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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 5413102" data-attributes="member: 82106">[MENTION=53760]hayek[/MENTION], sure, I agree. In fact I would say (I guess I did say) that NOBODY is purely running a simulation, it just isn't feasible. I think we diverge to a minor extent on the consequence thing in a game that is focused on story/narrative. If the rogue breaks into the king's vault and there's 2,000 gp in there for him to steal, then sure enough he can steal it. He'll be 2,000 gp richer as well. In fact I wouldn't see too much reason to even correct that as 2,000 gp is chump change. It may be a pretty nice bonus at 1st level, but in a couple levels the character will only be ahead of the other PCs by a tad due to the geometric increase in treasure size with level. The other PCs in the party are also likely to either want a piece of the loot or else they'll probably distribute any other treasure with said rogue getting last pick (simply for practical reasons, he's going to be fully equipped and not really need it).Now, if it was 50,000 gp then the 'simulationist' DM IS going to have to do something about that money. The character is going to somehow not enjoy much value from it or it will prove to be just enough loot to deal with some threat that looms etc. Same in the more narrative style game, the character will probably have the loot in his hands, but he's not going to get to translate it into +4 weapons and such, unless for some reason that serves the story.Typically in either case things happen like Rust Monsters, etc. In fact that was what the Rust Monster was for, being a thin veneer over DM fiat treasure removal. Anyway, this is why I say at this level there really isn't much of a measurable difference. In any style of game the DM is there partly to keep things on track. He can't do his job and not deal with it somehow, regardless of how simulationist he may claim to be. The narrativist DM may just dock it from later treasure parcels and the simulationist one may send an endless stream of thieves to steal it all but it is equally explicitly DM fiat.</blockquote>

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