"Codification"

Some talk on Twitter today about codification in RPGs and communication and differing expectations at the table. My solution to this conundrum (as a DM) is to play to the table. Know how to read your players. If you're playing with some rules lawyers who are trying to wring every advantage out of the rules, do the same in turn. 4e is perfect for this. Build encounters in accordance with the DMG guidelines and try to kill the hell out of them. The best games of 4e I've played were highly competitive shoot 'em ups. If, on the other hand, you're DMing for a more laid back group who are more interested in things like exploration and brainstorming and poking at things with sticks, give it to them. Have your random tables and generic NPCs ready and follow (as best you can) where they lead. And you can play to lawyers and the laid back at the same time, believe it or not. It's not always fun, but it's entirely possible. But if you have a table full of "bump on a log" players, you're in for a hard night. Let the players drive the game. The DM is the moderator. Let the players call the tune.