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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Janx" data-source="post: 5722468" data-attributes="member: 8835">Let's start with the city example.  The bad guy is running away.  He MIGHT be taking the best route.  Apparently the PCs know where he is goingWhen the PCs ask if there's a faster route, they are not necessarily asking to move streets around.   They are certainly seeking to gain a tactical advantage through information.a) did the bad guy take the shortest commonly known route?b) is there an uncommon route that is shorter still (like back alleys or cutting through Wang's diner).Odds are good your map does not show Wang's diner on it nor if it has doors that would allow that path to exist.As a GM, if you did not make some kind of knowledge roll for the NPC to take the best route, than all you have legitimately done is declared he took a route.  It's not fair to assume he's got perfect knowledge.So when the PCs ask, if you didn't rolll, you can use the PCs roll as a skill challenge vs. the NPC's knowledge of the same cityI don't expect a GM to think of making a skill check for the NPC, especially for what might be an impromptu escape plan.  But when the players are trying to chase him, his ability to choose the best route is in competition with the players and as a race, that decision need be decided by a common tool.The outcome need not result in streets shifting.  That would be nonsense.  It does mean that generation on non-declared world details might happen.  4th street bridge is closed for repairs, so while it is on the shortest route normally, it's a dead-end when you get there.  Wang's cuts out 75 feet on rounding that corner block.  Etc.  It might be that the NPC is a visitor and planned his escape route to his rocket ship by studying the city map from the visitors bureau last week.  The city map that doesn't include alleyways or market streets that are not intended for through traffic.As a GM, the moment the PCs are in contest with the NPC, the map and the NPCs ability to navigate it are called into question.  That can mean Run checks, Nevigation checks, etc.  If you insist that the NPC took the absolute perfect path to the destination, you may be making a GMing mistake.When the players ask if there's a shorter route, that's your opportunity to bring fairness and game rules back into the mix.</blockquote>

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