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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mark" data-source="post: 73581" data-attributes="member: 5">Great first post, ChrisM! <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Definitely, there needs to be some DM to players delineation of how the world works, or at the least, their corner of the world.  Handouts are a popular way to do this, but it needs to be followed with consistent descriptive examples during play until the ideas and flavor of the world take hold.  After that, well placed reminders should come at every session and early in each session.All good points but it should be pointed out that the iconic characters, like PCs, are of that segment of society that are not the norm.  They are removed from cultural expectations only if they wish to be treated differently.  If they wish to function within society as others do, they need to conduct themselves within society as required by society.  The main bulk of the masses of most communities might have some gripes but they will not be pleased by individuals who upset their way of life.  They, from nobles down to shopkeepers, would tend to look unkindly on anarchists as counter-productive to the success and survival of everyone.Most players will only read the PH, and then only the parts that apply to themselves.  Those that read beyond that, tend to prefer the MM as interesting reading.  Those that read the DMG won't find much that deals specifically with the setting in which they find themselves beyond vague descriptions of how some things might work.  In essence, I am agreeing with you on these points but with some reservations of the level of commitment to which most players will immerse themselves.  Essentially it is up to the DM to educate the players to the depth the DM wishes the players to relate and perform and it needs to be in the interest and willingness of the players.  Tough to do though not impossible.  It's a sales job. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />Shown, not told, is the key, IMO.  Free will must be inherent, but players should be made aware in advance of the potential consequences of actions in a given situation. After that it is up to the players how they conduct themselves.  If you expect them to act in a certain way, the rewards for acting in that way should be compensatory.  If no carrot is big enough to get the desired behavior, then you need to substitute a different vegetable.  People play for varying reasons and a DM needs to determine the plethora of reasons at his table or take what he gets from players in regard to their level of interest.  A DM doesn't need to tailor his world to what the players would make if they ran the show, but he does need to find out what would make a game in his world interesting to the players. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f609.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)"  data-smilie="2"data-shortname=";)" />I echoed those sentiments above and agree. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />While our approach to explaining this differs somewhat, I concur with the sentiment completely. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /></blockquote>

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