tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682789230650276691.post7142046034046000506..comments2017-07-21T18:59:31.227-07:00Comments on Kingdom of Maircoan: False Premises: "The DM should maximize player fun."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515427640908337066noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682789230650276691.post-63501628806888103502017-07-21T18:59:31.227-07:002017-07-21T18:59:31.227-07:00Fun is relative, no argument.
Let's go back t...Fun is relative, no argument.<br /><br />Let's go back to your table for a minute though. Assuming that you and your players all have an agree upon game, and I join your table - knowing ahead of time what kind of game you play - and then have a screaming hissy fit at your table insisting that you have to let me play a Chaotic Evil Dwarf Dragon Paladin with 9th level wizard skills in order for me to maximize my fun - what are you and your players going to do? <br /><br />I am also not making any judgement. I'm simply pointing out that, economically speaking, seeking to maximize utility is a fool's errand in this case. :) <br /><br />As for your final part: my point exactly. You're just doing your thing, and you are not going to go out of your way to satisfy those players who would hate your game because it would cause your current players to hate the game.<br /><br />They aren't your concern.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515427640908337066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682789230650276691.post-6980308522373755002017-07-21T16:11:43.036-07:002017-07-21T16:11:43.036-07:00I don't know, I do kind of agree with the coun...I don't know, I do kind of agree with the counterpoint. We all find fun in different ways, be that fun from playing a "You-Win" game, a deadly combat & tactics type of game, a slow thinking game, or whatever. We do this because this is fun for us and everybody at the table.<br /><br />At my table, if I said it was okay for the players to play Chaotic Evil Dwarf Dragon Paladins with 9th level wizard skills, my players are going to be really let down. That isn't the game that they show up for every month. We know what our players want, and we do our best to give it to them, even if FUN for us is playing a challenging game where it takes years of play to gain a level, or what have you.<br /><br />Some players want easier games, while others want more advanced ones. Who are we to judge? I don't know about you, but I am just over here doing my thing. I know a lot of players who would absolutely hate my game. They aren't my concern, the only ones that I DM for are the people sitting at the table. When I stray too far from this ideal is when I fail them.RipperXhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03506064393275174920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682789230650276691.post-58342713007336882302017-07-21T12:54:16.851-07:002017-07-21T12:54:16.851-07:00Hi Marty!
A few quick counter points:
1. 99% of...Hi Marty! <br /><br />A few quick counter points:<br /><br />1. 99% of people do not sit down and write out their maximization graphs for either time or monetary goals. At the same time, it doesn't mean that the calculations aren't going on in their heads. Using maximization theory acts as an excellent model to understand player/DM behavior in this case.<br /><br />2. This post is not about DMs that would be a separate post but much of the same will be said (i.e. DMs who want to run really odd games won't find players and thus need to adjust, if they seek to maximize their enjoyment they won't find players). Again, economic modeling will still work. In this case, the DM represents a supplier putting forth product for sale. If there is no demand, then they can't push their product. Where supply and demand meets is the compromise position. If the player or the DM wants to push that intersection to maximize their enjoyment, they are pushing against the compromise.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515427640908337066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682789230650276691.post-66786171926563627732017-07-21T06:36:08.462-07:002017-07-21T06:36:08.462-07:00You are way over analyzing what appears to be a mu...You are way over analyzing what appears to be a much more simplistic premise. <br /><br />While I did not see the context of the original comment, I doubt the person was using the word "maximize" in the economic/mathematical model sense. <br /><br />While I agree that no DM can satisfy all the entertainment needs of all the players simultaneously at the table at any given moment, it is not an unrealistic or unreasonable request that DM's be flexible and open minded to the players' desires and try to mold the game in the direction of best fit. This includes the DM's desires as a player as well. <br /><br />RPGs are a social contract that essentially say "All of us at the table are working toward a mutually entertaining experience." Often times, DMs forget this and create the game *they* want because the players have no control over the world.Raging Owlbearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10556804177905125874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682789230650276691.post-83209423666588526372017-07-20T07:29:14.192-07:002017-07-20T07:29:14.192-07:00Ha! Yes! :DHa! Yes! :DAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515427640908337066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3682789230650276691.post-72725982335030181062017-07-20T07:27:54.889-07:002017-07-20T07:27:54.889-07:00Eu gostaria de viver num mundo onde a premissa fos...Eu gostaria de viver num mundo onde a premissa fosse o contrário: "os jogadores devem maximizar a diversão do mestre", hehehe! - I would like to live in a world where the premise was "the players should maximize DM fun". Hehehe! :-DMike Wevannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00718338483114510838noreply@blogger.com