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If the DM consistently allows 1 set of characters to do their shtick but often puts another set of characters through additional hoops (when they try to do theirs), even if they're sticking with RAW, players will quickly realize that playing the first set is greatly to their advantage.

Depends on what or how the scene was described. Besides if there is a disconnect on the implications of the description your still facing a disconnect between the player and DM. IF there's a disconnect, then you're going to have misunderstandings on what's actually possible in any given situation.

Sure, but I think here is a bit different. Here It's not saying to the player "What you're trying to do isn't RAW or even close..." it's "I know what your trying to do IS RAW but I'm going to disallow it because..." The latter is likely to happen MUCH less often. If it's happening a lot...

But part of the discussion is when to override RAW and does doing so tend to affect certain classes more than others. For example, you mentioned you don't cap falling damage. And falling damage is an interesting case. Casters tend to have an easy solution - feather fall -makes up to 5 people...

Part of working with the player is ensuring that the scene was described well enough for them to make a proper choice. Often, when a player responds with an action the DM thinks "doesn't make sense" it is directly because the DM didn't describe/frame the scene as completely/well as they thought...

I think, ideally (IMO of course), the DMs line of thought and inquiry should be "how can I make your action fit into what I think is going on in the fiction..." And the DM should work with the player to get the action to fit (in a way they both conceptualize working) . To often, I see DMs act...

I actually like the 5e approach MUCH more. 3e got way too specific and exception based. I'd much rather get the occasional edge case - as happens with 5e.

I mean if it's a clear mistake - sure.

Not here though, Ghosts are immune to the frightened condition.

As long as ALL PCs have to be clever, that's fine - good even, because making players think outside of the box/their comfort zones can be great gaming (with the right group). It's when only SOME PCs have to be clever, while others can just do their standard shtick , that I think there's a problem.

Yeah, the fan community can be problematic. CRs is actually better than many, but they have their (bad) moments.

He was in front of a live crowd of 12,000 cheering people. Hard to keep things straight there! He was likely just feeling the pressure to keep things moving and didn't want to double back.

I've been pretty hard on the ruling, but that's a HUGE reach. Forgetting everything else, the player in question was his wife. I'm quite sure he would have done the same (asked for a reason, likely said no) with anyone else at the table.

Sure, that's right. Unfortunately, when it's not "magic" way too many DMs reaction is to disallow.

Exactly. THIS is what I keep on about. The fantasy world is NOT our world! If a fighter can take a hit from a 30/40/50 foot giant, if they can take a hit from a massive dragon's breath weapon - and keep right in going; Is it REALLY even a stretch to think that when they learn to stop a...

But the feat doesn't say "person" it says "creature." Is the Godzilla sized monster a creature? If yes, and the attack hit (the requirement) then why shouldn't the feat work? Frankly, this is a great monkey's paw situation. The massive thing, which didn't even acknowledge your existence...

Palladium books has, lets just say, famously bad mechanics - but in their Beyond the Supernatural (2nd Edition) they have a neat innovation. PCs powers "scale up" depending on the level of the supernatural threat. So for example, when things are "normal" a telekinetic will have to expend huge...

WotC often overvalues abilities when it comes to fighters. I mean it COULD be extremely powerful, especially when combined with other things through multi-classing. But in my group, I wouldn't worry about it being abused.

I've toyed with giving fighters something like "combat reflexes: instead of 1 reaction per turn, you get a number of reactions per turn equal to your proficiency modifier." Would make sentinel, polearm master, Protection style etc. very attractive - even at high levels.

It's a GREAT feat. It's one of the very few abilities that lets a fighter do something meaningful other than "I do loads of damage to it."