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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Campbell" data-source="post: 8285404" data-attributes="member: 16586">I think you are placing too much weight on story and not enough on curation here. As in actively making decisions on the basis of what makes for the best story. It's the active curation of the story both by the GM and sometimes other players that can conflict with play because it subverts the feedback loops for play. When we start placing story outcomes ahead of the process of play, prioritizing it above other concerns. It's entirely different from enjoyment of the unfolding narrative as part of the play process.In many sorts of play choosing what the endpoint looks like runs contrary to the purpose of play. The point is that we are playing the game to find out how things go. When an individual player (including the GM) decides what that should be or tries to actively direct it to a desired outcome they are placing their vision of things above the play process. They are breaking the Magic Circle of play.On the other hand if part of the shared understanding we have is that the game is fundamentally about the GM's story or weaving a story together as a group than the (often unstated) process of play becomes about us all working together to achieve those story ends. No conflict. Conflict only occurs when different priorities are being expressed at the table at the same time. Where we are fundamentally trying to play different games or especially if there is confusion about what our priorities are in the moment. Especially if that leaves me conflicted about what I should be prioritizing in the moment.The amount of tolerance for such conflicts we have is going to vary pretty dramatically from person to person. Lack of clarity of purpose is pretty damn big deal to me personally. Trying to navigate what's truly up for grabs in a game where our priorities might shift any moment is deeply stressful to me as a player who wants to develop mastery at whatever it is we are doing.</blockquote>

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