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<blockquote data-quote="GMMichael" data-source="post: 9541567" data-attributes="member: 6685730">This is the simulationist view that Reynard is contesting.&nbsp; The idea that the game world exists without constant curation by the GM.&nbsp; There's no such thing, unless you're running a World of Warcraft server.&nbsp; There can be a rule set that tells the GM what's happening - Gloomhaven might fall into this category.&nbsp; But that game is not D&amp;D, and I doubt it's the majority of available RPGs.TL;DR the GM decides whether or not rules apply - not the other way around.&nbsp; Therefore, the GM can't cheat.Okay - to &quot;fudge&quot; is then &quot;to decide that GM-fiat trumps rules.&quot;&nbsp; This is kind of an awkward situation, since it's often the GM-fiat that allows rules to take effect in the first place.The orc has a stat-block?&nbsp; Not unless the GM put an orc there.There's a rule for falling damage?&nbsp; Odds are the GM decided that &quot;you fall&quot; is an outcome.&nbsp; (It is possible that a PC looked at a poor roll and decided &quot;I fall&quot; instead.)The hierarchy of GM-makes-decisions, then rules-take-effect, sort of places GM decisions on top, doesn't it?&nbsp; When &quot;fudging&quot; is really an issue is when the PCs have some authorship of the story and the GM can undo or alter what the PCs have decided.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="GMMichael, post: 9541567, member: 6685730"] This is the simulationist view that Reynard is contesting. The idea that the game world exists without constant curation by the GM. There's no such thing, unless you're running a World of Warcraft server. There can be a rule set that tells the GM what's happening - Gloomhaven might fall into this category. But that game is not D&D, and I doubt it's the majority of available RPGs. TL;DR the GM decides whether or not rules apply - not the other way around. Therefore, the GM can't cheat. Okay - to "fudge" is then "to decide that GM-fiat trumps rules." This is kind of an awkward situation, since it's often the GM-fiat that allows rules to take effect in the first place. The orc has a stat-block? Not unless the GM put an orc there. There's a rule for falling damage? Odds are the GM decided that "you fall" is an outcome. (It is possible that a PC looked at a poor roll and decided "I fall" instead.) The hierarchy of GM-makes-decisions, then rules-take-effect, sort of places GM decisions on top, doesn't it? When "fudging" is really an issue is when the PCs have some authorship of the story and the GM can undo or alter what the PCs have decided. [/QUOTE]

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