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<blockquote data-quote="Water Bob" data-source="post: 5880752" data-attributes="member: 92305">Then, you're fooling yourself!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So....&nbsp;We all decide to play by the 3.5 rules.&nbsp;Now, a situation comes up.&nbsp; In between game sessions, the GM spoted a monster that took his fancy, and now, the PCs are fighting that monster.&nbsp;Except, the monster is tearing up the party.&nbsp; The GM made a bad call and put something way too hard in the game for the PCs to fight.&nbsp; The GM knows that its likely that this monster will likely kill half the PC party--when that wasn't the original intent at all.&nbsp; The GM only wanted to have a fun encounter as the PCs went from town to town.&nbsp; The GM wasn't looking for a major boss-type fight (I hate using MMO terms when talking about RPGs, forgive me, please).&nbsp;Had the GM intended this, it would be a different story.&nbsp;But, let's say we're dealing with a smart GM.&nbsp; He doesn't let on that he may have chosen an inappropriate monster for this intended function.&nbsp; What the GM does is add 5 points of damage to every successful attack the PCs make.&nbsp; This works out great, and the PCs defeat the monster.&nbsp; In the end, the GM adjusted to make the encounter what he originally intended.&nbsp;Was the GM cheating?&nbsp;No, because of the GM's role in the game.&nbsp; He cannot cheat.&nbsp;If a player added five points to his damage roll when he was fighting what he perceived to be a big threat.&nbsp;You bet.&nbsp; Cheater.&nbsp;A GM may run NPCs in the game, but he's not a player.&nbsp; He's the ref.&nbsp; He's the god of that universe.&nbsp;And, god can't cheat.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What's laughable is that you think the GM can cheat!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;How many times do I have to say it?&nbsp;NO.&nbsp; THE GM CANNOT CHEAT.&nbsp;&nbsp;I lie to my players all the time for the good of the game.&nbsp; They love it (not the lying but the effect my lies have).&nbsp; Would they expect me to lie to them in RL?&nbsp; Nope.&nbsp;In the game, they expect me to run a good, interesting, challenging, fun game.&nbsp;And, that's what I do, and I sometimes lie to achieve those results.&nbsp;Lies like, &quot;I planned that all along.&quot;&nbsp; Or, my favorite, &quot;Had you not done X, you would have never have&nbsp; found Y.&nbsp; Good job, man!&nbsp; Good job!&quot;&nbsp;As a GM, I'm a story teller.&nbsp; I'm a screen writing, producer, and director all built into one.&nbsp; The players are my actors who have a strong say in what happens.&nbsp; But, in the end, it's my decision and my responsibility to deliver a fun, intriguing game.&nbsp;If lying gets me there, then so be it.&nbsp;If fudging dice rolls when I said I wouldn't gets me there, then so be it.&nbsp;As long as everybody is happy, and the game is fantastic, no body cares.&nbsp;And, of course, I try not to do things that my players insist they won't like (unless I have a strong emotion otherwise).&nbsp;&nbsp;The GM, no matter what, cannot cheat.&nbsp;Those of you who think he can are not grasping the GM's job or are not thinking it all the way through.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Water Bob, post: 5880752, member: 92305"] Then, you're fooling yourself! So.... We all decide to play by the 3.5 rules. Now, a situation comes up. In between game sessions, the GM spoted a monster that took his fancy, and now, the PCs are fighting that monster. Except, the monster is tearing up the party. The GM made a bad call and put something way too hard in the game for the PCs to fight. The GM knows that its likely that this monster will likely kill half the PC party--when that wasn't the original intent at all. The GM only wanted to have a fun encounter as the PCs went from town to town. The GM wasn't looking for a major boss-type fight (I hate using MMO terms when talking about RPGs, forgive me, please). Had the GM intended this, it would be a different story. But, let's say we're dealing with a smart GM. He doesn't let on that he may have chosen an inappropriate monster for this intended function. What the GM does is add 5 points of damage to every successful attack the PCs make. This works out great, and the PCs defeat the monster. In the end, the GM adjusted to make the encounter what he originally intended. Was the GM cheating? No, because of the GM's role in the game. He cannot cheat. If a player added five points to his damage roll when he was fighting what he perceived to be a big threat. You bet. Cheater. A GM may run NPCs in the game, but he's not a player. He's the ref. He's the god of that universe. And, god can't cheat. What's laughable is that you think the GM can cheat! How many times do I have to say it? NO. THE GM CANNOT CHEAT. I lie to my players all the time for the good of the game. They love it (not the lying but the effect my lies have). Would they expect me to lie to them in RL? Nope. In the game, they expect me to run a good, interesting, challenging, fun game. And, that's what I do, and I sometimes lie to achieve those results. Lies like, "I planned that all along." Or, my favorite, "Had you not done X, you would have never have found Y. Good job, man! Good job!" As a GM, I'm a story teller. I'm a screen writing, producer, and director all built into one. The players are my actors who have a strong say in what happens. But, in the end, it's my decision and my responsibility to deliver a fun, intriguing game. If lying gets me there, then so be it. If fudging dice rolls when I said I wouldn't gets me there, then so be it. As long as everybody is happy, and the game is fantastic, no body cares. And, of course, I try not to do things that my players insist they won't like (unless I have a strong emotion otherwise). The GM, no matter what, cannot cheat. Those of you who think he can are not grasping the GM's job or are not thinking it all the way through. [/QUOTE]

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