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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Scylla" data-source="post: 5986926" data-attributes="member: 32833">The thing that strikes me about these two examples in that in both preferred instances, the DM isn't doing anything, excepts perhaps standing aside seemingly subservient as the players do as they please. (And please don't read this wrong, in my own games I allow player actions about 99.5% of the time without debate, and when I do take issue with a proposed action my players rarely if ever disagree with my rulings. I abhor DM tyrants.)In Twinbahamut's preferred example, the DM says nothing at all. There's no interaction. I actually prefer the first exchange, because its just that—a true exchange between players and DM. And as Libramarian mentioned, I don't perceive the DM condescension that other folks might. I view it as an objective report—like a spotter giving the sniper the lay of the land so he can take action. The sniper doesn't resent his spotter, he values him as a trusted source of information. And ultimately that what it's about—mutual trust between player and DM. The DM isn't granting permission, he is relating what the character sees because the player cannot actually see through his character's eyes.Minigiant's example seems no better to me. Here the DM merely reports the obvious and takes no real part in play, to the point of being unnecessary. (Does a player who rolled a one need the DM, however poetically, to tell him he missed?)In these examples the DM seems like the player's manservant—someone who sets the table and then scurries out of the way while the players gorge themselves. I'd rather join them at the table as their host and share in the repast. Or put another way, these examples make it seem—to me—that the DM is more a sportscaster, merely reporting the action after it happens. But the DM is more; to continue the analogy, the DM is the other team, the field, the ball, the wind and weather, the cheerleaders, and the crowd. Giving the DM a little less attitude than in some examples already given, I would offer my own example of play:Player: So the trolls have us backed onto this ledge, eh? What lies below?DM: Sharp stalagmites about eighty feet below, I'm afraid.Player: Yikes. Anything else around, other ledges?DM: (Smiling inwardly) Yes, there are several ledges to either side.Player: Any I might reach with a great running leap?DM: There's one to your left that's approximately 6 feet away and perhaps a foot lower than you.Player: I'm going to make a running leap for it! (Grabs dice)DM: Sure, give me a ________ check!I'll take that synergy over being a sportscaster any day. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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