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General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
D&D's Evolution: Rulings, Rules, and "System Matters"
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<blockquote data-quote="hawkeyefan" data-source="post: 8397825" data-attributes="member: 6785785"><p>Well, I tend to GM with the principle of being a fan of the PCs, but I do so as I explained above....according to the principles of Apocalypse World and Blades in the Dark. So I don't think I put my thumb on the scale in favor of either the PCs or the world (viewing those as the two opposing forces where neutrality may be considered necessary by some). </p><p></p><p>I absolutely influence the direction of the game. I don't think that's a bad thing. Some others may....sometimes it's hard to tell when it comes to these topics. But I don't think that's the same as pushing toward certain outcomes. </p><p></p><p>So if I present one of my characters with a dramatic decision.....some point of conflict where they have to choose A or B, both of which have some importance to them.....I've tailored this with that PC and player in mind. That to me does not seem neutral in the way it's often used in discussion. But do I push them toward A over B, or vice versa? No....that's for them to decide. I'm neutral in that regard. </p><p></p><p>Given how I prefer that my games be about the characters that are in them....meaning that the scenario is theirs, and is not just one that features them....there's some conflict about GM neutrality. I don't think of it as putting my thumb on the scale.....I can let things play out as they may. But I am absolutely going to make effort to make things personal to those characters and make things be about them because I'm interested in seeing what happens.....I'm a fan in that sense. </p><p></p><p>I don't want to force certain outcomes, but I want to move things to interesting points and areas....largely based on what the player seems to want to see for the character, or that seems relevant for that character. I hope that distinction is clearer.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="hawkeyefan, post: 8397825, member: 6785785"] Well, I tend to GM with the principle of being a fan of the PCs, but I do so as I explained above....according to the principles of Apocalypse World and Blades in the Dark. So I don't think I put my thumb on the scale in favor of either the PCs or the world (viewing those as the two opposing forces where neutrality may be considered necessary by some). I absolutely influence the direction of the game. I don't think that's a bad thing. Some others may....sometimes it's hard to tell when it comes to these topics. But I don't think that's the same as pushing toward certain outcomes. So if I present one of my characters with a dramatic decision.....some point of conflict where they have to choose A or B, both of which have some importance to them.....I've tailored this with that PC and player in mind. That to me does not seem neutral in the way it's often used in discussion. But do I push them toward A over B, or vice versa? No....that's for them to decide. I'm neutral in that regard. Given how I prefer that my games be about the characters that are in them....meaning that the scenario is theirs, and is not just one that features them....there's some conflict about GM neutrality. I don't think of it as putting my thumb on the scale.....I can let things play out as they may. But I am absolutely going to make effort to make things personal to those characters and make things be about them because I'm interested in seeing what happens.....I'm a fan in that sense. I don't want to force certain outcomes, but I want to move things to interesting points and areas....largely based on what the player seems to want to see for the character, or that seems relevant for that character. I hope that distinction is clearer. [/QUOTE]
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