Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 5/3/83; site ukc.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!mcvax!ukc!ncg From: ncg@ukc.UUCP (N.C.Gale) Newsgroups: net.games.frp Subject: Re: Extension of gripe Message-ID: <4961@ukc.UUCP> Date: Sat, 9-Mar-85 11:42:39 EST Article-I.D.: ukc.4961 Posted: Sat Mar 9 11:42:39 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 12-Mar-85 20:04:49 EST References: <11691@watmath.UUCP> <4940@ukc.UUCP> <844@utcsri.UUCP> Reply-To: ncg@ukc.UUCP (Nigel Gale) Distribution: net Organization: Computing Laboratory, U of Kent at Canterbury, UK Lines: 44 Summary: >> They can't quote the rules at me, because I make them up as I go along. They >> know that, and accept it. >> -Nigel Gale > > Strong disagreement here. >... >[for a DM] >it is *extremely* tempting to 'save' crucial NPCs who are done in by accident >by the players (i.e. by doing something that was fatal to the NPCs even if the >players were not aware of it.) or the reverse thereof, where the party is going >to get creamed because of something in the modifications they are unaware of. 1. I have an awful lot of NPCs in my campaign, and if a vital one gets killed off before fulfilling his function, I just invent another that can do the same thing. With my combat system, which means that every so often someone is going to get killed outright by a lucky blow, regardless of hit points or defence modifier, my NPCs vanish like. I just can't afford to get attached to NPCs. After all, they are there for the player's benefit. 2. The party should not get into a situation where it will be creamed because of some modifier it is not aware of, with no chance of escape. This would be bad DMing. My party's worst close scrapes have been when I abide too closely to the AD&D rules (for spells). And what's wrong with a DM intervening to prevent the party getting massacred because of his own misjudgement, anyway? It's surprising how proficient you get at providing escapes in crises, and making it look genuine. I can only judge my success by the happiness displayed by my players. I have killed several, maimed a couple, disgraced a couple, but overall the casualty rate is acceptable. They have stacks of money, lands, titles, fame, experiance as a reward. I think I've been quite impartial, and they can see it. With a little practice, it becomes quite easy for a DM to display such impartiality (though, admittedly, it was quite difficult to begin with). When a rule looks like spoiling the balance, it can be changed. -Nigel Gale