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<blockquote data-quote="DonTadow" data-source="post: 3412675" data-attributes="member: 22622">Agree with you completely. When i said DM's shouldnt manipulate, I mean going against the motives of an NPC to keep the PCs alive or produce a reaction that that NPC didn't originally set. If an NPC does what he is designed to do, or changes in reaction to the PCs that is natural for that NPC, I don't consider that manipulating the plot on the DMs part.&nbsp; However, if an NPC inexplicably comes to the rescue of the PCs for some contrived reason that is manipulation.&nbsp; Unless that contrived reason was developed before the PCs moved the plot in that direction.&nbsp; &nbsp;for instance.PCs are about to get killed by the orc tribe.&nbsp; The NPC in town who wouldn't give them any help comes to their rescue.&nbsp; 1. If he came to the rescue because the DM needed to save the PCs from a TPK and didn't want to ruin his storyline, that is railroading and plot manipulation.2. If he came to rescue the PCs because he was following them the entire time and was using them to gain entry, that is a natural part of the plot and not manipulating3. If the npc was not initially going to help the PCs, but was convinced by one of the pcs to do so (good diplomacy roll) then thats not plot manipulation either. Even better if the pc rolls really high and manages to get the NPC to bring some friends.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="DonTadow, post: 3412675, member: 22622"] Agree with you completely. When i said DM's shouldnt manipulate, I mean going against the motives of an NPC to keep the PCs alive or produce a reaction that that NPC didn't originally set. If an NPC does what he is designed to do, or changes in reaction to the PCs that is natural for that NPC, I don't consider that manipulating the plot on the DMs part. However, if an NPC inexplicably comes to the rescue of the PCs for some contrived reason that is manipulation. Unless that contrived reason was developed before the PCs moved the plot in that direction. for instance. PCs are about to get killed by the orc tribe. The NPC in town who wouldn't give them any help comes to their rescue. 1. If he came to the rescue because the DM needed to save the PCs from a TPK and didn't want to ruin his storyline, that is railroading and plot manipulation. 2. If he came to rescue the PCs because he was following them the entire time and was using them to gain entry, that is a natural part of the plot and not manipulating 3. If the npc was not initially going to help the PCs, but was convinced by one of the pcs to do so (good diplomacy roll) then thats not plot manipulation either. Even better if the pc rolls really high and manages to get the NPC to bring some friends. [/QUOTE]

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