Is the GM ALWAYS right?

This is a place for G.M.s and GM wannabes to share ideas and their own methods of play. It is not a locked forum so be aware your players may be watching!

Moderators: Immortals, Supreme Beings, Old Ones

Is Reason more important than Ego?

Yes, the GM is always right, period (Reason < Ego)
2
13%
No, the GM can be wrong, it depends (Reason > Ego)
13
87%
I don't know (not enough functioning brain cells for Reason or Ego)
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 15

User avatar
Fenris2020
Adventurer
Posts: 568
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2019 10:25 pm
Comment: Go woke, go broke.

Is the GM ALWAYS right?

Unread post by Fenris2020 »

Ever been in a group where the GM is always right, and can't even be corrected on word pronunciation by speakers of the language in question?
On the flip-side, have you ever been in a group where the GM had no control of the game at all, especially as regards the Significant Other?
You are a truly worthy foe! I shall howl a dirge in your honour and eat your heart with pride!
User avatar
darthauthor
Champion
Posts: 1914
Joined: Sun Jan 05, 2020 8:55 pm

Re: Is the GM ALWAYS right?

Unread post by darthauthor »

Yes

and

Yes

Aside:

I have been a GM and wrong.
I admitted it.

I have also change things sort of on the fly.
Couple of problems of players without Lore skills or such commenting aloud about what the NPC can and can't do.
I'll admit to it.
I made the human NPC vagabond into a escaped T-man slave with 7+ tattoos so he'd be MD.
Players were trigger happy and I wanted to level the playing field.
Felt like I 'd the players had gone murder hobo.
Part of me understood but another part was like, "Okay. Its your character, you can choose to do that. Now your alignment is Diabolic. The BOTH the Cyber-knights and the CS are now hunting you for your villianous deeds.
User avatar
drewkitty ~..~
Monk
Posts: 17782
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2000 1:01 am
Location: Eastvale, calif
Contact:

Re: Is the GM ALWAYS right?

Unread post by drewkitty ~..~ »

For the games the GM runs...
Rule one: The GM is always right.
Rule two: if the GM is wrong, see rule number one.

As in the GM has the final say in things about His/Her game.

What I hate here is when people say their House rules are 'The Canon Rules'. especially when their house rules say something completely different than what the game books literally say, I've had a poster get mad that I kept saying what the book rule said and would not agree with him that what he argued what the rule 'should be' was what was canon. Finally telling me not to be so OCD about what the canon text said. All that poster had to say was he was talking about his house rules and I would of gladly discuss his house rules, as his house rules.

And another time the other poster In a topic I created to ask a question, literally said, 'boasted', that he edited out some of the canon text from his equations about what the RAW said, and stated them as if his house rules were canon. (He stated his house rule because using his house rule the question I asked was moot.) And then he kept insisting that his house rules were canon, in multiple posts after he was corrected. Like he was pushing a "Big Lie" full boar.
May you be blessed with the ability to change course when you are off the mark.
Each question should be give the canon answer 1st, then you can proclaim your house rules.
Reading and writing (literacy) is how people on BBS interact.
User avatar
Dash
Megaversal® Ambassador
Posts: 37
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2004 3:39 pm
Location: The Three Galaxies
Contact:

Re: Is the GM ALWAYS right?

Unread post by Dash »

If you think your GM can't make sensible rules interpretations and that frustrates you- leave.

It's a game stop doing it if the fun is outweighed.

I usually GM in a cooperative setting, so in my case- it's the head GM that's always right.

And anywhere where I can at least debate the sensibility of house rules (that are required to fill in the gaps in Palladium's actual systems and rule sets) outside game time- that arrangement is fine with me.

Retroactive bad call adjustment is the worst. If your GM made a rule on the fly don't nitpick to retcon that session. Just work with a better understanding moving forward.
Tyrannosapiens Rex of The Player's Keep (formerly Explorers Unlimited)

Maybe you remember Living Mercenaries?
User avatar
Warshield73
Megaversal® Ambassador
Posts: 5431
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:23 am
Comment: "I will not be silenced. I will not submit. I will find the truth and shout it to the world. "
Location: Houston, TX

Re: Is the GM ALWAYS right?

Unread post by Warshield73 »

Can the GM make a temporary but binding decision on the rules for the purpose of moving a game along? Yes.
Does that make them always right? Goodness no.

It is important when a group is started to establish norms and one that I always insist on if I'm the GM is that if there is a disagreement regarding rules during a game I, the GM, can make a call on that which applies for that game. After the game we can discuss it and if I made a mistake or the player makes a compelling argument then the rule changes going forward. Most of the time this works out well.
“If I owned Texas and Hell, I would rent out Texas and live in Hell”

- General Philip Henry Sheridan, U.S. Army 1865
User avatar
glitterboy2098
Rifts® Trivia Master
Posts: 13542
Joined: Wed Aug 06, 2003 3:37 pm
Location: Missouri
Contact:

Re: Is the GM ALWAYS right?

Unread post by glitterboy2098 »

always right? no
but a Gm ruling is always final. at least for the session you are in. between sessions is the time to debate over stuff.
Author of Rifts: Deep Frontier (Rifter 70)
Author of Rifts:Scandinavia (current project)
Image
* All fantasy should have a solid base in reality.
* Good sense about trivialities is better than nonsense about things that matter.

-Max Beerbohm
Visit my Website
User avatar
Fenris2020
Adventurer
Posts: 568
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2019 10:25 pm
Comment: Go woke, go broke.

Re: Is the GM ALWAYS right?

Unread post by Fenris2020 »

drewkitty ~..~ wrote: Thu Apr 18, 2024 7:47 pm For the games the GM runs...
Rule one: The GM is always right.
Rule two: if the GM is wrong, see rule number one.

As in the GM has the final say in things about His/Her game.

What I hate here is when people say their House rules are 'The Canon Rules'. especially when their house rules say something completely different than what the game books literally say, I've had a poster get mad that I kept saying what the book rule said and would not agree with him that what he argued what the rule 'should be' was what was canon. Finally telling me not to be so OCD about what the canon text said. All that poster had to say was he was talking about his house rules and I would of gladly discuss his house rules, as his house rules.

And another time the other poster In a topic I created to ask a question, literally said, 'boasted', that he edited out some of the canon text from his equations about what the RAW said, and stated them as if his house rules were canon. (He stated his house rule because using his house rule the question I asked was moot.) And then he kept insisting that his house rules were canon, in multiple posts after he was corrected. Like he was pushing a "Big Lie" full boar.
Funny, I always thought it went, Rule One: Have Fun.
Guessing you're a GM I wouldn't stick around with.
As an occasional GM myself, I carefully read over the game rules before running, come up with "house rules" that I print out, as well as which contradictory rule I use in a game system (a thing that happens more with Palladium games than any other).
If a player has a problem with something, I hear them out. Once a player gets screwed over, how do you unscrew them?
You are a truly worthy foe! I shall howl a dirge in your honour and eat your heart with pride!
User avatar
Ice Dragon
Hero
Posts: 1019
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2000 2:01 am
Location: Vienna,Austria

Re: Is the GM ALWAYS right?

Unread post by Ice Dragon »

Rule one: The GM is always right.
Rule two: if the GM is wrong, see rule number one.

Fun aside, yes the GM can make mistakes and a good GM will see it - it still is about fun and gaming. But in the end, the last word is the GM.
It is always a bad thing when political matters are allowed to affect the planning of operations (Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, 1943)

Nelly ~ He's one romantic smooth operator and a true old school gentleman. Heck he's an Austrian officer, it's in his blood.

Co-Holder with Jefffar of the "Lando Calrissian" award for Smooth. - Novastar

10 + 100 Geek Points (Danger + Shawn Merrow)
User avatar
thorr-kan
Adventurer
Posts: 547
Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2007 9:09 am

Re: Is the GM ALWAYS right?

Unread post by thorr-kan »

Yes.

And they must be punished for their arrogance!
I have a blog; come see what I've created: https://thewhiteminotaur.wordpress.com/
-The 2024 Character Creation Challenge (#charactercreationchallenge):
https://thewhiteminotaur.wordpress.com/ ... challenge/
User avatar
Fenris2020
Adventurer
Posts: 568
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2019 10:25 pm
Comment: Go woke, go broke.

Re: Is the GM ALWAYS right?

Unread post by Fenris2020 »

Ice Dragon wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2024 10:08 am Rule one: The GM is always right.
Rule two: if the GM is wrong, see rule number one.

Fun aside, yes the GM can make mistakes and a good GM will see it - it still is about fun and gaming. But in the end, the last word is the GM.
Again, I think Rule One is to have fun.
I've dealt with five too many petty table-dictators to go with your Rules One and Two.
You are a truly worthy foe! I shall howl a dirge in your honour and eat your heart with pride!
Post Reply

Return to “G.M.s Forum”