Is the DM always right?

[DracoSuave]

Is the DM always right? No.


Is the DM's job to be right? No.


The DM's job is to make the game go smoothly. His job is to make the mechanics of the game and the world flow so that the players can enjoy this creation and have fun.

Being right is not necessary to this goal.

The player's job is to explore this world, and to have fun, and to help the other players (including the DM) have fun.


It does not matter if the DM is right, or the player is right. It matters if the player insistance on being right comes at the expense of the fun of the group AND the DM. If this is the case, then the player is wrong, as he is not doing his job.

These sorts of things can be arbitrated later, when it does not come at the expense of the game. The DM has the right to arbritrate the rules, and has the right to make mistakes provided the players are having fun. Mistakes can be corrected.

You can take back mistakes. You can't take back time wasted.

The DM's -job- in these cases is to end the discussion and get on with the game. If he is doing so, he is -right- in doing so. And if the rule 'The DM is Always Right(TM)' is necessary for him to do his job in certain groups, then the rule is right.

Simple as that.

 

[N0Man]

A DM isn't always right, but they still make the call.

However, if a DM makes arbitrary and bad calls, it can certainly cause friction. I've had DMs make really arbitrary rulings that not only went obviously against the spirit of the rules, but even specific examples cited in rules for really strange reasons.

For example, in a 3E game, he refused to allow bards with Performance skill to 'Take 10' in mundane situations, with no pressure (such as a spontaneous street performance), but would allow Taking 10 for other skills in no pressure situations... because "in performance and artistic expression, there is always stress and tension and the possibility of failure." *sigh*

Of course... this DM also didn't allow me to ever use my really high Diplomacy skill either, and wold frequently employ tactics like having an NPC sap me on the back of the head, instantly knocking me unconscious (with no roll) to prevent me from speaking to the NPCs...

He was the first and only DM I walked out on a game with, mid-session.

Which leads to the next point, the DM may always have the final word, but if he's a douche about it, then he'll find him DM'ing to a tiny table of stuffed animals and GI Joe figures and serving them make-believe mountain dew into their little plastic tea cups.

 

[DracoSuave]

Which leads to the next point, the DM may always have the final word, but if he's a douche about it, then he'll find him DM'ing to a tiny table of stuffed animals and GI Joe figures and serving them make-believe mountain dew into their little plastic tea cups.

This as well. Not about being right. It's about having fun.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I wholehartedly agree with DracoSuave.

A DM who is forced by a player to do as he wishes is no DM.

But he is well served to take good advice from his players. And never should a rule mistake lead to character death. If you are in doubt, let the PC live. If you need to you can kill it off later.... without any arbitrary decision...

 

[zackblack]

Yes

 

[LightPhoenix]

If I may play at armchair psychology, it sounds to me that there might be something underlying the strife. It was mentioned the disagreements started recently. This suggests to me that something (physical or emotional) changed recently that is perhaps the root cause. My suggestion would be to talk to your friend and ask him/her if something is up.

 

[Turtlejay]

If I may play at armchair psychology, it sounds to me that there might be something underlying the strife. It was mentioned the disagreements started recently. This suggests to me that something (physical or emotional) changed recently that is perhaps the root cause. My suggestion would be to talk to your friend and ask him/her if something is up.

See, I thought this too from the OP, but he posted later to clarify that they are great buds, and like hugs and pie and all that.

It reads like they are clashing in game and bringing the fun level down for everyone. We had a (small) moment in our last game that started to get out of hand, and man is it uncomfortable! If this was a weekly occurance, I don't know how committed I'd be to the group. It is a *serious* problem, and you need to talk to this guy about it.

Basically, the title of this thread is wrong (and a misleading question, of course the DM is not always right, nobody is). The real problem is some kind of power struggle between you two. He refuses to accept that as the DM you have final say, and though we don't have his side of the story, I'd be inclined to guess that you may not have full faith and patience with him.

But I'm just some guy on a message board. I could be wrong.

Jay

 

[LightPhoenix]

See, I thought this too from the OP, but he posted later to clarify that they are great buds, and like hugs and pie and all that.

Sorry, I didn't particularly explain myself well. I didn't necessarily mean something in game, or even something related to the OP. I meant more how when maybe something isn't necessarily going well in life, people sometimes behave differently in unrelated ways. I don't know if this is the case here, but I'd ask, especially since it's a friend.

Anyway, like I said, armchair psychology.

 

[N0Man]

Tray to talk it out and be reasonable. Don't end up like these guys.

Man bound over for trial in hammer attacks
Courts » Motive may have stemmed from 'Dungeons and Dragons' game and jealousy.

 

[BobTheNob]

Tray to talk it out and be reasonable. Don't end up like these guys.

Man bound over for trial in hammer attacks
Courts » Motive may have stemmed from 'Dungeons and Dragons' game and jealousy.

Quite. I have enough trouble trying to describe this game to the initiated...couldnt imagine explaining it to a high court judge!

"I hit him because I had the ogre flanked and he pushed it out of position...it was self defence!"