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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shadowslayer" data-source="post: 2913453" data-attributes="member: 8400">A lot of this stuff I've read here are things that are reasonably OK in moderation, but become a problem if overused...or applied to the wrong types of players. I've had groups that needed to be railroaded. If I didn't, it became "the directionless session" On the other hand, the example used where "No matter what you do, the thingamabob will be stolen by whoseywhatsis with a whatchamacallit" is the worst kind of railroad. Likewise if you try a mystery with dungeon bashers, you end up with "The Impossibly Convoluted Mystery That Just Won't End." It all depends on the players.The biggest DM that "grinds my gears" is the control freak/novelist DM. Nothing you can come up with will fit his world. Even the most basic PC races and classes can and will be vetoed by this guy. He won't even negotiate. (This guy usually has an overdeveloped sense of "this is how D&D is SUPPOSED to be played") The game's all his, and you're really just a spectator. Forget gather info or knowledge skills...you don't get the info till this DM has decided that you've danced enough and he's now good and ready to give it to you. Life's just too short to play with these guys. A few random thoughts:Eh, gather info, intimidate, diplomacy etc are mechanics meant to help arbitrate these ones fairly. In 3x, this peeve shouldn't have to exist.If my DM made me shoehorn my character into his "story" then write all the backstory etc just to pull this stunt, I would quit. I have before. (most of the players jumped ship with me too)Actually, I've been guilty of this. I'm not too apologetic though. To my way of thinking, backstory is meant to foster adventure hooks...otherwise it has no purpose other than as fluff.Agreed...but there's a counter-beef here though. I go out of my way to have NPCs with good names. Then my PCs can't ever remember them. Instead it's "lets go see that hot elf chick" or "we gotta watch out for that one eyed mean guy"Actually, I don't see the problem here. My handle, Shadowslayer, has had cameos in every game I've run since the late 80s. (he's a half elf ranger who usually pops up as a boatman or a wanderer)</blockquote>

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