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Message: <blockquote data-quote="FrozenNorth" data-source="post: 9082391" data-attributes="member: 7020832">When we ask “it is better?”  we’re definitely in the realm of opinion, but I think there are definite benefits to giving some authorial control to players.1. Lightens the cognitive load on the DM from having to create everything;2. Reminds the players that they are also responsible for the fun at the table;3. Allows the players to be more invested in the world around them, that they had a hand in creating.4. Encourage people to DM who might otherwise be daunted by having to be responsible for everything;5. Players having more authority to shape elements of the game to interest them, instead of the DM having to guess.I’m sure that the other posters who enjoy exercising some authorial power can give examples of other benefits.All the posters here have played in multiple games in which authorial intent resides solely on the GM.  Meanwhile, it seems that most of the posters who want authorial intent to reside solely with the GM have never played in such a game and don’t want to try.It’s always a single person making the determination.  In one case, it’s the DM.  In the other it’s a player.So let me turn that around for you: in the case the DM states it’s a merchant ship, it remains a merchant ship, regardless of whether all the other players may have preferred it to be a pirate ship.</blockquote>