(TFT) I knew this guy

["David Michael Grouchy II" <david_michael_grouchy_ii@hotmail.com>]

    I knew this guy.  Robert Miles, had just shut me out of my own temple 
with an evil take over.  So I had my character go to the next town.  I went 
out to the road and set off north.
    Robert rolls some dice.  'You encounter a giant owl.  He likes you and 
decides to join you.  The first day is over.  You make camp.'
    I'm thinking this is very cool.  A giant owl eh.  I spend some time 
feeding him, talking and getting to know him.
    The next day I set out north again with my new friend.  Robert rolls 
some dice.  'You have an accident.'  He rolls some more dice.  'You trip and 
fall on you're weapon.'  He rolls some more dice.  'You take six points of 
damage and die.'
    'Uhhh, Robert.  I have a staff.  How do I fall on a staff and kill 
myself.'
    'You impale yourself on it.'
    'Uh, the staff is about as tall as I am.  How can I impale myself on 
it?'
    'You just do.'
    'O.k.  Can the owl help.  Maybe go get someone to heal me or something. 
 He seems pretty smart.'
    'The owl flys away.  You're dead.'

    I learned a lot about being a GM from Robert.  Granted, I learned 
mostly what NOT to do.  But I wound up with a lot of happy players.  I would 
give them animal followers who would always run for help if needed.
    I would always let the characters start any social events and never 
inflict them myself.  If a temple was going to be overthrown the players 
would have been involved in starting it.  And I never used random events of 
any kind.  Instead I devolped an approach of thinking about the consequences 
of character action and letting them face those.  If they pushed the world 
it would react.  They could really feel the ripples of their actions in the 
campaign.  It isn't abitrary or random.
    They loved it.

    David Michael Grouchy II


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