Comment on “Charting an Adventure Path”

Sorry I'm only just commenting on post I requested. Starting new job this week, hectic.

Key takeaway for me after first read is: yes DM is neutral when adjudicating, but DM cannot be neutral regarding the distribution of encounters. Else you end up with boring endless fights against vermin and passives since those are statistically most numerous. This makes me wonder about other areas where the DM must sacrifice "neutrality" (WRT running a simulation) łn order to run a good GAME. immediately, the concept of giving PCs 4d6 drop one for stats comes to mind. Same idea: you could do it on 3d6 cause that's what human(oid)s get, but these are PCs, the game is about them, got to remember they are better than average. That which they encounter will be also be more interesting than average. The typical hobgoblin villager in this scenario, venturing into the woods, would find naught but deer.

Thank you for writing this.