy scale and why.