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Message: <blockquote data-quote="pemerton" data-source="post: 7656593" data-attributes="member: 42582">I have never used a GM screen. I often have notes that I don't show the players, although as I get older I am more-and-more cavalier about letting them see my maps, and often in 4e I find the game is enhanced if they at least have an idea of the monster stats.These days I do all my action-resolution rolling in the open.In the case of the kobold, I didn't have to make any assumptions about what the GM was doing. I, and the other four players who walked with me, knew what he was doing: blocking our plan so that he would not have to deviate from the script of his adventure.I don't need to reflect on what it takes to read a map; I have encountered people (in this and other countries) who cannot read maps. Likewise, I'm sure the world of kobolds includes those with limited intellects. But the default D&D kobold has average intelligence, and is therefore capable of explaining where his/her camp is located, or describing the nature of his/her fellows and leaders, etc. I would also suggest that the default D&D kobold can read a map, given the prevalence of maps (dungeon maps, treasure maps etc) as part of the game.The GM had a choice as to how to have the captured kobold behave. He made the choice to block his players. He knew we were irritated at him blocking us - we weren't rude about it, but we didn't hide it either!I've read at least one post in this thread saying that it's the GM's game, and players who don't like it should walk. (I can't remember who the poster was - maybe  [MENTION=15700]Sacrosanct[/MENTION]?) We didn't like it; the GM clearly regarded it as his game (he wasn't changing anything in his script to reflect the interests or desires of his players); and so we walked. I don't understand what reason you think I and my fellow players had to waste our time playing a silly game under a railroading GM when I am perfectly capable of running a decent game for them - and went on to do so.I assume that you  are not arguing that bad and inflexible GMs are owed some sort of moral duty of participation by the prospective players of the world.(As I already indicated, we invited the GM in question to join our new game as a player - so we discharged our social duty as club members, and didn't just leave him stranded with nothing to do on his club evenings. He declined, and found new players. Win-win.)</blockquote>

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