I don't know what just happend, but it seems that Ayn Rand corrupted my player!

[Bedrockgames]

I am certainly no fan of Rand or objectivism, so my knowledge on the subject could be shaky, but isn't the player in this example the one who is really being the hedonist?

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I am certainly no fan of Rand or objectivism, so my knowledge on the subject could be shaky, but isn't the player in this example the one who is really being the hedonist?

For expending time and energy in a frivolous manner, both the players and the GM are hedonists....

Now me, I have it on good authority that I am a sober Bohemian....

The Auld Grump

 

[Hungry Like The Wolf]

Wow.

Sounds like some serious entitlement issues.

My personal stance on this kind of thing is that the DM makes the rules. Anyone who doesn't want to play by the DM's rules is free to play something/somewhere else.

DM authoritarianism is equally as entitled. People in glass houses.

 

[Vegepygmy]

Heh, philosophically speaking, I have always hated Ayn Rand, who, in my estimation, elevated selfishness to a virtue.

Given that she wrote a book entitled The Virtue of Selfishness, you probably don't need to qualify that statement with "in my estimation."

I'm sorry you don't care for her. In my estimation, she was one of the most profound thinkers of her time. (And she has nothing to do with the churlishness of the OP's player.)

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

DM authoritarianism is equally as entitled.

In my estimation, no. The DM has the most prep work to do, and is generally the one who is the core creator of the homebrew (if one exists), is the final rules arbiter, etc.

Besides, its hardly authoritarian or "entitled" to run the game as written.

 

[Hungry Like The Wolf]

In my estimation, no. The DM has the most prep work to do, and is generally the one who is the core creator of the homebrew (if one exists), is the final rules arbiter, etc.

Besides, its hardly authoritarian or "entitled" to run the game as written.

You're claiming because the DM does the most work, then their word is law. That's entitlement dude. Any position which encompasses the views and rules of the DM over all else, is authoritarian.

Do you know it was RAW? There were no houserules what-so-ever? No fudging, fiat or anything else that deviated from the book? No, you're assuming that.

 

[M.L. Martin]

Given that she wrote a book entitled The Virtue of Selfishness, you probably don't need to qualify that statement with "in my estimation."

I know little of Rand and dislike what I do, but I've wondered for several years now if her philosophy--the independence, emphasis on profit, and contempt for the weak--is well suited to old-school D&D PCs.

 

[Vegepygmy]

I know little of Rand and dislike what I do, but I've wondered for several years now if her philosophy--the independence, emphasis on profit, and contempt for the weak--is well suited to old-school D&D PCs.

It probably is, though her philosophy doesn't place much emphasis on "profit," nor does it promote "contempt for the weak." (I doubt this is the forum where we should explore the topic much further, though.)

 

[Dausuul]

You're claiming because the DM does the most work, then their word is law. That's entitlement dude. Any position which encompasses the views and rules of the DM over all else, is authoritarian.

The DM is entitled to run whatever game s/he feels like running. The players are entitled to play whatever characters they feel like playing. And if the DM is unhappy with the characters the players want to play, or the players are unhappy with the campaign the DM wants to run, they are free to not participate.

(Of course, depending on the intensity of people's feelings, there may be room for negotiation. The DM typically has more leverage in such negotiations because it's a lot easier to find willing and capable players than willing and capable DMs. Supply and demand.)

Having preferences is not entitlement. Entitlement is when you get all pissy because other people's preferences don't line up with yours. This is what the players are doing.

 

[Mort]

You're claiming because the DM does the most work, then their word is law. That's entitlement dude. Any position which encompasses the views and rules of the DM over all else, is authoritarian.

Do you know it was RAW? There were no houserules what-so-ever? No fudging, fiat or anything else that deviated from the book? No, you're assuming that.

I'm all for player empowerment* (as pretty obvious by my recent series of posts) but I have to say - from what has so far been posted (granted it's one sided), it's not looking good for the players here.

The DM dictates the rules of his campaign, if he wants to give the players a say in the matter - that's great, but it's his choice.

If a player doesn't like the rules of the campaign as presented he can:

1) make a case for some changes - which the DM can then agree to or not; or

2) Choose to not play in the particular game.

There is little middle ground. The Ayn Rand stuff just seems to be a distraction and a way for the player to vent here.

Just a thought.

*[edit: changed entitlement to empowerment as I thought it was a better word choice]