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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="Malmuria" data-source="post: 8708151" data-attributes="member: 7030755"><p>We can apply the idea of neutrality to commonly discussed situations to see whether a GM is more- or less-neutral. For example, do you alter the monster's hit points after combat has started and once you see how the battle is going? GMs do this to make the combat dynamically more or less challenging, in order to avoid character or party death that they were unprepared for (ie. in "narratively" unimportant encounter), and/or to shine a "spotlight" on a particular player. Other GMs stick to the hit points listed. The latter is more neutral than the former, because there isn't some secondary consideration (the feelings of the players or the narrative arc of the characters) at play. </p><p></p><p>Mechanics to help with neutrality:</p><p></p><p>Reaction rolls: roll 2d6. A high roll means whatever the players encountered is not hostile and possibly friendly, middle means they are indifferent, low means they are hostile. The GM doesn't have to decide on the disposition of randomly encountered goblins, because the dice did that for them. The GM might have to improvise <em>why</em> they are in that particular mood; in this way the reaction roll is a creative input. </p><p></p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/gcu15NemQME" target="_blank">Morale</a> rolls: 2d6 to beat a specific number (listed in the statblock). If your roll is below, the monsters try to flee. The GM doesn't have to determine the state of mind of the monster's, because the dice do. Once determined, the GM has a new strategy for the monster's which dynamically changes the gamestate.</p><p></p><p>And remember: a truly neutral GM cannot wear metal armor!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Malmuria, post: 8708151, member: 7030755"] We can apply the idea of neutrality to commonly discussed situations to see whether a GM is more- or less-neutral. For example, do you alter the monster's hit points after combat has started and once you see how the battle is going? GMs do this to make the combat dynamically more or less challenging, in order to avoid character or party death that they were unprepared for (ie. in "narratively" unimportant encounter), and/or to shine a "spotlight" on a particular player. Other GMs stick to the hit points listed. The latter is more neutral than the former, because there isn't some secondary consideration (the feelings of the players or the narrative arc of the characters) at play. Mechanics to help with neutrality: Reaction rolls: roll 2d6. A high roll means whatever the players encountered is not hostile and possibly friendly, middle means they are indifferent, low means they are hostile. The GM doesn't have to decide on the disposition of randomly encountered goblins, because the dice did that for them. The GM might have to improvise [I]why[/I] they are in that particular mood; in this way the reaction roll is a creative input. [URL='https://youtu.be/gcu15NemQME']Morale[/URL] rolls: 2d6 to beat a specific number (listed in the statblock). If your roll is below, the monsters try to flee. The GM doesn't have to determine the state of mind of the monster's, because the dice do. Once determined, the GM has a new strategy for the monster's which dynamically changes the gamestate. And remember: a truly neutral GM cannot wear metal armor! [/QUOTE]
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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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