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Message: <blockquote data-quote="innerdude" data-source="post: 9010406" data-attributes="member: 85870">I mean, it probably sounds more . . . mentally intensive than it actually is at the table, but yes. Anything that modifies anything about anything in the fiction is, ultimately, a negotiation. It's just that 95-99% of the time, there's no particular emphasis needed for the negotiation, because the changes to the fiction are common-sense follow on from a previously established bit of fiction. Player A's declaration, 1) "My character walks from one side of the tavern to the other," can and likely will be instantly analyzed, reviewed, and accepted as fictionally canonical in all participants' heads. The negotiation is instant and unspoken. The GM previously described the characters as being in the tavern, gave no sense of threat or description of an obstacle that would stop such a declaration, and all participants can immediately re-frame the fiction in their minds to fit the change. Player A's character is now on the north end of the tavern rather than the south. Until . . . 2) Player B says, "I grab Player A's character by the arm to stop her." Or the GM says, 3) "A hulking figure rises from a table in the middle of the tavern as you approach." Or the GM says, 4) "A barmaid drops a tray of mugs, covering the floor in beer. Make a DEX check to see if you slip." Or Player C says, 5) "Just as Character A walks away, I draw my sword and shout, 'In the name of the Legendary Highway Robbers of Mulgast, give me all your coin and jewelry if you want to live!"Were there any "rules" that allocated authority as to who was allowed to say any of these things? Possibly. I've had scenes where players who were not the GM have suggested things very much like all 5 riffing off another player's action declaration, but that's probably not the norm for many RPGs and groups. 3 & 4 would generally be assumed to be the GM's call, but not always.But all 5 numbered cases ultimately require assent from all participants. So yeah, there's constant negotiation around each re-framing of scene/situation on every action declaration. It's just that the negotiation doesn't mean that the required assent is contentious or lengthy. It just has to happen. 99% of the time it's instantaneous and silent. And I think the easiest way to understand this is to understand what happens when a "ret-con" becomes necessary. It's the act of the participants calling to re-visit or re-frame something that was negotiated as one outcome in the fiction that now needs a different, negotiated outcome for things to continue properly.</blockquote>

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