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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emerikol" data-source="post: 6322865" data-attributes="member: 6698278">So here is my take...I will say I think I tend to agree with Greg K.As a DM, I always have a well detailed world.  That is just me.  I am a world builder.  It's a second hobby for me.  So I have the personalities, agendas, and morals of the Deity fully developed.   I also have the major nations, the npc rulers, at least one large town often a city very well detailed.  I have the major trade routes known.  I really get to know my world well before I start a campaign.  I am usually done with all that before I invite the first player.  I live in an area where I can choose from among a fairly large number of potential players (let's say 20 give or take).I also have strong views on system and playstyle.  So I write up a clear document on all houserules and anything that is banned.  I then begin to invite players.  I provide a lot of this information up front.  There is usually a private interview.  They talk to be about the kind of character they want to play.  I tell them about the world and I mention various approaches to achieving the kind of character they want.   If they choose to play a cleric, I clearly express the Deity's viewpoint and expectations of her clerics and/or paladins.  I mention the way I would approach a cleric who violated the Deity's tenants.  (I'll speak more on that later).   Keeping in my that the Deity is an NPC and as DM I am playing that NPC.   I do take the view most of the time that the clerics training and discipline enable him to receive spells and that a Deity can't just give a 9th level spell to anybody.  So a high level cleric is very valuable to a Deity because they are more able to express the will and power of the Deity.  So as a cleric gains levels, I am cognizant that a Deity might be cutting her nose off to spite her face if she comes down too hard on her cleric.  In most cases, I never punish a mild infraction all that seriously.  Sometimes it's just a feeling in the cleric that he has a need for penance.  Maybe he makes a small offering to the faith above and beyond what's normal.  But, if it is very serious like murdering of innocents then I do take serious action.  (Assuming a Good Deity of course).I generally do not allow character concepts that totally clash with the world. If the world doesn't have a race then I don't make exceptions generally. In some rare cases I have done so.  Anything I hate mechanically as a DM, I ban.  So if a class is banned you can't play it.  I view it as we all have to have fun playing the game and anything that bugs the DM just by it's existence is best avoided.I don't allow PCs to change the world generally though sometimes I'll integrate a good idea if I've left that space empty.  I don't leave a lot of empty space but I do leave some.   I absolute do not allow arguing at the table.  Zero tolerance.  We have a friendly discussion after the session is over and if I feel I've grievously erred as DM then I find a way through the game to make it up.  I also note the mistake so I don't do it again.   But there is never a case when table arguments are allowed.  I find this is such a good rule.  The games flow and after a while the players actually realize that all that arguing wasn't really making their experience more fun anyway.  95% of the time I am not changing my mind.  I'm a 30+ year veteran of DMing so I do know how to do it.   [MENTION=42582]pemerton[/MENTION] - I think you would find that while I do officially disagree with you that in practice my hand is not that heavy.  A lot of you might find I'm not at all the scary DM that some of you have experienced in the past.  I do believe playing a cleric and paladin gives you certain benefits though.  Yes you are bound by a code.  You also have a powerful ally.  The religions of the world especially the major good ones are significant forces.  They will offer the truly faithful many benefits.  I've had actual players of other classes say that they wanted to be "religious" even though they were playing a fighter or wizard class.  They'd actually make donations to the church.  If they have a PC cleric as well of the same faith suddenly their entire group is a very powerful ally of the church and they are treated with respect as such.Anyway.  I also say play whichever way is fun for you.  I'm just expressing what works for me in the hopes maybe some will get something from it.</blockquote>

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