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Message: <blockquote data-quote="The Crimson Binome" data-source="post: 6576457" data-attributes="member: 6775031">At least in some traditions of D&D, though possibly not in 4E, time is very much a player resource. I guess that depends on your definition of "robust", though. I've always noticed that specific times are usually given in any context where they could reasonably be codified. There's a reason why they list specific times for specific actions, such as crafting and travel.Again, though, I'll assume that 4E is a departure here. I certainly didn't notice any Craft or Profession skills, or even spell research, that would give any real use to down-time. The whole system seems oddly focused on keeping things moving without ever taking a break. Even re-training come free with level, and no down-time is needed!Which goes back to the oldest piece of advice for DMs: Be fair. If the DM is honest in all such estimates and interpolations, then the players should be satisfied that the outcome is actually the result of their own choices (and possibly random chance), rather than the DM trying to invalidate player choices by directing the narrative. And since the DM actually knows what's going on in the game world, you get details and options that are much more nuanced than anything you could pull from a chart. I mean, the players can do anything. Especially, they'll do things that you never planned for ahead of time. In order that the players actually retain that freedom, the DM needs to be free to treat it as appropriate, rather than filtering it through a lens of a Skill Challenge.And that goes back to player-empowerment. Is the player empowered by codified mechanics, such that a level-appropriate outcome is guaranteed if you make a level-appropriate check? Or is the player empowered by leaving it free-form, so that you can do anything that the DM agrees that you can do, regardless of what's level-appropriate? Does the player want the DM to be confined to certain narrow parameters when it comes to adjudication?Sorry, I'm rambling. It's late. I think we're debating in circles over here. Feel free to ignore the parts that are off-topic.</blockquote>

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