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This is a fair question to ask. I would need to know more context about that Secret Door. i.e. did the party know or heavily suspect it was there and that is why they kept searching for an entire day? Because if not, then that is just a trash idea IMO and not at all immersive or makes sense...

I don't envisage it being different from a soft move (and I'm not an expert on pbta). I was just attempting to find some daylight between the two playstyles inspired from comments upthread from @TwoSix and @FrogReaver. The soft move being the approaching steps which can still be mitigated by...

Your argument boils down to why prep when complication is still on the table. Why drink a potion of fire resistance when the red dragon can still claw, bite, tail slap, lift you and drop you, wing buffet etc? If you think the GM isn't going to reward you for smart play that's another topic IMO.

That's fair. I'm not advocating for rules change just exploring in what situation a Fail Forward could work.

Seriously?! You have an issue with a made up cat? So you don't make things up on the spot? You don't borrow cool ideas from the players at the table? Is this a genuine gripe? You ONLY roleplay in worlds where all pets are named? This is another get lost in the weeds debate. I'm not announcing...

Lets use that example of the party trying to break into a kitchen (forget the rest of the backstory, as I have not been following every single post). Spying through the kitchen window they spot a cat that's watching them intently. The cat is the only other living creature in the kitchen. The GM...

That is a worthwhile question for trying to bridge the two playstyles.

I think there is room for appreciation of both sides, especially if you're running prepped and non-prepped scenarios alike in a huge sandbox. The prepped ones are maps and combat grids and beating the module while the non-prepped ones are seat of your pants free-flow Narrative, Fail Forward...

You can still do prep (Guidance, Potion, Rage) and still miss on an attack. The 7-9 in that game reflects a consequence must arise. Your prep may eliminate some Fail Forward scenarios but you don't get to win the game. It is just a different type of Failure to what generally arises in most D&D...

You know you've reached quality discussion when we are arguing about the location of the imaginary cook's quarters in the imaginary wizard's tower in relation to a possible Fail Forward example. Fiction first right.

Out of curiosity - @pemerton @hawkeyefan and anyone else who is knowledgeable on this matter re Narrative games. Does Fail Forward play a roll in combat for Narrative games and what may that look like? As some Trad players may not like the RE cook on a Fail Forward skill roll, I was wondering if...

Interesting. Yes, to commentary but no to criticism. I use Fail Forward/Success with Complication. I also use Binary as I've said way upthread. I have no issue with various ideas being tools that I may use for the game...but perhaps the players would need to be aware such rules will/may be...

Cross-posted on my edit :)

GM: The party approaches the door and discovers it is locked. Rogue player: My rogue quickly scratches around his satchel for his thief tools..... Cleric player: Wait! Let my character cast silence to ensure you do not fumble or succeed with a complication which may or may not alert everyone in...

Ofc, you may have spotted a light beforehand coming from the kitchen or heard a sound, perhaps it is not the cook but a stable boy in the darkness looking to steal a morsel of cheese, a guard dog sleeping in the pantry, cat that gets surprised and knocks a glass in her attempt to escape etc...

If you want to go to that level then assigning a DC reflects bias, right? I was referring to Fail Forward and Success with a Complication. Okay, you're welcome to not accept that, but that is how Trad GMs see it which is the entire purpose of my post to reflect how the fiction in a game of...

Not complex. Flyer Carrying and lifting rules exist in the PHB along with the effect on movement. Passenger - Attacking If the PC is being held, I'd consider them Grappled and Restrained. If the PC is holding on, then they are not Grappled, but they would suffer the effects of Restrained to...

What some trad DMs, to eliminate their own bias, is assign odds and then roll a die to see if the cook is in the kitchen or wherever. One can expedite the process by deriving the following quick table 01-05 lose x time, lockpicks break (1-2) or gets jammed in the lock (4-6) 06-10 lose x time...

There have been improvements IMO on some major save-or-die affects over the course of the years. We have 3 death saves when one reaches below 0, we have several levels of exhaustion, petrification and level drain have been reworked, there is a cost of concentration to maintain certain...

Just included both comments that relate to each other in the above quote. You're 100% correct - reaching the summoning in time is not the object of game play. The factors that are important are the allies they gain, the hindrances they incur on the Cult of the Dragon etc all of which I assigned...