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Message: <blockquote data-quote="maddman75" data-source="post: 5216355" data-attributes="member: 2673">I think we all agree that having one solution is bad, but I try to avoid expectations as well.GMs can find themselves not outright banning alternate solutions, but adjucating in such a manner than only one solution is feasable.  This may not come from a desire to railroad, but from his own expectations.Take the example in the OP - group of orcs in a room, guarding a treasure chest.  The GM assumes the PCs will attack, because he's assuming that's the best way to deal with the situation.  Doing something other than 'attack' is going to require a lot of doing, in his mind.So the PCs see all these orcs and decide they need a way past them.  They spy and wait for them to fall asleep and try to sneak past.  "Okay, I'll need Stealth from everyone" and sets the DC at 18, for the fifth level party.   If any of them fails, the orcs spring up and attack.  Unless they are a party of ninjas, it is almost certain that someone will fail.Maybe they decide to talk the orcs into giving them the treasure.  The GM demands a Diplomacy roll, and makes the DC 30.  The orcs aren't going to give up their treasure that easily.Or Intimidate - DC 30 again.  The orcs outnumber them 2 to 1!Or they try to create a distraction.  Okay one of them goes to check it out and the other 9 are on high alert.In all these cases, the GM might as well have said 'no screw that you guys have to fight them.'  Like I said this isn't out of maliciousness, but in having a predetermined expectation, the GM is implicitly saying that other solutions are suboptimal and almost certainly won't work.And its impossible to have no expectations.  As Exploder Wizard said, just set up the orcs, why they are there and what they are doing, and react to what the players do.  If they charge in, give them a fight.  If they try to talk - well what are the PCs saying?  Why are the orcs here, and what are they guarding?  That might be the best solution.  Just remain open, and don't worry about them 'skipping' your encounter.  As long as something fun and cool happens, its all good.</blockquote>

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