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The Neutral Referee, Monty Haul, and the Killer DM: History of the GM and Application to 5e
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<blockquote data-quote="Crimson Longinus" data-source="post: 8707611" data-attributes="member: 7025508"><p>When I run I try to run the world with integrity. At least on broad strokes level I prep things the PCs are likely to meet during the session, give the NPCs motivations and personalities, set stats for encounters and usually draw some battle maps. And I pretty much stick to this prep and I don't fudge. And I guess one could see this being "a neutral referee" but I don't really think it as such and I think that at least in broad sense the whole "neutrality" thing is a mirage. It doesn't exits, nor is it even desirable.</p><p></p><p>Ultimately the GM's role is to present a world that seems real, and like [USER=6779196]@Charlaquin[/USER] said, give the PCs opportunities to be heroes. This means challenging them and proper challenge also entails the possibility of failure. But the thing is that even though I'm very committed to making the world seem real and playing it with integrity, it is actually not real. I made it up. Some parts before the game, and some parts during it. In that process I am not really being "neutral." I completely intentionally insert stuff that I think will be engaging, interesting and challenging to the players. And were I not doing that, I feel I would be failing my duty as a GM.</p><p></p><p>Also, sometimes certain fun and engaging concept might need some flexibility regarding sticking to the prep. I don't do it much with D&D, but some genres and concepts simply work better if the thematic beats and feels are prioritised in the framing over the preplanned objective reality. Horror in particular is a genre that greatly benefits from such flexibility.</p><p></p><p>Tl;dr: the GM is not neutral. They have a job of providing engaging and challenging content and making the world feel real. Certain amount of "neutrality" regarding certain aspects of the game might be an useful tool in achieving that, but it is not the goal in itself.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Crimson Longinus, post: 8707611, member: 7025508"] When I run I try to run the world with integrity. At least on broad strokes level I prep things the PCs are likely to meet during the session, give the NPCs motivations and personalities, set stats for encounters and usually draw some battle maps. And I pretty much stick to this prep and I don't fudge. And I guess one could see this being "a neutral referee" but I don't really think it as such and I think that at least in broad sense the whole "neutrality" thing is a mirage. It doesn't exits, nor is it even desirable. Ultimately the GM's role is to present a world that seems real, and like [USER=6779196]@Charlaquin[/USER] said, give the PCs opportunities to be heroes. This means challenging them and proper challenge also entails the possibility of failure. But the thing is that even though I'm very committed to making the world seem real and playing it with integrity, it is actually not real. I made it up. Some parts before the game, and some parts during it. In that process I am not really being "neutral." I completely intentionally insert stuff that I think will be engaging, interesting and challenging to the players. And were I not doing that, I feel I would be failing my duty as a GM. Also, sometimes certain fun and engaging concept might need some flexibility regarding sticking to the prep. I don't do it much with D&D, but some genres and concepts simply work better if the thematic beats and feels are prioritised in the framing over the preplanned objective reality. Horror in particular is a genre that greatly benefits from such flexibility. Tl;dr: the GM is not neutral. They have a job of providing engaging and challenging content and making the world feel real. Certain amount of "neutrality" regarding certain aspects of the game might be an useful tool in achieving that, but it is not the goal in itself. [/QUOTE]
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