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General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
What actions by a PC Don't need to be stated?
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<blockquote data-quote="Fanaelialae" data-source="post: 7159028" data-attributes="member: 53980"><p>In general, if there is something that might be reasonably assumed but that they didn't say, I will either assume they did so or prompt the player myself. Doing otherwise is, IMO, 'gotcha' DMing which is not a style of game that my table enjoys. It's like saying that a PC dies of renal failure because the player didn't explicitly state that he would periodically take bathroom breaks. Or like a player forgetting to state that his character picks up his cherished holy avenger, which he dropped to draw his long bow, and therefore leaving behind one of his character's most precious items (which is right there in plain sight of the entire party, but might be overlooked in the imaginations of your players).</p><p></p><p>I'm sure it works for some tables, but I view it as a very antagonistic style of DMing, so it's definitely something I think everyone at the table needs to agree to beforehand.</p><p></p><p>There was a time when my group had a DM who ran that way. IMO, never again. It was the least fun I've ever had playing D&D. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>It's reasonable to assume that if you are charging through a cloud of gas that you know or suspect to be poisonous (Cloudkill is described as yellowish green vapors) then you are holding your breath unless otherwise stated. </p><p></p><p>That said, Cloudkill says it functions on targets even if they're holding their breath or not breathing, so a quick look at the spell description would have rendered this argument moot.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>It's also reasonable to assume that if the PCs took pains to camp in a difficult to reach location, they pulled the rope up behind them. Now, if there are reasons to leave the rope down (the rogue is still downstairs doing a bit of scouting) then, again, it's best to simply ask.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Requiring the players to state things that can be reasonably assumed is fine if everyone involved wants to play that style of game. </p><p></p><p>Otherwise, it is antagonistic and mires the game in nonsensical tedium, as the players learn to specify all manner of meaningless minutia lest the DM pull a 'gotcha' on them.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Fanaelialae, post: 7159028, member: 53980"] In general, if there is something that might be reasonably assumed but that they didn't say, I will either assume they did so or prompt the player myself. Doing otherwise is, IMO, 'gotcha' DMing which is not a style of game that my table enjoys. It's like saying that a PC dies of renal failure because the player didn't explicitly state that he would periodically take bathroom breaks. Or like a player forgetting to state that his character picks up his cherished holy avenger, which he dropped to draw his long bow, and therefore leaving behind one of his character's most precious items (which is right there in plain sight of the entire party, but might be overlooked in the imaginations of your players). I'm sure it works for some tables, but I view it as a very antagonistic style of DMing, so it's definitely something I think everyone at the table needs to agree to beforehand. There was a time when my group had a DM who ran that way. IMO, never again. It was the least fun I've ever had playing D&D. It's reasonable to assume that if you are charging through a cloud of gas that you know or suspect to be poisonous (Cloudkill is described as yellowish green vapors) then you are holding your breath unless otherwise stated. That said, Cloudkill says it functions on targets even if they're holding their breath or not breathing, so a quick look at the spell description would have rendered this argument moot. It's also reasonable to assume that if the PCs took pains to camp in a difficult to reach location, they pulled the rope up behind them. Now, if there are reasons to leave the rope down (the rogue is still downstairs doing a bit of scouting) then, again, it's best to simply ask. Requiring the players to state things that can be reasonably assumed is fine if everyone involved wants to play that style of game. Otherwise, it is antagonistic and mires the game in nonsensical tedium, as the players learn to specify all manner of meaningless minutia lest the DM pull a 'gotcha' on them. [/QUOTE]
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What actions by a PC Don't need to be stated?
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