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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AbdulAlhazred" data-source="post: 6571879" data-attributes="member: 82106">No choice is still a choice. Every game has an agenda, even if its "don't ever mechanically favor anyone." The agenda may be a negative one, to NOT do something, but that implies the exclusion of say incorporating dramatic considerations in play. There's nothing inherently superior or more flexible about that approach. Now, obviously when a game focuses to an extreme degree on certain specific and perhaps peculiar considerations, then it is probably a niche game. I don't think 4e is even close to that though. It takes account of the fictional dimension of the game to a greater degree than past D&D's (or present ones perhaps), but its not all that extreme. It isn't offering explicit plot coupons with instructions to let the player invent new elements and situations in the narrative for instance. Its a mainstream game with a very gently applied agenda. Monsters for instance are still creatures and follow most of the rules of PCs, they just have simplified and slightly different stats that better serve their usual purposes. The DMG has rules for making classed NPCs, and nothing stops the DM from using PCs as NPCs either if he really wants to go in that direction.</blockquote>