Game Theory: To Fudge, or Not to Fudge, that is the Question

Game Master, Dungeon Master, Storyteller, Keeper, Director. The person running a tabletop roleplaying game can be called many things. In the end, it doesn't matter what they are called, but what does matter is how they choose to run a game. This article explores the controversial topic of game masters fudging die rolls. Game master will be used throughout the article as a title for the person running a table top game.
It is universally acknowledged that players fudging die rolls is cheating. But what about game masters? Can game masters cheat in a table top roleplaying game?

In a game where a person can control the universe, weather, every living creature on an infinite number of worlds, and even the gods themselves, many people would say that it is impossible for that person to cheat. However, others point out that fact that game masters are still playing a game and games have rules. If one person is not following the rules, when everyone else must, that is cheating and cheating should not be allowed.

Green Age Ogres, before the Cleansing Wars

Ogres in many other settings are savage, brutish, and animal-like. They are raiders, scavengers, and eaters of intelligent flesh. They are often unkempt and live in squalid conditions.
However, Ogres are not outline or defined on Athas, so why can't they be something else? They are descendants of civilized Halflings, after all. What if the ogres of Athas were noble and intelligent? I believe, if so, it would make the genocide of their race much more tragic.
Following is what I have decided ogres were in my Dark Sun campaign.

In the height of the green age, Ogres had several kingdoms spread throughout Athas. Ogres were known for their great strength and stonemasonry skills. There were fearsome combatants and were natural allies with the dwarves.
Ogres did have a particularly bizarre custom, at least to outsiders, of devouring the hearts of their honored dead. They believed the strengths of the dead would be transferred, at least in part, to the devourer. This included their own dead, as well as worthy enemies. It was this cannibalistic practice, among others, that were misrepresented in order to build a coalition against them.

Session Seventy-Three: Kes'trekels, Gith, and a Desert Owl

Note: For those unfamiliar with Dark Sun, psionics are called the Will for wild talents and the Way for trained psionicists.

The gith returned to Alaxander and gave him a small necklace. The necklace had four beads, one glass, one ceramic, one obsidian, and one bone. The gith explained, and Vashti translated: the necklace was on the gith child and it did not belong to them. Alaxander took the necklace and the two of them walked away.
Meanwhile, Shade had inspected the two chests he had stolen. Both of the chests and copper locks and were trapped. He disabled the traps and picked the locks. Inside them was expensive cutlery and painted porcelain jars, wrapped in silk. In addition, there were some fruits, that the group suspected were magical potion fruits.
Shade, with the help of Julius, Kiara, and Kalino, dragged the barrels and the other stolen goods back to the the fort. Those goods were water, ale, wine, and various foodstuffs. A Fort Isus guard told them that they could not bring obviously stolen goods into the Fort. It was bad enough they attacked an armored wagon within view of the fort, but then selling the goods in that same fort would bring the wrath of House Tsalaxa down on them. The group understood and stayed outside.

Brom Art Spotlight

Gerald Brom inspired Timothy Brown and Troy Denning, to create the Dark Sun setting, with his incredible artwork. I wanted to post some of my favorite Dark Sun paintings done by Brom. These paintings always help me get into the Dark Sun mood.

According to Troy Denning, in an interview with the Bone, Stone, and Obsidian Podcast, this painting was the first to inspire the Dark Sun setting.

Akkedis - New Athasian Monster

Akkedis

Climate/Terrain: Scrub Plains & Stony Barrens
Frequency: Rare
Organization: Bask
Activity Cycle: Day
Diet: Omnivore
Intelligence: Animal (1)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
No. Appearing: 3-12
Armor Class: 4
Movement: 12
Hit Dice: 6+4
Thac0: 16
No. of Attacks: 3
Damage/Attacks: 1-4/1-8
Special Attack: Charge, Disease
Special Defense: Immune to Disease
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: L (9' Long, 6' Tall)
Morale: Champion (15-16)
XP Value: 975