Several related questions

[Desdichado]

Nah, I suspect that we were simply miscommunicating. It's a jackass move on either side of the screen to say "give me what I want, or I'll find someone who does." Unless you're just there to game and these people aren't actually your friends, or something.

And I've said already that the DM needs to be enjoying the game, because if the GM ain't having fun, ain't nobody in the group having fun, for the most part. But I'm saying that the GM has to be aware of what the group wants and likes and give that to his players, especially if he wants to be a good GM. That doesn't necessarily mean every specific thing, but it does mean being cognizant of the players wants out of the game, instead of just your own. I'm not saying anything about the player/DM contract really, other than that if someone is asking about being a good GM, being aware of what the players want is certainly one of the top things you need to do to be a good one.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

Nah, I suspect that we were simply miscommunicating. It's a jackass move on either side of the screen to say "give me what I want, or I'll find someone who does." Unless you're just there to game and these people aren't actually your friends, or something.

And I've said already that the DM needs to be enjoying the game, because if the GM ain't having fun, ain't nobody in the group having fun, for the most part. But I'm saying that the GM has to be aware of what the group wants and likes and give that to his players, especially if he wants to be a good GM.

I agree that we're all saying the same thing, with slightly different degrees of emphasis or detail.

 

[Dan Bell]

CSL,
You might enjoy some of the free downloads set in Harn. (See my sig.)
Regards
Dan

 

[RFisher]

Here's where I don't understand the contention. It seems to be an issue with a restriction on what's technically available in the Player's Handbook (which is dwarves who can be wizards and sorcerors). However, if the DM simply removes dwarves or halflings or other races, how is that different?

I suspect it would be nothing. If you don't like the DM saying a dwarf can't be a wizard, it seems to me there's a good chance you're not going to like the DM removing dwarfs altogether.

I would urge to you to make your applications of special rules and restrictions consistent.

Yeah. The DM should strive to let players know about possible surprises up front & to be consistent.

But...the players should give the DM the benefit of the doubt when he forgets to mention something up front or seems inconsistent. They should be willing to accept when the DM has changed his mind about something.

The players should be willing to work within the modifications/restrictions the DM specifies.

Yet, DMs should be willing to consider the desires of their players as well.

While I'm a firm believer in the principles of "the DM chooses/sets the rules & has the final say" & "use the rules as written & understand them before you go heavily mucking with them", it's a social game & such things have to be tempered with the normal rules of playing well with others.