> It is the difference between writing a story together or playing along in someone else's story.
A 100% this, a good GM actually doesn't really know much about where the story is going -- you play to find out what happens. I also have a hard time imagining an automated DM effectively 'failing forward'. Every skill check players make should change the game state, pass or fail.
Never, ever let your players roll the dice and tell them "Sorry, you don't see anything". Every check should be an opportunity to move the story... somehow.
A 100% this, a good GM actually doesn't really know much about where the story is going -- you play to find out what happens. I also have a hard time imagining an automated DM effectively 'failing forward'. Every skill check players make should change the game state, pass or fail.
Never, ever let your players roll the dice and tell them "Sorry, you don't see anything". Every check should be an opportunity to move the story... somehow.