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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Midknightsun" data-source="post: 3633620" data-attributes="member: 46459">As for the OP's initial post. .  while over the top, I tend to agree with the general gist of the argument.  I DM pretty tough too, its just my style.  But I never make things impossible, nor do I go after PCs to "win" . . . because its too easy to TPK.  The challenge lies in keeping them on their toes, and keeping players from being completely comfortable.  I've had past instances where more than a few characters starting getting really upidy after a series of relatively easy encounters.  They started talking a lot of smack to the wrong people . . . and well, natural consequences lead to a pretty hardy beat down.  It wasn't about my ego being attacked, because, frankly, I found some of the stuff genuinely funny, but there were already things in place that they messed with too early (despite my attempts to clue them in).  Now, I throw in easy encounters on purpose so the PCs get their chance to shine and perform  beatdown or two themselves, but try to create a world that isn't perfectly scaled to them . . . sometimes running away is the best idea (or heck, pleading for your life).  If the PCs aren't really being dopey, they should be able to avoid a horrible encounter.  That being said, I believe in Karma.  If the characters start chasing down fleeing enemies and killing them all the time (for instance), I think it very appropriate that I have them chased and harried if they flee.  However, I won't be the first to open up that cage.  I'm also big into giving the players clues about the nature of some of the things they may be facing, especially if there's a good chance some of them may die.As a player, I don't want my DM to coddle me either.  If I done something dumb, I deserve to get my anatomy rearranged.  Heck, sometimes I expect to just be outclassed and realize I might have to do a little thinking outside the box to survive.  And sometimes my character may die.  As long as I'm not on McBuff #17, I don't mind.  I figure its the chance my character takes for being an adventurer.  Of course, I'd like my chance to shine now and then, but i don't think that's at odds with a tough DM's philosophy (at least not this tough DM).I find it interesting that I've seen, time and again, many posters claim how they don't want their hobby to be stressful, because they have enough of that in real life.  I can definitely relate to real life stress, having more than a good share myself, but go on record as saying I still like my games to be tough.  But I think many of those who talk of this are referring to DMs who put them in deathtrap after deathtrap and seem to actually gain waaay to much satisfaction from the act.  That I can relate to;  I hate those types of DMs as well, but I would rather a tough DM than one who creates a walk-through for me.  YMMVI will add is that the thing I hate worse than a weak DM, or a tyrant DM, is the competitor DM.  To me, its the DM that gets you in a corner until you know you're going to die (because he needs to "win", of course) and then lets you off the hook with some sort of Deus Ex Machina BS (or starts to hold back so you can succeed).  I'd rather be killed, thank you, then get a victory served to me because of DM fiat.</blockquote>

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