It's kind of amazing to me that tabletop roleplaying can potentially be such a unique, emotional, transformative, and transcendental experience that, every so often, you kind of have to remind yourself that "Oh yeah, we're playing a game."
Note: Now accepting guest comics! Details and rules here. Deadline: November 6th. Transcript:
DM: I guess this is a bitter pill for me to swallow. It's been thoroughly ingrained into me that, y'know, the DM provides everything. The world, the NPCs, the challenges, the surprises… Rarity: Well… Even if there are good intentions behind them, like they're meant to be character-developing story beats… The thing about those "surprises" is… Applejack: Comin' from the DM outta nowhere, those surprises can feel like punishments. DM: Yeah… Pinkie Pie: Whereas if you work with your players and agree on those challenges… it's almost like sitting down to play a GAME! Imagine that! Mane 6: Hahahahahahahahaa! DM: Heh heh… Hahahaha! Yeah!