The Dungeon Master's Role

During a recent session of D&D 4e that I run with a small group of friends, one of my players did something unexpected. In the middle of a combat encounter, he ran away and hid. Considering his character is the only defender in the party, this certainly confused the rest of the players. They questioned his actions, but he remained silent. A few rounds later, he rejoined the combat and explained what he had hoped would happen.

The encounter was against the final foe of the adventure, set on a thin staircase circling the edge of the room. His intention had been to stand in a small alcove while his party lured the enemy backwards so that he could bull rush them over the edge. This might have been a good plan, if his party members had known about it. When asked why he hadn't simply told them of his idea, he explained that he didn't want the dungeon master to know.

It seems to be a common misconception by new players that the DM is their opponent. The DM may control the enemy characters, but he is not the enemy himself. D&D isn't a competitive game. The goal of a DM is not to defeat his players, but to guide them through a fun adventure. When a player has an opportunity to do something unique like pushing an enemy off of a ledge, a DM should encourage it.

Players do not need to keep secrets from the DM; he is unlikely to adjust his strategy to ruin your ideas, he wants you to do cool stuff too. Communicate with your party and your DM, share ideas and create moments that make your games a memorable experience.