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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pawsplay" data-source="post: 4330114" data-attributes="member: 15538">That's not a dictatorship. It is an objective, verifiable fact that in traditional games, if there is a disagreement about the world, the GM wins; if there is a disagreement about the resolution of an action, the GM wins. It's not a dictatorship, that is how the game is structured. It's not a dictatorship any more than a symphony orchestra is a dictatorship led by the conductor. That's not an encouragement to abuse authority. But yes, the authority is there for the GM to abuse, if they choose to. Just as the players can use their PCs to perform contrary actions and destroy the game, if they choose. In a traditional game, players submit to the GM's authority as far as the world goes and as far as the rules go, and the GM, with some limitations, must accept the player's authority over their own character's actions. So, yes, it is true that the only recourse the playes have is to revolt. It is no different than if we sit down to play Monopoly and I refuse to buy properties or do anything but circle the board; you can't make me. All you can do is say, "This game is no longer to my liking." But if decide I can move any number of spaces I choose, you can rightly say, "That's against the rules we agreed to."That is a far, far thing from total authority. The GM in a traditional game has a job to do and the authority to do it. They know exactly how far their authority extends: as far as they can convince other people to join their game. I've played in many, many traditional games and I know exactly how they work. Except for some particulars, most of the games I run are traditional games, and most of the ones I've played in are traditional games, too. A traditional game includes input from the players. But a traditional game states, with no uncertainty, that the GM is the final arbiter of what is true.</blockquote>

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