Is "GM Agency" A Thing?

[Maxperson]

To be honest, I am a little shocked to find out that there are many groups that require written contracts in order to play D&D. What, do you sue for breach of contract if Derek doesn't pay for the pizza?

Nah, but if he puts pineapple on it I've been super damaged.

 

[Maxperson]

What exactly do you mean by jargon

Now I have a jar. Now jargon.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Now I have a jar. Now jargon.

BOW BEFORE JARGON!!!!!

 

[Lanefan]

I wouldn't call that a contract.* I have heard that some (in D&D, at least) some DMs will put out a small paper that has general guidelines for how the campaign will go, which might include everything from house rules to table expectations (no bards, no PvP),

What about PvP against the bards people will bring in anyway?

 

[Micah Sweet]

What about PvP against the bards people will bring in anyway?

Shooting a bard is just a misdemeanor in this jurisdiction. You can mail in the fine.

 

[Bill Zebub]

I see a general correlation between the use of the phrase “mother may I?” and attempts to limit GM agency. Some people don’t seem to want GMs to use their own judgment to adjudicate, and would rather have clearly defined rules and dice rolls.

 

[pemerton]

Like you say, in such a situation GM just mostly does what the module advices. Their contribution to the fiction is "railroaded" too. I don't think this is a good example of high GM agency situation.

I don't think the GM following along with the module text is an example of the GM being railroaded.

I get that it is not the same thing as the GM making up their own stuff, but they are still using their authority as GM to establish the content of the shared fiction.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I see a general correlation between the use of the phrase “mother may I?” and attempts to limit GM agency. Some people don’t seem to want GMs to use their own judgment to adjudicate, and would rather have clearly defined rules and dice rolls.

Yup. I feel this usually results from a lack of trust, though there certainly are exceptions.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I don't think the GM following along with the module text is an example of the GM being railroaded.

I get that it is not the same thing as the GM making up their own stuff, but they are still using their authority as GM to establish the content of the shared fiction.

Isn't the content established by the module?

 

[MichaelSomething]

I prefer the term "GM empowerment."