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A GMing telling the players about the gameworld is not like real life
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<blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 7580583" data-attributes="member: 42582"><p>I think this comment can be generalised: [MENTION=23751]Maxperson[/MENTION]'s assertions about how PC knowledge, PC background etc are to be handled may be true accounts of how he likes to play the game, but find little support in D&D rules texts, esepecially 4e.</p><p></p><p></p><p>This relates to what [MENTION=82106]AbdulAlhazred[/MENTION] said upthread about PC backgrounds and PC goals being the MEAT of play.</p><p></p><p>If the only significance of befriending a hermit is that he might give my PC a fetch quest, that is about as far from MEAT as we can get while still having the hermit figure in play. And this isn't even about "advantage" - it's about what establishes the dramatic trajectory and focus of play.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Some further thoughts on this example: what do the mechanics of the system say? For instance, if my PC <em>is</em> a noble, what are the rules for attracting and/or commanding an entourage?</p><p></p><p> [MENTION=29398]Lanefan[/MENTION]'s presentation of the example rests on some assumptions about the answers to those questions. But those aren't the only assumptions that are possible.</p><p></p><p>For instance, in Cortex+ Heroic, an entourage would normally be either a resource or an asset (similar mechanical devices, but established via different mechanical processes). Neither can just be brougjht into being by way of player stipulation.</p><p></p><p>In some versions of D&D there are Loyalty mechanics. If the PC has been absent from home for a long period, in those rules that would probably affect the loyalty of the entourage, and hence the likelihood of them willingly turning up upon the PCs' arrival.</p><p></p><p>Etc.</p><p></p><p>The bigger point is that most RPGs have ways of establishing fiction other than simply fiat narration (whether by GM or player). Posts that proceed on the assumption that the only alternative to player fiat is GM fiat; or that if GM fiat is abandoned, then player fiat will take it's place; seem to wilfully disregard this fact. (Which is a point I've been making, on-and-off, basically since the start of this thread.)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pemerton, post: 7580583, member: 42582"] I think this comment can be generalised: [MENTION=23751]Maxperson[/MENTION]'s assertions about how PC knowledge, PC background etc are to be handled may be true accounts of how he likes to play the game, but find little support in D&D rules texts, esepecially 4e. This relates to what [MENTION=82106]AbdulAlhazred[/MENTION] said upthread about PC backgrounds and PC goals being the MEAT of play. If the only significance of befriending a hermit is that he might give my PC a fetch quest, that is about as far from MEAT as we can get while still having the hermit figure in play. And this isn't even about "advantage" - it's about what establishes the dramatic trajectory and focus of play. Some further thoughts on this example: what do the mechanics of the system say? For instance, if my PC [I]is[/I] a noble, what are the rules for attracting and/or commanding an entourage? [MENTION=29398]Lanefan[/MENTION]'s presentation of the example rests on some assumptions about the answers to those questions. But those aren't the only assumptions that are possible. For instance, in Cortex+ Heroic, an entourage would normally be either a resource or an asset (similar mechanical devices, but established via different mechanical processes). Neither can just be brougjht into being by way of player stipulation. In some versions of D&D there are Loyalty mechanics. If the PC has been absent from home for a long period, in those rules that would probably affect the loyalty of the entourage, and hence the likelihood of them willingly turning up upon the PCs' arrival. Etc. The bigger point is that most RPGs have ways of establishing fiction other than simply fiat narration (whether by GM or player). Posts that proceed on the assumption that the only alternative to player fiat is GM fiat; or that if GM fiat is abandoned, then player fiat will take it's place; seem to wilfully disregard this fact. (Which is a point I've been making, on-and-off, basically since the start of this thread.) [/QUOTE]
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