How to Be a GURPS GM: Managing Expectations

[Emerikol]

Originally Posted by Anders

Oh, absolutely. I'm an "on the fly" guy myself. I prefer making snap decisions to stopping the game for ten minutes to look up a rule. But am I typical? People buy Kromm's books (I've bought Kromm's books). Presumably they do so because they find the content useful.

(Although I like the idea that people by Kromm's books so as not to hurt his feelings.)

I think, and correct me if I've read you wrong, that you've made a false dichotomy between the value of rules vs having to make an in game ad hoc decision. They are not opposed. I value the rules highly and I read them over and over again a lot. I value that time is spent making them good.

I'm human though and fallible so there are times despite having a GM screen that something might not be at my fingertips. And I prepare heavily. I won't stop the game to look it up. I just use my best judgment. My players know, and I will tell them after the game, that if I wing something it's for the good of the game and I will learn the rule eventually.

And responding to another comment. I agree that players should know their own stuff and have the rule handy. If they do then I will run with it. If over the long run I feel someone is cheating then that is an issue that to me falls outside the game. I'm fine with honest mistakes and it would have to be a pattern of behavior but if they consistently cheat then I really don't want them in my house let alone in my game. I find my players are pretty good overall and if they do err it is an honest mistake and not some grand plot to "win" a game.