Found here. Short version: I wish I had previously seen that John Wick piece on how awful Tomb of Horrors was. I would have referenced that piece in this one.
3 thoughts on “My PJ Lifestyle piece on how to take it easy on your players.”
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The one thing that is usually left unsaid when discussing RPGs is that they are essentially cooperative. Yes the GM is is charge but unless you want to waste all the prep work, a TPK is not an ideal outcome.
It is a game. You are all playing a game together. You got to set the game where it is going to provide enjoyment. If that means fudging things one way or the other from time-to-time to keep things rolling, then so be it.
I do not fudge dice rolls and dislike GM screens when I’m running.
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That said, most of this is spot on. I’m not out to kill characters,
I’ll give the players plenty of warning that they’re courting death, and a chance to succeed at pulling off their harebrained plan to get out of the situation when they ignore the warnings. (A very good chance, if it’s inspired. And players are a creative bunch, especially when their nuts are in a vice.)
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I’m certainly not above using Deux ex Machina. But there’s going to be a cost attached. (One more direct than seeing the suffering their fortunate deliverance caused others. I haven’t played with many introspective enough to be horrified by that.) Of course, the more they’ve adhered to the murderhobo motif, the higher the cost is likely to be. (The black hearted Sheriff will “let” you escape if you kill the blind priest of Eros for him. A man of his sterling reputation would never backstab you immediately after you preform the mission, would he? Or be prepared to frame you if you get cold feet, and then kill you. Or place a geas on you before seeing you free to make sure you do what you’re told… That kind of escape, you really have to EARN. Escaping the wrath of the price after you poured red wine over his velvet doublet is much easier, and you might even make some friends in the process.)