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<blockquote data-quote="Majoru Oakheart" data-source="post: 5096183" data-attributes="member: 5143">All games involve Mother May I.&nbsp; That's the primary game mechanic any time there isn't a clear rule.&nbsp; There are really only two ways to handle any situation:&nbsp; The rules way and the Mother May I way.Rules way: &quot;I jump over the pit.&nbsp; The rules say I can jump 10 feet with a DC 20 Jump check.&nbsp; My bonus is +15, I rolled a 10.&nbsp; I make it.&quot;Mother May I way: &quot;The rules don't say exactly how far I can jump.&nbsp; Can I jump over this 10 foot pit, DM?&quot;The same thing applies in almost any situation:Rules way: &quot;This power says it affects only creatures.&nbsp; I can't use it on this door.&quot;Mother May I way: &quot;The book doesn't say what this affects.&nbsp; It just says it creates a ball of fire.&nbsp; Does that ball of fire melt through 24 inches of ice, DM?&quot;Now, often in the Mother May I style of play everyone at the table agrees with the answer given by the DM so it doesn't become a problem.&nbsp; That doesn't make the style any less Mother May I.&nbsp; It's just that when I ask &quot;Can I bash down the door with my 20 strength?&quot; and the DM says &quot;Yes&quot;, everyone at the table says &quot;He's strong, I don't see any reason he couldn't bash down the door&quot;.&nbsp; On the other hand if I say &quot;Can I use fireball to melt 2 feet of ice?&quot; and the DM says no....well, some people will feel they are at the mercy of their DM and their rulings.&nbsp; Which they always were.&nbsp; The players just disagree with the ruling this time.I prefer to use the rules 99% of the time and resort to Mother May I a lot less often.&nbsp; This is one of the few times in the 4e rules that the rules explicitly give DM fiat.&nbsp; He said no, that's perfectly acceptable.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Majoru Oakheart, post: 5096183, member: 5143"] All games involve Mother May I. That's the primary game mechanic any time there isn't a clear rule. There are really only two ways to handle any situation: The rules way and the Mother May I way. Rules way: "I jump over the pit. The rules say I can jump 10 feet with a DC 20 Jump check. My bonus is +15, I rolled a 10. I make it." Mother May I way: "The rules don't say exactly how far I can jump. Can I jump over this 10 foot pit, DM?" The same thing applies in almost any situation: Rules way: "This power says it affects only creatures. I can't use it on this door." Mother May I way: "The book doesn't say what this affects. It just says it creates a ball of fire. Does that ball of fire melt through 24 inches of ice, DM?" Now, often in the Mother May I style of play everyone at the table agrees with the answer given by the DM so it doesn't become a problem. That doesn't make the style any less Mother May I. It's just that when I ask "Can I bash down the door with my 20 strength?" and the DM says "Yes", everyone at the table says "He's strong, I don't see any reason he couldn't bash down the door". On the other hand if I say "Can I use fireball to melt 2 feet of ice?" and the DM says no....well, some people will feel they are at the mercy of their DM and their rulings. Which they always were. The players just disagree with the ruling this time. I prefer to use the rules 99% of the time and resort to Mother May I a lot less often. This is one of the few times in the 4e rules that the rules explicitly give DM fiat. He said no, that's perfectly acceptable. [/QUOTE]

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