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<blockquote data-quote="jgsugden" data-source="post: 8119616" data-attributes="member: 2629">D&amp;D is an RPG - a role playing game.&nbsp; Players are running characters in a story.&nbsp; The game works best when the story is best.&nbsp; If the players come up with an idea to counter something the bad guys have done, the rule of cool says the DM should lean into facilitating their goals.&nbsp; When determining if bad guys can do the same, ask yourself what type of bad guy you're handling.&nbsp; Minion?&nbsp; Heck no.&nbsp; They're there as speed bumps in the story.&nbsp; If you allow them to do things that are too cool, it ends up with the DM just smashing the PCs in a cruel game of &quot;see how clever the DM is&quot;.BBEG?&nbsp; The big bad enemy?&nbsp; Heck YES.&nbsp; They need to be interesting to stand out and feel like a real significant part of the story.&nbsp; Somewhere in the middle?&nbsp; A leader in a large encounter?&nbsp; The Chief of a tribe?&nbsp; The owner of the tower they're exploring?&nbsp; It is a judgment call.&nbsp; Ask yourself whether it makes the story better or worse for them to be able to do it.&nbsp; If better, go for it.&nbsp; If worse, then don't drag it out.&nbsp; The usual response if that a game should be fair, and all NPCs and PCs should be treated fairly and equally. Poppycock. That is like saying all of the orcs in LotR should have been as skilled with their weapons as Legolas. This is a role playing game - the role playing, and thus the story, comes first. Craft youtr narratives to tell a good story first and you'll have more fun.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="jgsugden, post: 8119616, member: 2629"] D&D is an RPG - a role playing game. Players are running characters in a story. The game works best when the story is best. If the players come up with an idea to counter something the bad guys have done, the rule of cool says the DM should lean into facilitating their goals. When determining if bad guys can do the same, ask yourself what type of bad guy you're handling. Minion? Heck no. They're there as speed bumps in the story. If you allow them to do things that are too cool, it ends up with the DM just smashing the PCs in a cruel game of "see how clever the DM is". BBEG? The big bad enemy? Heck YES. They need to be interesting to stand out and feel like a real significant part of the story. Somewhere in the middle? A leader in a large encounter? The Chief of a tribe? The owner of the tower they're exploring? It is a judgment call. Ask yourself whether it makes the story better or worse for them to be able to do it. If better, go for it. If worse, then don't drag it out. The usual response if that a game should be fair, and all NPCs and PCs should be treated fairly and equally. Poppycock. That is like saying all of the orcs in LotR should have been as skilled with their weapons as Legolas. This is a role playing game - the role playing, and thus the story, comes first. Craft youtr narratives to tell a good story first and you'll have more fun. [/QUOTE]

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