thread: 2009-06-15 : GM Agenda
On 2009-06-17, Emily wrote:
It's so funny! I was just reading some old rgfa posts and what do I see but that the rgfa threefold was originally used for analysis of the types of decisions GMs make:
~~[wayback machine]~~
Threefold faq:
What the Threefold applies to is an open question. It is frequently used to look at GM decisions during a session about what should happen in the game-world, and to a lesser extent at adventure design during a campaign.
Mary Kuhner:
Simulation vs. drama/game:
Situation:
The PCs are setting up to make a daring raid into the enemy fortress when one of them decides it would be better for them to ask an NPC group to make the raid instead. On world considerations, it would be reasonable for the NPCs to agree. Do they?
Simulation analysis:
If that's what would happen, that's what would happen: world considerations are more important than the possible anti-climax and player disappointment. (Maybe try speeding up the pacing to keep the disappointment brief.)
Drama analysis:
Is there some way to make the players' proposed continuation interesting? If so, it can be allowed: this may mean, for example, having the NPCs fail and need rescue, or hurrying past this scene into a PC/NPC rivalry built on the event. But if it's headed hopelessly for anticlimax, better disallow it and have the NPCs refuse.
Game analysis:
Having the NPCs do the challenging raid while the PCs sit around is pretty clearly bad for the game, as game, and should be avoided if at all possible; the NPCs should refuse. (And you may want to talk to the player who made the original suggestion; it was inappropriate.)
~~[/wayback]~~
