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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 9003443" data-attributes="member: 82106">I guess it depends on your definition of 'can'... I'm sure GMs can find ways to be dicks, sure. I believe that any such behavior is breaking the letter or the spirit of some part of the agenda and principles of GMing for Dungeon World, and probably for any other PbtA (I guess I could imagine PbtA Paranoia where being a dick GM is actually the point, but I don't think that's what we're talking about here). So, IF the rules are followed scrupulously, the GM cannot 'be a dick' in Dungeon World, one of the players will be able to point out how these actions are unprincipled, and the table will take action (or put up with it I guess). Remember, PbtA eschews the idea of a 'rule 0'. Now, if you are considering the possibilities of HIDDEN dickness, like the GM making such a move 'off table' the same considerations still apply, but obviously it may be less easily regulated. That is, say, the GM decides for their own reasons that they don't like the dwarf owning a castle, then offscreen they make a 'hard move' that takes it away. That's a dick move, but its obviously not going to immediately come up. I'd say many moves of that type violate the 'follows from the fiction' principle. Generally I'm of the opinion that a GM move needs to follow from the CURRENT fiction, if a PC makes a move, you need to make a response which is related to that. There are plenty of opportunities to make more general moves. Those of course still need to follow from the GENERAL fiction. This may not be an absolute rule though, and other DW GMs may disagree. Still, it seems wise, as it avoids these sorts of 'gotcha' invisible disconnected moves that the character has no way to answer.I would just say that DW is quite explicit in terms of what is spelled out. Nothing about DW is particularly vague! In fact it is one of the tightest games I know.Yeah, I personally give everything a try. Time and energy depending. We all have different priorities and such though, its not like anyone has to try any given thing. You never know though, it might be fun! I mean, you can always enjoy multiple styles of play...</blockquote>

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