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Message: <blockquote data-quote="plisnithus8" data-source="post: 7924166" data-attributes="member: 6870553">Yes. The game would miss the moments that that would create, not that there wouldn't be other peak moments.Almost anything can be a crutch or harmful if executed poorly.I have not seen the research on this to see if it is done often or not, but I still think describing the environment can involve setting a mood and describing how something initially makes someone feel. Low level PCs walk into a chamber unsuspectingly, and Orcus (or some high-level monster that doesn't have Frightening Presence) appears. The DM could describe the heck out of the monster to hope to establish the feeling without telling the PCs how they feel, but telling the PCs they feel frightened by this situation could work better. Telling them the hairs on the back of their neck rise, their heartbeat quickens, their pupils dilate are possibilities. I wouldn't apply any mechanics to the situation. The players have full agency of what they do: give in to the fear by running away or curl up in a ball, fight back the fear and attack or spout an insult, whatever. A DM might even roll an Intimidation check for the monster -- I don't expect a DM to be able to speak as intimidatingly as a demon lord. But again, I let the roll be a random factor for that instance so the players are informed so that can decide how their character might act in such a situation.It seems a lot of talk holds a DM to an unreasonably high standard of description and plot layout while players should have unlimited agency and be able to decide on anything about their character, even things that people don't get to decide like stray thoughts and initial feelings. I don't feel these should be absolutes.The books may not advocate for it directly (but certainly don't prohibit it), but it seems the pendulum is swinging back in that direction, especially with the popularity of streamed games (many from officially or semi-officially sanctioned by WotC) that use this technique and new players wanting to play in that style.</blockquote>

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