Where D&D goes bad

[Arnwyn]

It's not the DM's game; it's everyone's game!

It will be when the players put as much work into the game as the DM. Yet to ever see such a thing happen, IME.

What if that player invested in buying a new book?

Guess he/she should have thought twice before taking such a risk, hmmm?

 

[DeadlyUematsu]

It's not the DM's game; it's everyone's game!

It's mostly the DM's game. If individual players are putting more work into it then you can say otherwise...

 

[DragonLancer]

What if that player invested in buying a new book?

Then he should have asked the DM about it before paying out for it. I've had a player do just this and I told him that he should have checked first, and then he should keep it till he decides to run something, then let the players have access to it if he wants them to.

 

[buzz]

It's mostly the DM's game.

Without the players, there is no game.

There's really no One True Answer(tm) to this question. Different groups approach the "group contract" in different ways. Some lean to or prefer the more traditional "It's the DM's world, their word is law" way of doing things. Others may divvy up responsibilities between all the players and it becomes something more collective.

Ultimately, however, I think there needs to be give-and-take. As a player, I am not there to serve the needs of the DM. As a DM, my job isn't to just do whatever the players tell me to. Both sides have a responsibility to each other to help create the best play experience possible. If a player or a DM is doing something that is making the game not fun for other people in the group, it needs to be addressed. There is absolutely no point to playing a game that is not fun.

And no way I want to play with a DM who wants me to check with them before I buy something. That's insane.

 

[wedgeski]

And no way I want to play with a DM who wants me to check with them before I buy something. That's insane.

Surely the point is buy what you want, but don't assume that because you've bought it, it goes in the game. That's equally insane.

 

[hong]

It will be when the players put as much work into the game as the DM.

If it's work, you shouldn't be doing it.

 

[diaglo]

Surely the point is buy what you want, but don't assume that because you've bought it, it goes in the game. That's equally insane.

not insane. just not realistic.

i bought the Book of Elf pr0n. i knew before i purchased it that Olgar Shiverstone wouldn't allow any of it in our campaign.

i'm glad too. if he had allowed it. i'd be having second thoughts about his sanity.

 

[Darklone]

Diaglo, which book???

 

[diaglo]

Diaglo, which book???

sorry,

i was trying to stay hip and use the colloqual expression for it on ENWorld.

the Book of Erotic Fantasy.

 

[DragonLancer]

And no way I want to play with a DM who wants me to check with them before I buy something. That's insane.

The point is that a player should not just go out and buy a new splatbook or whatever and assume that he can use it. Always check with the DM first whether they will or not. If you still want to buy it fine, just don't expect to be able to use it just because you bought it.