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<blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 9510724" data-attributes="member: 42582">The bar is just an example. Likewise the leaves on the trees.I mean, the GM tells us that we're in the castle, at the king's court. I imagine that the castle has a Master of Horses - a chief groom - and so declare, &quot;I go to speak to the Master of Horses!&quot; Is that reasonable, or do I have to ask the GM's permission.The GM tells us that we're in the castle, at the king's court, and even mentions the Master of Horses. I assume that the Master of Horses lives in the castle, and so declare &quot;I wait until the Master of Horses is at the stables, and then sneak into his quarters.&quot; Is that reasonable?Even returning to the tavern: I declare &quot;I grab a burning brand from the fireplace.&quot; Is that reasonable? Does the GM have to describe the fire and its fuel, for it to count as a good description?Every description leaves stuff unstated or implicit. And every bit of setting that the GM assumed to be mere background, can be rendered salient by a player's action declaration (assuming the game is not a railroad).If, at every point, the player has to go back to the GM for permission and clarification, that - in my view - undercuts immersion, by fostering a sense of alienation and disembodiment.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="pemerton, post: 9510724, member: 42582"] The bar is just an example. Likewise the leaves on the trees. I mean, the GM tells us that we're in the castle, at the king's court. I imagine that the castle has a Master of Horses - a chief groom - and so declare, "I go to speak to the Master of Horses!" Is that reasonable, or do I have to ask the GM's permission. The GM tells us that we're in the castle, at the king's court, and even mentions the Master of Horses. I assume that the Master of Horses lives in the castle, and so declare "I wait until the Master of Horses is at the stables, and then sneak into his quarters." Is that reasonable? Even returning to the tavern: I declare "I grab a burning brand from the fireplace." Is that reasonable? Does the GM have to describe the fire and its fuel, for it to count as a good description? Every description leaves stuff unstated or implicit. And every bit of setting that the GM assumed to be mere background, can be rendered salient by a player's action declaration (assuming the game is not a railroad). If, at every point, the player has to go back to the GM for permission and clarification, that - in my view - undercuts immersion, by fostering a sense of alienation and disembodiment. [/QUOTE]

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