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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Campbell" data-source="post: 6196834" data-attributes="member: 16586">In <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?342467-Fighters-vs-Spellcasters-(a-case-for-fighters-)/page57" target="_blank">Fighters vs. Spell Casters - A Case For Fighters</a> [MENTION=6701124]Cadence[/MENTION] brought up the subject of the effect that GM Force has on the lethal nature of combat in the game. He mentioned that in his experience when he played in games that avoided using GM Force to a significant extent character death was pretty common. In other games he noticed that character death was pretty rare given what the logical outcomes of the rules should be. So begins our discussion of the effect that different GM techniques have on how lethal a game is.For the purpose of our discussion GM Force refers to a GM's use of rule adjudication, setting construction, and deployment of NPCs to manipulate the course of events in game. For example in the scope of a combat encounter that is proving to be too tough for the PCs to handle a GM might:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Purposefully interpret rules in a favorable light for players so that they are more likely to suceed.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Suspend or alter the task or conflict resolution rules momentarily. This includes shifting hit point totals, lowering AC values, and flat out declaring that a PC who might be dead according to the rules of the game is merely knocked out. It also includes fudging dice rolls.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Change NPC behaviors. Monsters and NPCs suddenly start making a rash of poor decisions. They trip Attacks of Oppurtunity when they could clearly get around them. They cast spells that don't have much of a chance of working against the PCs. A pack of bloodthirsty ghouls might not chew on the fallen as the fiction dictates.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">They decide cavalry comes in at just the right time to even the odds.</li> </ul>Why do GMs feel the need to adjust the difficulty of an encounter mid stream like this?If you want a lower body count do you need to use GM force?What effect does this have on player behavior and decision making?</blockquote>

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