Annoying the DM

[Synthetik Fish]

As a player, if I have a "plan," and I'm not sure of something, I'll ask the DM. I won't go and tell the DM the whole plan, but just ask him that one specific question. I find that by breaking it down in steps, the DM's don't usually piece everything together. That way, there *shouldn't* be any rule discrepencies, but also the party still has a good amount of suprise.

As for leveling, the DM should always have full review of the characters whenever he wishes. I'm a player that is a fan of the DM keeping track of things like Move Silently and Listen, so we don't know if we fail the check or not. Makes it more realistic and fun.

Also, Green Ronin makes a Character Folio character sheet... er... packet... that's 15 pages long, and includes a character advancement sheet. This basicly charts all the changes in your character at each level... could be quite useful for a DM who wants to see how a certai ncharacter ended up a certain way.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

Years ago, I was an awful premptive GM - my players would sit there talking about their plans and I'd be thinking of ways for the bad guys to neutralise them... just didn't realise I was doing it. Players started suprising me with secret plots. I asked them why and they explained... Boy, did I feel stupid about that.

I'd say I fall more into what ken-ichi was describing. I'd much prefer to know what the players are plotting - If the plan sounds fun and/or good then I'll work it into the game. Find it makes for much more rewarding gaming?


TWK, that does sound like a slightly irritating player. I've got one like that, likes to overplan everything and think of bizzare contingencies for stuff... Along the lines of 'Well, we've got a plan to break into the house, now what do we do if a meteor drops on us?'

I went with a two fold approach - firstly, I encourage his more reasonable contingencies and make a few of them happen - definitely makes him feel better. Secondly, got a couple of the other players to hurry him up a little if he takes too long dithering over stuff.

 

[Chimera]

Seen plenty of GMs who thrive on spoiling players plots, reasonably or not reasonably. Eggregious offenders will not be played with anymore and I may go so far as to get up and walk out of the session.

So I have no problems with keeping plots and plans secret from the GM.

OTOH, I've seen plenty of players who;
a> Build plans on faulty interpretations of the rules, or
b> Build their plan on a faulty foundation of logic or common sense, or
c> Build their plan on a complete misunderstanding of the situation.

Unfortunately, most of the time when this happens, the players get upset and blame the GM for whatever went wrong, regardless of how completely out of touch with reality or the rules the players are.

Bottom line, I think, is that you might want to take a hard look at any GM who is causing you so many headaches that you feel that you can't "win" if he knows your plans.