Stupid=Not what the GM wants

[Macbeth]

This is why I think it's important as a DM to develop situations for which you can already see multiple solutions. This way even if the PC's come up with something you didn't think of, you're already in the mindset that TMTOWTDI.

You, sir, are my hero. Excellent observation.

The minute the DM realize that he knows more then one wat to do it, he becomes more open to PCs doing the same. The DM also has to be ready to create broad situations, instead of specific ones. But really, what you said is the essence of it. Very good observation.

 

[Kapalen]

My DM is very cool about this. If we're supposed to go as ambassadors to get a peace treaty signed but we all get the urge to burn down the whole place and kill everyone, he's cool with it. Or if there's a fancy riddle lock or something on a door and we feel like getting our biggest guys to just bash it down, he's got no problem. I don't really have a solution for your problem, other than confrontation, I just felt like sharing.

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I would caution, though, that DMing sci-fi can be a lot harder than fantasy. The open nature, the capabilities of technology, ease of travel, etc., make it very easy for the party to go haring off in another direction. Inexperienced DMs can freak out when this happens and retreat into railroad mode in self-defense if they aren't comfortable winging it.

 

[Macbeth]

Supers games tend to be the same thing. The first time you realize just what a creative player can do with a power like Super-speed...

 

[Talmun]

I would caution, though, that DMing sci-fi can be a lot harder than fantasy. The open nature, the capabilities of technology, ease of travel, etc., make it very easy for the party to go haring off in another direction. Inexperienced DMs can freak out when this happens and retreat into railroad mode in self-defense if they aren't comfortable winging it.

High/epic level D&D is the same way. One of the reasons some DM's dislike running really high-level games is the parties’ ability to really screw up a plot; I've had it happen to me too many times to count.

 

[Suldulin]

High/epic level D&D is the same way. One of the reasons some DM's dislike running really high-level games is the parties’ ability to really screw up a plot; I've had it happen to me too many times to count.

That's why you come up with situations and npcs with their own goals, motivations and means. How the PC's react and interact creates the plot and story. imho anyway

 

[ThirdWizard]

Personally, I don't really bother to actually come up with ideas as to how the party is going to overcome obstacles; I just put them out there and react to the ideas and plans the party comes up with.

Ditto. This takes a lot of practice in improvisation, but it pays off greatly.

 

[Nifft]

Personally, I don't really bother to actually come up with ideas as to how the party is going to overcome obstacles; I just put them out there and react to the ideas and plans the party comes up with.

Me too.

It's because I'm lazy-- er, an excellent DM.

-- N

 

[Talmun]

Me too.

It's because I'm lazy-- er, an excellent DM.

-- N

I tell myself the same thing.

 

[fanboy2000]

It isn't that he's closed to new solutions, its that he's thought of most of them already and taken steps to close them off. His solutions are typically the most straight forward solution, but straight forward is a very relative term.

Anyways, I don't have to roast the guy or burn down his GM screen. Starting next week, I'm GMing the until I go to college. ([sarcasm]Woo hoo! 29 and I finally have my act together enough to get a bachelors![/sarcasm])

I started the game months ago, and now I get to go back to it for a little while.

My second act as GM will be to collapse the economy and wipe-out everyones wealth bonuses. I'm killing the wealth system.

Mutiny and take up space piracy.

We're already space pirates.