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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 545713" data-attributes="member: 6294">Do players who use unexpected and effective tactics to defeat enemies drive a DM nuts?Not as much as players who use unexpected and stupid tactics <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=":)" />For some reason, sometimes it seems like my DM goes out of his way to hammer me just because of the way I play the game. Often times, I am able to come up with a way to crush the enemy by minimizing their threat, and this seems to drive my DM crazy at times.Sounds like your DM is still in 'confrontational' mode with his players. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f644.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":rolleyes:" title="Roll eyes    :rolleyes:"  data-smilie="11"data-shortname=":rolleyes:" /> Do other DM's often feel the same way about a player who uses all the powers at their command and the environment to come up with effective tactics to defeat the enemy?No - I like players who come up with interesting and effective ideas.  It makes for a good game.Note, however, that if a specific PC is obviously the leader type in combat, and my NPCs are able to see this (eg because s/he issues a lot of instructions and suggestions on the battlefield), then I think it is fair for them to target him/her.  After all, killing the officers first is a tried and true combat tactic.If all the planning was done before hand, however, then my NPCs tend to react to the most obvious threat - which is not always the biggest one out there.Do many DM's have a particular player that seems to always do something unexpected that really sways battles so that it turns in favor the PC's or turns an epic battle into a cakewalk?Not so much that, though I do have certain players who can come up with effective tactics and use them well.  Their main problem is usually communicating those to the other PCs (and/or stopping other people from doing the aforementioned foolish things).If so, do you ever inadvertently target the player with attacks not because the player has done something in the current battle, but because you know what that player will do?I try not to.  Hopefully, on the whole, I succeed.  At the very least, my players seem to have fun.I am just wondering if other DM's get annoyed with players who seem to have a knack for D&D tactics. And if so, do you consciously or subconciously target those players to try to prevent them from getting the upper hand?If it is subconscious, I don't think anyone is going to be able to tell you they are doing it <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=":)" />For myself, I try as much as possible to reward and encourage good play.  Targetting players who play well is counterproductive, in my mind.  I am much more likely to target those who do something foolish.  Call it a carrot and stick approach <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /></blockquote>

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