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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 2554769" data-attributes="member: 22779">See, again, this is where I don't agree.  I did mention that the dragon was a young one in the first post, that was the only reason that the PC had any chance at all.  However, there's nothing in the rules that say, "Well, if the critter is really cool, then you shouldn't get to intimidate it."  The only reason for nixing this is because of a DM's notions that a dragon should never be intimidated.  But, then again, why should this be limited to dragons?  How about other creatures with the same chances as a young red dragon?  Should they also be immune to intimidation?  Why not?  By the RAW, they are exactly as susceptable to intimidation as the dragon.  Why the special treatment for the dragon?  If my cleric has the same chances of not being intimidated, does that mean that my character will never be intimidated, no matter what?That's what I'm talking about when I say I strive to be a referee and not a storyteller.  A story teller makes the sort of judgement that his story cannot be good if a dragon gets intimidated, therefore the dragon cannot be intimidated.  A referee doesn't care about the story.  For a referee, the story comes out afterwards, NEVER before.To me, the story of the gnome that pulled off intimidating a dragon is FAR cooler than the gnome who got splattered for the temerity of trying to intimidate a dragon.  Granted, 90% of the time, it's the latter story that's going to get told, but, hey, heroic stories are all about the exceptional times aren't they?As much as I possibly can, I try to divest myself from caring about the outcome of a situation.  If it ends in a TPK, so be it.  If the party cakewalks that encounter I just spent three hours crafting, well, too bad for me.  I'll get them the next time around.  It was mentioned earlier that the DM should be rooting for the players.  Not me.  Not in game.  I roll almost all rolls in the open with all modifiers visible.  About the only thing I hide is a search for traps roll which, really, has to be hidden for mechanical reasons.  My players know that I WILL NOT save them.  EVER.  If the bad guy crits three times in a row, there will be zero fudging.  Nor will the bad guys suddenly gain a point of AC or an extra couple of hit points.  It works both ways.  And it works for me.Here's an example from a recent session as to why I do this now.  The party gets escorted to the orcish chieftain who is nearly catatonic.  The only thing that will rouse the orc chief is a suggestion of the party joining forces with the orcs.  The half orc barbarian grabs the chieftain's fallen battle axe and proceeds to declare himself warchief.  Orc chief stands up and gears up for battle.  Half orc barbie wins initiative, lands a crit, obliterates the 5th level orcish barbarian in a single hit with 50ish points of damage.  Becomes warleader.Now, all of that was exactly by the RAW without the slightest bit of fudging for me.  Three weeks later, the players are still talking about it.  It was a beautiful scene.  Now, the party cakewalked what should have been a very, very difficult fight.  But, why should I care?  The party thought it was fantastic, and, in all honesty, so did I.  To me, the story of the gnome barbarian pulling off the intimidation of the dragon is a much cooler story than the DM screwing over the players because he doesn't want his pet critter to lose the fight too easily.</blockquote>

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