Again, and hopefully for the last time, I don't demand. I ask. If they aren't clear during play, I ask them to clarify. Over time, they learn to do it up front. Easy, and not adversarial, and avoids the potential problems discussed upthread.
Are you suggesting to people that clarity is a NEW concept?
For a lot of players, it is, particularly the ones that come from games where the DM goes out of their way to describe for the players what their own characters do. It's also common in my experience among players who have DMs that say "No" a lot. I discussed this already way uptread here. Based on the amount of Likes on that post, it seems like that resonated with a few people.
At what point if you ask, and they don't do it, and you ask, and they don't do it, ... does it become a demand?
This looks like you are truly reaching now, and it might be worth asking yourself why you're doing that in a trivial conversation about DM techniques. In what circumstance are you imagining a player would be unwilling to say how they smash the vase? Does it seem reasonable to you to steadfastly refuse to answer a polite and necessary question in the context of a roleplaying game session?
But you seem to be suggesting that EVERYONE should do it your way, and refusing to accept that this might not be a good approach for some people. Some people are capable of being clear without having to be told.
Does that happen much? I've never seen it. I've seen plenty of trying and failing.
It may well resonate with A FEW people. That doesn't mean it's going to resonate with everyone, or even most players.
I can picture it. The problem is in thinking this would work for everyone.
What would you do regarding a player who didn't make declarations to the extent that you require even after you repeatedly asked them? Genuine question.
Try reading the document... his Disclaimer on page 2 contradicts your statement here.
