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<blockquote data-quote="fireinthedust" data-source="post: 5897612" data-attributes="member: 51930">I've been thinking about how as a GM my job is to challenge my players.&nbsp; I strongly believe this.&nbsp; Yet, I also think that while I'm doing this it's my job to encourage the people who are playing the game.&nbsp; Yes, I've designed a dungeon that could very well kill every player character.&nbsp; I will use every trap and let them spring on my heroes like clockwork.&nbsp; They like it, but: I also think it's my job to communicate with them effectively, and not be a jerk about it.&nbsp; I'm not there to inflict pain, I'm there to encourage problem-solving and adventure.&nbsp; Yes, the riches are hard-won.&nbsp; Yes, the threats are real.&nbsp; Yet if I can smile and entertain while I do this, if I can see the human beings with real life pain behind the characters I'm pushing into a meat-grinder, I can actually help another human being.&nbsp; The difference being I could be a jerk and mock them as I slay them.&nbsp; Or I could be a fun guy and say &quot;great answer to that riddle, but it's not the right one&quot; or &quot;sorry, you've fallen into a pit trap&quot; or some such.I guess it's attitudes.&nbsp; I genuinely want my players to do well, though I'd like them to break a sweat as they do so.&nbsp; I'm just thinking about how a lot, A LOT of players of this fantastic hobby have points of view, lives they're dealing with in their &quot;on-time&quot;, personal histories.&nbsp; I don't think I'll molly-coddle them, but I will treat them with respect.[/rant]</blockquote>

[QUOTE="fireinthedust, post: 5897612, member: 51930"] I've been thinking about how as a GM my job is to challenge my players. I strongly believe this. Yet, I also think that while I'm doing this it's my job to encourage the people who are playing the game. Yes, I've designed a dungeon that could very well kill every player character. I will use every trap and let them spring on my heroes like clockwork. They like it, but: I also think it's my job to communicate with them effectively, and not be a jerk about it. I'm not there to inflict pain, I'm there to encourage problem-solving and adventure. Yes, the riches are hard-won. Yes, the threats are real. Yet if I can smile and entertain while I do this, if I can see the human beings with real life pain behind the characters I'm pushing into a meat-grinder, I can actually help another human being. The difference being I could be a jerk and mock them as I slay them. Or I could be a fun guy and say "great answer to that riddle, but it's not the right one" or "sorry, you've fallen into a pit trap" or some such. I guess it's attitudes. I genuinely want my players to do well, though I'd like them to break a sweat as they do so. I'm just thinking about how a lot, A LOT of players of this fantastic hobby have points of view, lives they're dealing with in their "on-time", personal histories. I don't think I'll molly-coddle them, but I will treat them with respect. [/rant] [/QUOTE]

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