Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
How far is too far when describing what a PC senses and feels?
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="iserith" data-source="post: 7598455" data-attributes="member: 97077"><p>I prefer as DM to stick with describing the environment - where the PCs are and what's around them, including the basic scope of options that present themselves. I sometimes use evocative language to establish mood and tone, but that is for color, not to suggest a character feels a certain way about something. Describing a monster as "horrible," for example, is just saying something about the nature of the monster. It is not saying in my view that the character feels horror upon seeing it - that's for the player to decide.</p><p></p><p>When I narrate the outcome of the adventurers' actions, I attempt to do so with an eye toward the impact on the environment e.g. the orc staggers back from the blow, the door cracks in half and falls off its hinges, the lock makes an audible sound when the lockpick turns, etc. I want to avoid saying what the character is doing, since that's not the DM's role, and the player will have already said what the character is doing anyway. At most, I will reiterate what the player already said, but prefer to just say its impact on the environment before starting the play loop again.</p><p></p><p>I try to avoid using the word "You..." when describing the environment or narrating the result of the adventurers' actions. That's a good trick to prevent oneself from describing what the characters are thinking, doing, or saying, which is the player's role the DM is well-advised to avoid trampling on.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="iserith, post: 7598455, member: 97077"] I prefer as DM to stick with describing the environment - where the PCs are and what's around them, including the basic scope of options that present themselves. I sometimes use evocative language to establish mood and tone, but that is for color, not to suggest a character feels a certain way about something. Describing a monster as "horrible," for example, is just saying something about the nature of the monster. It is not saying in my view that the character feels horror upon seeing it - that's for the player to decide. When I narrate the outcome of the adventurers' actions, I attempt to do so with an eye toward the impact on the environment e.g. the orc staggers back from the blow, the door cracks in half and falls off its hinges, the lock makes an audible sound when the lockpick turns, etc. I want to avoid saying what the character is doing, since that's not the DM's role, and the player will have already said what the character is doing anyway. At most, I will reiterate what the player already said, but prefer to just say its impact on the environment before starting the play loop again. I try to avoid using the word "You..." when describing the environment or narrating the result of the adventurers' actions. That's a good trick to prevent oneself from describing what the characters are thinking, doing, or saying, which is the player's role the DM is well-advised to avoid trampling on. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
How far is too far when describing what a PC senses and feels?
Top