• I refer to this as the 'Video Game Rule'. In the last thirty years the visual aspects of the hobby have become more important because we’re think we are ‘competing’ with video games. Once we realize we are making a different kind of experience it allows the story (that is the narrative elements) to outshine the graphics, if you will.-
I was about to comment “When one of my players asks whether they can do something completely unreasonable I look at them, roll a D20 openly on the table and without checking the result, say ‘no’”
Oh, GM Fiat... I always preferred the GM Camaro, but you do you... ;-)
I have always done this randomly since 1977. I was a kid but my mom and godmother were huge ERA supporters and it just seemed correct.
It is much faster than a GM fiat.