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<blockquote data-quote="GMMichael" data-source="post: 7936616" data-attributes="member: 6685730">You're right on one hand: it's another tool.&nbsp; Use it if it's helpful.&nbsp; But on the other, there might not be a tool that can help a DM say, &quot;hmm, I might kill my players with this encounter.&quot;&nbsp; Jgsugden killed an entire party with one kobold (level unmentioned).&nbsp; Which calculator could have predicted that?It makes sense that, in a game where a lone halfling could easily dispatch a stone giant given enough levels and magic, DMs should have a little guidance in how to plot (prevent?) such things.&nbsp; So, the DMG, AngryGM, and Mike Shea provide systems for doing so.&nbsp; But to need such a system in the first place is to 1) assume combat must happen, and that someone has to die, and 2) ignore the introductory material of several books that states that GMs are in charge, and their job is to make sure everyone has fun.&nbsp; (I think rule 0 is in there somewhere.)So &quot;look in the mirror&quot; points a DM back to the forest, if you will, if she's been staring at the trees.&nbsp; Which actually is helpful, if it prevents a DM from focusing on dice and ignoring the table, then looking up to realize that a bad session was had by all.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="GMMichael, post: 7936616, member: 6685730"] You're right on one hand: it's another tool. Use it if it's helpful. But on the other, there might not be a tool that can help a DM say, "hmm, I might kill my players with this encounter." Jgsugden killed an entire party with one kobold (level unmentioned). Which calculator could have predicted that? It makes sense that, in a game where a lone halfling could easily dispatch a stone giant given enough levels and magic, DMs should have a little guidance in how to plot (prevent?) such things. So, the DMG, AngryGM, and Mike Shea provide systems for doing so. But to need such a system in the first place is to 1) assume combat must happen, and that someone has to die, and 2) ignore the introductory material of several books that states that GMs are in charge, and their job is to make sure everyone has fun. (I think rule 0 is in there somewhere.) So "look in the mirror" points a DM back to the forest, if you will, if she's been staring at the trees. Which actually is helpful, if it prevents a DM from focusing on dice and ignoring the table, then looking up to realize that a bad session was had by all. [/QUOTE]

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