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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ahnehnois" data-source="post: 6202114" data-attributes="member: 17106">I think of myself as a writer/producer/director/etc., and my players as actors. They're the stars, and they're very engaged in the game, but ultimately it is my game. So the dynamic is that it is unequivocally my game, but I'm sharing it with them; the two are not mutually exclusive.Certainly never kept us from being friends. And, like many actor-director relationships, if the players want to change the script, I might listen. Even though I have the final say, they can have their non-final say before that.As I've covered extensively, and as have others, the rules clearly state the primacy of the DM's vision over the application of character abilities. They also advise discretion in adjudicating the rules to avoid pissing people off, which no one is arguing with.I get escapism, but I've never wanted to do that with my own fiction, D&D or otherwise.I think there's also a lot to be gained from reduplicating the vicissitudes of the real world in a consequence-free environment. I think it's very relaxing to use games as venues for self-expression and exploration. I can portray an injustice or an atrocity in the game world and the players can see and process it, without having to deal with the consequences after the game is over. The same applies for any form of narrative entertainment: books, movies, etc.</blockquote>