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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ExploderWizard" data-source="post: 6597821" data-attributes="member: 66434">Misuse?  There are a couple of uses of arbitrary that are in play here. There is the randomness of a die roll which is arbitrary, and the randomness of a whim, which is arbitrary.  Choosing an outcome based on what you want to happen in response to a die roll that didn't skew that way IS arbitrary.  Choosing a preferred outcome in lieu of using any game play method of determining success isn't. If the result can only EVER be X then it it is simply X. There is no need to founder about with a method that could produce Y. Exactly. In the last session I ran, the party was mopping up the last few areas of a dungeon level. They were fourth level and kicked in a door occupied by 4 kobolds with nowhere to run. I didn't bother playing out the combat. It was such a one sided affair I hand-waved victory for the PCs. It saved time that could be used for more interesting areas. This occurrence happens quite often in starting 5E  sandbox adventures. You design an area suited for low level exploration and before you know it, the PCs are 4th level still stomping around in areas that are survivable for 1st level. The answers to all of these depend on the group and the game that they have all agreed to play. Why must the DM predict the future? Surprises that arise out of play are what keep the game fresh and interesting. If I knew exactly what was going to transpire at every game session I probably wouldn't even bother to show up and run it.</blockquote>

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