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In praise of the Healer Theme
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<blockquote data-quote="mlund" data-source="post: 5930810" data-attributes="member: 50304"><p>There's no game rule prohibiting DMs from capriciously deeming characters dead out of spite or randomly banning core materials. It's the basic social contract that makes such things a bad idea.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Um ... going by the dictionary that's actually the <strong>definition</strong> of arbitrary. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite5" alt=":confused:" title="Confused :confused:" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":confused:" /> Seriously, look it up.</p><p></p><p>The DM is one person. His capacity as arbiter comes completely from the consent of the players at his table - nothing more and nothing less. Hypothetical Cpt. Control Issues can't yank the PHB out of players' hands unless the players want him to. Likewise the players can't force the DM to show up and run for them - if it comes to that someone else has to step up and assume the work-load.</p><p></p><p>(See also: Dexter's Laboratory, Season 2, Episode 7: D&DD)</p><p></p><p>Beyond that, we have a reading comprehension problem looking at the Mearls comment. The first sentence addresses players - they are the ones that pick feats for the characters, not the DM. In the second sentence he drops the prior pronoun to address a new subject - the DM creating his custom themes. The game does not require players to play "mother may I" with the DM to pick their feats ala carte.</p><p></p><p>The default CORE is players pick feats for their characters - ala carte or by theme as a simplified mode. If the gamers at the table feel that is troublesome in some way they can certainly deign to permit the DM to silo or otherwise restrict feats as a <strong>House Rule</strong> - or even just agree among the players not to take such an option. If enough customers find it necessary or typical to have to ban, edit, or restrict feats in the Core PHB then the publisher has probably screwed something up.</p><p></p><p>- Marty Lund</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="mlund, post: 5930810, member: 50304"] There's no game rule prohibiting DMs from capriciously deeming characters dead out of spite or randomly banning core materials. It's the basic social contract that makes such things a bad idea. Um ... going by the dictionary that's actually the [b]definition[/b] of arbitrary. :confused: Seriously, look it up. The DM is one person. His capacity as arbiter comes completely from the consent of the players at his table - nothing more and nothing less. Hypothetical Cpt. Control Issues can't yank the PHB out of players' hands unless the players want him to. Likewise the players can't force the DM to show up and run for them - if it comes to that someone else has to step up and assume the work-load. (See also: Dexter's Laboratory, Season 2, Episode 7: D&DD) Beyond that, we have a reading comprehension problem looking at the Mearls comment. The first sentence addresses players - they are the ones that pick feats for the characters, not the DM. In the second sentence he drops the prior pronoun to address a new subject - the DM creating his custom themes. The game does not require players to play "mother may I" with the DM to pick their feats ala carte. The default CORE is players pick feats for their characters - ala carte or by theme as a simplified mode. If the gamers at the table feel that is troublesome in some way they can certainly deign to permit the DM to silo or otherwise restrict feats as a [B]House Rule[/B] - or even just agree among the players not to take such an option. If enough customers find it necessary or typical to have to ban, edit, or restrict feats in the Core PHB then the publisher has probably screwed something up. - Marty Lund [/QUOTE]
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In praise of the Healer Theme
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