Article Header Image When Stuff Happens, What’s a DM to Do? By
Ed Greenwood  During the holiday season, we're looking back at
some of the most popular articles this year, within each column.
Today's Forging the Realms originally ran back on January 11.
We look forward to seeing you again in the new year!   I n a
tournament roleplaying situation, there's an unwritten but
understood agreement that a prepared, preordained adventure must
be undertaken. The player characters have a mission to
accomplish or a problem to solve, in a limited time. It's not
the occasion for wandering about casually, exploring the world
in any and every direction with an eye out for things that look
interesting and that could be investigated later. There won't be
any "later."  In a campaign, however, players sometimes want to
just wander about. Perhaps the real world has handed them enough
stress and we-have-to-fix-this-right-now crises for the day, and
they want to relax with the fame or riches or security they've
earned in previous