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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Doug McCrae" data-source="post: 5335096" data-attributes="member: 21169">Clip, I agree with your basic point, that there's a dichotomy here that needs answering.1) Both GMs and players don't get exactly what they want from their games and are forced to compromise. People don't like to compromise, hence the complaints.2) Everyone wants more power. Everyone. GMs get it by using rules-lite systems and/or being permitted to overrule the rules. Players get it by using a rules-heavy system and learning the rules better than the GM. When a rule in the book favors their PC, they mention it. If it doesn't then they don't. All of this behaviour is in evidence at my game table.3) Another factor is that GMs are often storyteller/worldbuilder types whereas players are gamist - they just want to win, and don't really care about the world or the story. I'm like that myself when I play videogames that have both good game mechanics plus a narrative. I find I care much more about the former and mostly just skip the flavor text.Quite often, when such GMs complain about this on ENW, you'll see advice to integrate game and story/world. Make it so the players have to learn the history of a magic item to solve the mystery, or whatever. But isn't this just admitting that our creations, our secondary worlds, are too crappy to engage the players alone? That we are mostly failed writers? Creators whose creations aren't good enough. Or maybe it's just that game is stronger than story for most players.4) GMs tend to big up their own games, to describe them as better than they are. This is a natural human tendency, called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_superiority" target="_blank">Illusory Superiority</a>. Svenson's 1981 survey showed that 93% of Americans think they are above average drivers (though only 69% of Swedes).Don't believe what anyone says about their own capabilities, they are all filthy liars. Don't say you don't believe them though, they don't like that. Just think it quietly to yourself.</blockquote>

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