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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