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<blockquote data-quote="Emerikol" data-source="post: 8198311" data-attributes="member: 6698278">So I recently read a book by Alexander Macris called Arbiter of Worlds.&nbsp;&nbsp; I thought reading it that based on my own idea of fun it was almost a perfect book.&nbsp; It enunciated my own preferences pretty well....1.&nbsp; Let the dice fall where they fall and character death is a real threat.2.&nbsp; Avoid letting bad things happen to characters lessens the ultimate fun in the long run by reducing suspense.3.&nbsp; Player agency is really important.&nbsp; So sandboxes and choices.&nbsp; No railroads.&nbsp; 4.&nbsp; Preparation.&nbsp; The new wave seems to be improvisation and player's building the world as they go.&nbsp; I guess Macris' approach is more &quot;old school&quot; but it's the one I've always used and at least for me it's made my players happy.&nbsp;&nbsp; So concentric circles starting with the a well detailed starting area and then less detail as the circles go out from there but not no detail.&nbsp; At the world/continent level you know the nations.&nbsp; Kind of similar to a gazatteer though of course personal notes don't require super great writing.5.&nbsp; A DM who is neutral and plays the bad guys as sentient enemies with goals and fears of their own.&nbsp; I often do this by writing down in advance what the bad guy will do in various circumstances so that I'm not tempted to change a plan to meet something unexpected.6.&nbsp; Use randomization to spur ideas and creativity.&nbsp; Are there other books out there on other playstyles you all like?&nbsp; Has anyone else read Macris book?&nbsp; I know there is one called The Lazy Dungeon Master but I haven't read it.&nbsp; What do you like as a player and as a game master?&nbsp; Meaning do you like prep but due to the challenges of life you live with less of it in some groups.&nbsp; This is just to stir conversation and not to argue that there is a single way to play.&nbsp; Obviously with a GAME if you are having fun play then the goal is accomplished.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Emerikol, post: 8198311, member: 6698278"] So I recently read a book by Alexander Macris called Arbiter of Worlds. I thought reading it that based on my own idea of fun it was almost a perfect book. It enunciated my own preferences pretty well.... 1. Let the dice fall where they fall and character death is a real threat. 2. Avoid letting bad things happen to characters lessens the ultimate fun in the long run by reducing suspense. 3. Player agency is really important. So sandboxes and choices. No railroads. 4. Preparation. The new wave seems to be improvisation and player's building the world as they go. I guess Macris' approach is more "old school" but it's the one I've always used and at least for me it's made my players happy. So concentric circles starting with the a well detailed starting area and then less detail as the circles go out from there but not no detail. At the world/continent level you know the nations. Kind of similar to a gazatteer though of course personal notes don't require super great writing. 5. A DM who is neutral and plays the bad guys as sentient enemies with goals and fears of their own. I often do this by writing down in advance what the bad guy will do in various circumstances so that I'm not tempted to change a plan to meet something unexpected. 6. Use randomization to spur ideas and creativity. Are there other books out there on other playstyles you all like? Has anyone else read Macris book? I know there is one called The Lazy Dungeon Master but I haven't read it. What do you like as a player and as a game master? Meaning do you like prep but due to the challenges of life you live with less of it in some groups. This is just to stir conversation and not to argue that there is a single way to play. Obviously with a GAME if you are having fun play then the goal is accomplished. [/QUOTE]

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