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General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
"Illusionism" and "GM force" in RPGing
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<blockquote data-quote="Nagol" data-source="post: 7921404" data-attributes="member: 23935"><p>I agree with everything save that the content-now styles preclude force. A GM can still use force techniques by altering which outcomes deserve 'hard' or 'soft' results (for those unfamiliar 'hard' means with mechanical consequence; 'soft' means with foreshadowing/scene alteration without mechanical consequence) and scene framing. </p><p></p><p>Consider the case where the GM had a bad dream the night before and really wants to emulate a scene where a dog turns into a tentacled horror and attacks the PCs. The first problem is the group doesn't have a dog. The GM introduces the dog and a player obliging attempts to befriend the animal but rolls abysmally earing a 'hard' outcome. The GM narrates a soft outcome with looming dangers instead giving the player a second chance to befriend the dog. The player still fails and the GM narrates a 'hard' outcome that somehow maintains the dog's presence so further attempts can be made. Should these fail, he can always decide to introduce a different dog in another scene frame...</p><p></p><p>Note, I'm not saying all GMs do this. I'm not even saying this is appropriate in the mechanics presented in those systems. Illusionism and GM force are hard to stymie should the GM be determined to use them.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nagol, post: 7921404, member: 23935"] I agree with everything save that the content-now styles preclude force. A GM can still use force techniques by altering which outcomes deserve 'hard' or 'soft' results (for those unfamiliar 'hard' means with mechanical consequence; 'soft' means with foreshadowing/scene alteration without mechanical consequence) and scene framing. Consider the case where the GM had a bad dream the night before and really wants to emulate a scene where a dog turns into a tentacled horror and attacks the PCs. The first problem is the group doesn't have a dog. The GM introduces the dog and a player obliging attempts to befriend the animal but rolls abysmally earing a 'hard' outcome. The GM narrates a soft outcome with looming dangers instead giving the player a second chance to befriend the dog. The player still fails and the GM narrates a 'hard' outcome that somehow maintains the dog's presence so further attempts can be made. Should these fail, he can always decide to introduce a different dog in another scene frame... Note, I'm not saying all GMs do this. I'm not even saying this is appropriate in the mechanics presented in those systems. Illusionism and GM force are hard to stymie should the GM be determined to use them. [/QUOTE]
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