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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Umbran" data-source="post: 5110316" data-attributes="member: 177">Exactly why it may be bad will depend on the particular bias that is being used.  But, as a generality - it is use of metagame information that can oddly bend character behaviors.  For example, if the players discern that the DM has a bias against killing characters under certain conditions, it can lead to characters taking risks (or not taking them) when they otherwise wouldn't (or would).  Depending on the pattern is dangerous - if they haven't fully discerned the pattern, or if the GM deviates from the pattern, they can end up dead.  Just because the DM has a subtle bias against killing PCs doesn't mean you can willfully just walk off a cliff, so to speak.That's nice.  But you are not me.  Your group(s) aren't mine.  My contention all along is that good use of this tool depends on situation - including the group and DM.In my experience, to those who rather vehemently oppose and jump on any scent of railroading, both notes seem to be required.  I know I am turning this around on you.  Please bear with me.Why would revealing the scenario information lessen the players' enjoyment?Most such groupings are not consecutive to-hit rolls by the same monster.  I went from worse than 1 in 8000 chances on the dice to roughly one in every hundred combats.  I figured that was appropriate.If not, well fine.  Let's say that a candidate comes up every session.  In my experience, this is far more often than reality, but let's just say it does.  Once a session, I have to spend a second or two deciding if I want to fudge a roll.  The cost over the campaign is still a pittance.And if you are in a position where you have a social contract that doesn't bear it, then clearly it won't work.  That some social contracts wont' allow it is not an argument against the thing, in general.  There's many tables at which alcohol would be unacceptable - that doesn't mean that beer at the table is bad in general.  And some tables have issues with evil characters, inter-PC strife, or laptop use.  None of these generalize - they simply inform that one needs to be wary of what your players' expectations and tolerances are.I will tell you that this isn't my reason.  I've learned to reserve myself some explicit right to drive the GM Fiat (not specifically so I can fudge rolls - mostly to weed out those who would otherwise rules-lawyer argue with me during play).  So, my contract is not in question.</blockquote>

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