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Message: <blockquote data-quote="N'raac" data-source="post: 6115749" data-attributes="member: 6681948">Paradoxically, I believe that may be something we CAN agree on. So how does a game begin?  The GM provides a complete blank slate?  The PC’s float in a void until they express a goal, so that the GM may frame something that takes those goals into account?  Once again, I think you overstate the case markedly. So far, so good.  It is his subsequent statement that any GM adjudication of that action other than “you arrive at the city encountering nothing in between” will cause him to get “shirty”. We do not agree on the appropriateness of pith and brevity.  For some reason, you can envision no possible encounter in the desert prior to the city that would be acceptable.  Let me provide one more example – perhaps, rather than encounter the siege in progress, the much faster centipede catches up to that force on its way to the city.  If the siege is relevant at the city, it should also be relevant in the desert. Seems to me that the players state that the PC’s enter the desert, seeking to get to the other side.  The GM provides the consequences of that action, be it “after a hot and sweaty two weeks on centipedeback, you see a city in the distance” or “after an hour’s travel, you see a group of people ahead” or “a gigantic bug-like creature burrows from the ground ahead and chitters menacingly”. Unless I misrecall, [MENTION=22779]Hussar[/MENTION]’s GM allowed the desert crossing.  The discussion stems from the numerous responses that suggested that was not the only possible right answer.  [MENTION=22779]Hussar[/MENTION] has also told us he will get “shirty” with any GM not acquiescing to his wishes.  That, to me, is an effort to impose his will on a different person in the game. Actually, it has been established, I believe, that the centipede lacked the necessary carrying capacity (I have not vetted that statement), may or may not stick around without being re-summoned on a regular basis and is not all that speedy compared to other possible desert life forms.  It would not appear as a distant dust cloud, then pass possible encounters in a blinding blur of speed, disappearing in the opposite direction with the only possible action of those witnessing it being a gasped “what was that!?!”. As to the Ride checks, with a specific rule that each of ill suitability as a mount and riding bareback imposing a -5 penalty, it seems quite possible the usual 5 DC check to stay in the saddle when the beast moves unexpectedly may not succeed with a “take 10”.  Add vertical inclines and I’m more incredulous.  It should not be inordinately difficult to make a simple horizontal ride fairly mundane, but vertical inclines or attacks by predators are another matter entirely. Oh, and those would be predators that, perhaps, the PCs can leverage into a stampede or other attack on the besieging forces in a very exciting and cinematic manner.  Even if the players did not say “May we encounter some predators in the desert that I may later think to use against enemy forces?” Hussar has consistently indicated he did not wish to interact with or encounter anything, of any kind whatsoever, during the desert crossing.  He wanted to move immediately to the carrying out of his business in the city.  Hussar’s GM allowed that.  Or that he refused to let the centipede act as a fast forward button, since his GM did not play out the desert crossing.  Nor were Hussar’s group.  They were moving through the desert to get to the city.  That they might encounter something they did not expect – whether a Baron’s niece, Kas the Conqueror or wandering nomads – is a valid occurrence to me, but will cause Hussar to get “shirty” and want to go home until you reach his point of interest, the city. I see – something that is fun, even if not related to someone’s goal or really critical to anything, IS a legitimate encounter after all.  It seems to me that is what many of us have been saying all along, and you and Hussar had disagreed.  Now, however, you seem to think that they are clearly and obviously appropriate, and have been all along.  Go figure!From your comments it was inevitable they would show up.  From there, they would play whatever roles they would play, as dictated by in-game events.  Nothing, you claim, is foreordained.  So, was it possible Kas would become a willing lackey to the PC’s, and the baron’s niece would marry their torchbearer and stay in their log cabin raising and bearing their numerous children?  Or was there some preconception as to their roles after all?</blockquote>

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