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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Umbran" data-source="post: 1137081" data-attributes="member: 177">Yes, and such communication helps enormously, no argument there.  However, it is not guaranteed to eliminate missteps.  It is not physically possible for a player to list all things they would prefer to not do beforehand.  So, on occasion a GM will guess wrong, and design something that the players really don't want.  There's no shame in that.  Happens to the best of GMs.  My point is that when the situation arises, the GM should not feel all that put out that the players don't choose to do what he planned/expected.Usually, yes.  I did not include that last phrase for two reasons: The first being that I have seen at least two cases where it wasn't actually true.  I personally didn't find working with them appealing, but it seemed to work for them.The second being that I personally ascribe to a service-oriented GMing style.  It is my observation that the GM will generally get the most entertainment when he stops worrying about what he (or she) finds fun, and instead focuses primarily on what the players will find the most compelling.  So, while the GM is supposed to be entertained by the whole thing, I find stating that the players are supposed to entertain the GM to provide a misleading emphasis.Hm.  Okay, I'll use the party analogy to describe what I'm getting at here.Let's say you're having a party.  You buy a lot of booze, including an expensive bottle of many-years-old scotch.  You set out the Twister game, and all is in readiness.  Are you going to be offended if people go light on the booze, or don't touch the scotch, or don't open the Twister?  Probably not.Or, let's say the party turns into a full-blown drunken coed Twister blowout, as advertised.  One of the folks you invited doesn't drink, and realizes that this isn't their scene.  Are you going to force him to drink, or be personally offended if they pay their respects and leave?  Probably not.So,if you're a DM, and present your party with an adventure they really aren't interested in pursuing, do you become offended?  Probably not.</blockquote>

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