It's very, very easy to help/hinder when you run the whole world. ;-)FTWDon't forget the first part of that statement where it was explained. But, if you need it spelled out more clearly: the DM controls all elements of the game. If PC's are stomping through unchallenged, the DM can beef up the enemies a bit to challenge. If the PC's are having too hard a go of things, the DM can also moderate things to favor the PC's (ie: reduce HP's, down play strategy, etc, etc).
Essentially, it's the assertion of the "god power" of the DM. When they run the game, they can do anything because they control everything (except PC's, but even certain spells work around that - so, not so much).
Not a big deal, honestly.
Yeah, I got that.
I suppose my view on things is a bit biased because I've been blessed with some really great DM's/GM's my entire gaming life. Sure, the occasional bastard, but most of the guys who ran the games in which I played were good people out of the game, were intelligent, creative, knew their game systems, and took the approach that the game was supposed to be fun, and used their authority in the game to make it so. That sometimes meant pulling the reins on a munchkin who was unbalancing the game, but a lot of times it meant pulling a villain's punch, or allowing for a PC to do something not because it was in line with RAW, but because it was creative, well-thought-out, and made for entertaining storytelling in the game.
Yeah, I got that.
I suppose my view on things is a bit biased because I've been blessed with some really great DM's/GM's my entire gaming life. Sure, the occasional bastard, but most of the guys who ran the games in which I played were good people out of the game, were intelligent, creative, knew their game systems, and took the approach that the game was supposed to be fun, and used their authority in the game to make it so. That sometimes meant pulling the reins on a munchkin who was unbalancing the game, but a lot of times it meant pulling a villain's punch, or allowing for a PC to do something not because it was in line with RAW, but because it was creative, well-thought-out, and made for entertaining storytelling in the game.
Right ... out of pure curiosity, how's that any different from what I wrote? Or ... are we on the same page?
{Honestly, my intent is that any GM should CLEARLY be helping the pc's and make things fun/exciting, not use this "god" status just to screw with players. That way lies ass-hattery!}