As a player, do you enjoy moral dilemmas and no-win situations?

[LostSoul]

Of course, this is even stickier, because Yoda *lied*. Luke *didn't* die and neither did his friends!

Well, I guess we could just say that Yoda was *wrong* instead of saying that he outright lied. But if we are likening Yoda to the DM in the original example, then the DM is offering up options/consequences that he doesn't actually follow through with once the choice is made.

I'm curious what people think about this. Is wading through the moral dilemma worth the deception on the part of the DM? (You get to experience the moral dilemma without suffering the nasty consequences of your choice.) Or does this kind of deception on the part of the DM (where he indicates something bad will happen if you make a certain choice but doesn't follow through) cheapen all future choices that the DM asks you to make?

I'm honestly not sure...

Well, Luke died in a symbolic sense, and was ressurected by Leia (who pulls the same trick on Han later on). At least that's how I see it.

I don't think the DM should pull punches at all, ever, when applying the consequences of the player's choice. The DM should go as far as the NPCs would. If that means killing someone, or burning down the farm, or killing the PCs in their sleep, he's got to do it. Otherwise there is no meaning in the choices the players make. (That's Railroading.)

 

[Mercule]

Honestly, I don't think there is a difference between 'apparent' and 'genuine' no-win situations. There's always a route that your GM didn't think of. So, find it and take it (i.e. Kirk your way out).

By a "genuine" no-win, I was refering to a DM who would adjust the situation to insure failure.

 

[IcyCool]

By a "genuine" no-win, I was refering to a DM who would adjust the situation to insure failure.

Well that's not really a 'no-win', but a jerk for a GM.

"That's pretty clever, I hadn't thought of that. But it doesn't work. You have to choose A or B."

 

[Falkus]

By a "genuine" no-win, I was refering to a DM who would adjust the situation to insure failure.

That would be when I walk out. I don't play with a DM who railroads me.

 

[KRT]

I defy the no-win situation. It doesn't exist. Sure your actions may result in total failure, but there is no win or lose there is only the journey. And a journey with juicy consequence ladden choices is even better.