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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Matt Snyder" data-source="post: 3140017" data-attributes="member: 11840">This isn't the case, D'karr. You have said that previously, but buzz and I have disagreed and tried to explain why. The DM may or may not be acting abusively in those cases. But, either way, he's actually following the rules of D&D. And, in BOTH cases, he's using GM fiat. So, asshat or not, he's playing "by the book." Whether he's an asshat depends on the situation, what his plans as GM are, what the player wants out of the situation, whether anyone's having fun, and so on. But, the mechanism by which the GM decides whether or not guards are around the corner is one of GM Fiat (as opposed to, say, conflict resolution agreement that Buzz hypothesized).Obviously, we don't want to play with asshats. But, you keep pointing to bad GMing as "not fiat." This is wrong. Fiat can occur in both good and bad GMing.You have indicated your preference is FOR GM fiat and FOR non-asshatery. Cool!Contrariwise, I have stated my preference AGAINST GM fiat and FOR non-asshattery.We are trying to demonstrate that GM Fiat can be both good and bad (it can) and that one person's preferences can be such that they dont' like GM Fiat even when it's "good".</blockquote>