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<blockquote data-quote="Rel" data-source="post: 5354810" data-attributes="member: 99">I'm late to the conversation and it sounds like it might be resolved in a favorable manner, so that's good.&nbsp; But I wanted to give a tad of input about adversity from somebody who is an avowed Rat Bastard DM.I screw over the PC's in my games frequently, unashamedly and royally.It's not because I don't like my players (who are all extremely good friends of mine).&nbsp; It's not because their PC's have done something terribly wrong (although sometimes they do and then I screw them over extra).&nbsp; It's not because I'm a sadistic bastard who lives to see them fail.&nbsp; Quite the opposite actually.It's because it is INTERESTING.What could be more boring than a tale in which everything goes right for the protagonists?&nbsp; If you never have to overcome adversity then you're not really a hero.&nbsp; And the greater the odds stacked against you the bigger the thrill when you overcome them.My ultimate goal whenever I'm running a game is to dial the &quot;disaster-o-meter&quot; up just as high as I think I can without a guaranteed TPK.&nbsp; And 99% of the time the players rise to the occasion and pull through.&nbsp; It's because they are resourceful, smart and sometimes a little lucky.&nbsp; But mostly it's because they are working together.&nbsp; And watching them high five each other when one of them crits the BBEG, who burned down the inn and, yes, even caused the destruction of TWO out of THREE of their potions of Cure Light Wounds (the horror!), is pretty much the pinnacle of gaming IMHO.The other beauty of running things like this is what Piratecat calls &quot;fluffy towels&quot;.&nbsp; It's the part of the game where things just go right for the PC's for no reason other than I want to remind them that it can happen.&nbsp; They stop at an inn for the night.&nbsp; No assassins attack.&nbsp; The place doesn't burn down.&nbsp; Their horses don't get stolen.Instead the innkeeper has heard of them as heroes and gives them free rooms.&nbsp; They get hot baths drawn by comely wenches who leave cold ale in&nbsp; big mugs by the tubs.&nbsp; And when they get out of the bath they dry themselves with towels that they find to be exceptionally soft and fluffy.It totally messes with their minds.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Rel, post: 5354810, member: 99"] I'm late to the conversation and it sounds like it might be resolved in a favorable manner, so that's good. But I wanted to give a tad of input about adversity from somebody who is an avowed Rat Bastard DM. I screw over the PC's in my games frequently, unashamedly and royally. It's not because I don't like my players (who are all extremely good friends of mine). It's not because their PC's have done something terribly wrong (although sometimes they do and then I screw them over extra). It's not because I'm a sadistic bastard who lives to see them fail. Quite the opposite actually. It's because it is INTERESTING. What could be more boring than a tale in which everything goes right for the protagonists? If you never have to overcome adversity then you're not really a hero. And the greater the odds stacked against you the bigger the thrill when you overcome them. My ultimate goal whenever I'm running a game is to dial the "disaster-o-meter" up just as high as I think I can without a guaranteed TPK. And 99% of the time the players rise to the occasion and pull through. It's because they are resourceful, smart and sometimes a little lucky. But mostly it's because they are working together. And watching them high five each other when one of them crits the BBEG, who burned down the inn and, yes, even caused the destruction of TWO out of THREE of their potions of Cure Light Wounds (the horror!), is pretty much the pinnacle of gaming IMHO. The other beauty of running things like this is what Piratecat calls "fluffy towels". It's the part of the game where things just go right for the PC's for no reason other than I want to remind them that it can happen. They stop at an inn for the night. No assassins attack. The place doesn't burn down. Their horses don't get stolen. Instead the innkeeper has heard of them as heroes and gives them free rooms. They get hot baths drawn by comely wenches who leave cold ale in big mugs by the tubs. And when they get out of the bath they dry themselves with towels that they find to be exceptionally soft and fluffy. It totally messes with their minds. [/QUOTE]

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