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Message: <blockquote data-quote="The Crimson Binome" data-source="post: 6672969" data-attributes="member: 6775031">That's part of it, but a larger part of it is that such things are not for the GM (or player) to decide, based on such meta-game context. Whether the GM decides that there is a box (or is not a box), that decision cannot possibly depend on whether or not the players ask, if the GM is to maintain the illusion of an objective reality. For a GM to maintain neutrality - for the GM to avoid intentionally empowering or disempowering the players - the decision would need to be based on the GM's prior knowledge of the world, or else it would need to be determined randomly.As for rationing systems, that necessarily invokes meta-game resources. I'm not terribly familiar with the games you cite, but any resource which the players spend on behalf of their characters (or to further the story) is a meta-game mechanic which requires breaking from character stance in order to invoke. If the players have a limited pool of points to spend on adding elements to the game world (spend a Fate point or a Benny or something to add a box where none was described), then you're adding a gamist element (spend points now, or save for later) over narrative control (player defining the environment, beyond the scope of character ability), which is a double-whammy of illusion-shattering.That's pretty much what I said in the second half of the sentence, which you didn't quote. Other games added in their own contrivances, because they didn't like the contrivances which Gygaxian play required.Really, the whole matter of GNS theory is about priorities and personal preference. We'd all love to immerse ourselves in a great game where the story flowed naturally in an interesting manner, but that's not going to happen anytime soon. As soon as you build a game to focus on one element, you need to make compromises within the other elements. Personally, I can't stand narrative contrivance, and find that its inclusion actively detracts from any roleplaying experience.</blockquote>

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