As a general piece of DM advice – I don't sweat party strengths or weaknesses. Players like feeling competent.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) January 29, 2016
The real challenge in my campaigns comes in long-term goals players have to pursue. The "why" behind an adventure, rather than the "what".
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) January 29, 2016
Favorite example – players in my old Greyhawk campaign really, really hated a dwarf assassin who betrayed them. They wanted that guy DEAD.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) January 29, 2016
All I had to say was, "You heard Obmi has been spotted in town" and they were off on their next adventure.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) January 29, 2016
I never tried to save him. He was a devious bastard with like 4 escape plans, but I never metagamed or fudged to let him survive.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) January 29, 2016
Which meant when he got away, sometimes just by crazy dice luck, it made them hate him even more. As opposed to hating me for blocking them.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) January 29, 2016
That doesn't mean fudging is bad, per se. It's just another tool in a DM's arsenal, one that you need to use carefully, just like any tool.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) January 29, 2016
In general, I fudge stuff only to keep the game moving, and often "fudge" in the form of using a number I pick in place of a roll.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) January 29, 2016
Like, the PCs try talking to ogre mage. I could have them roll Cha to see if he attacks or talks, but I'd rather just dive into RP. No roll.
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) January 29, 2016
@SignGuyOttawaso it is more about rolling or not rolling to move the story the way best, not actually fudging a role. yeah, learning when to roll vs. when to make a call
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) January 29, 2016
@NicSweeneyReading your feed, feels like you’re addressing 3 needs from self determination theory (competence, relatedness, autonomy) yes! the advantage of doing game design for a living – I get to study this stuff during work hours! Really applies to DMing
— Mike Mearls (@mikemearls) January 29, 2016