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Message: <blockquote data-quote="rogueattorney" data-source="post: 2313991" data-attributes="member: 17551">I agree with Foster and P&P, which is I'm sure a shock to all concerned.   <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />   (Grognard gamists unite!!!)The DM is there to provide the setting.  To provide the basic starting scenario for the players.  It's up to the players to run with it.  The story is what happens to the pc's in the setting.  This might be a finer distinction than it seems, and some of us might be talking past each other.  An orc-invasion scenario has been mentioned.  I've used similar.  What I would object to is a game in which the pc's are taken from scene to scene in a pre-planned sequence ultimately discovering the invasion, defeating the minions, and conquering the BBEG at the end.  This is the kind of game involving railroading to keep the characters on track, miraculous escapes by the BBEG because he isn't supposed to die yet, and fudging to make sure the players don't fail and ruin the DM's story.  In other words, it doesn't matter what the players do, good or bad, because the DM has his story to tell.What I don't object to is a dynamic setting in which things are happening independent of the player characters and the pc's can choose how and when they involve themselves in the setting.  The players find out about the orc invasion.  Do they try to stop it?  Try to join it?  Get the f outta Dodge?  If they do try to stop it, do they roust the local militia and meet it head to head?  Do they engage in spying and sabotage?  Do they kick the orcs' door down, kill them, and take their stuff?  All those answers are provided by the players and not the DM.  The DM, of course assigns consequences to the players' actions.  If the players say screw it, and get out of town.  Well, that orc army takes over.  Or maybe some other heroes take care of it and get the kudos the pc's should have gotten.In the end, the "story" is reflective, post hoc, what the pc's did, not what the DM decided would happen ahead of time.R.A.</blockquote>

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