What is godmodding in roleplay?

Where the word comes from

The name borrows from the "god mode" cheat in video games, where your character cannot take damage. It spread through forum, chatroom and Discord roleplay, where several people each control one character and nobody is supposed to decide what happens to someone else's. Communities use the related words loosely, so expect some overlap:

Some groups use godmodding as the umbrella for all of the first three. Metagaming is a separate habit, explained in what metagaming is.

When the AI godmods you

This is the version most people meet first. You write a single action and the reply runs off with your character:

You: *I reach for the door handle.* Reply: *You hesitate, heart pounding, and decide to stay after all. "Fine," you whisper, sinking back into the chair.*

The model wasn't being rude. It is continuing a piece of text, and in a two-person story the line between "the narrator" and "the other player" is blurry to it. Greetings that already describe what {{user}} does, or long replies that narrate the whole room, teach it that your character is fair game. The quick repair is to cut the offending lines with Edit before you answer, so the pattern never settles in, and to add a short note such as (OOC: never write my actions, words or feelings). Steering with OOC covers how to phrase those notes so they stick.

When you are the one godmodding

The user side gets talked about less, but an AI partner can't object, so it is easy to slip into. Two common forms:

• Settling outcomes: *I dodge every arrow, disarm Viktor and pin him before he can draw.* Nothing is left for the character to do except lose.
• Writing their insides: *Caelan is instantly charmed and forgets the treaty.* The character's feelings were his to reveal.

Models tend to accept whatever you write as fact, so the story goes along with it and then goes flat. Compare the same moment written as an attempt:

*I lunge for his sword arm, trying to pin it to the table before he can draw.*

Now the reply has a choice: he might twist free, laugh, or let you win and make you wonder why. That uncertainty is the engine of the scene.

A ten-second check before you send

• Does my message decide whether my action works against them? Make it an attempt.
• Does it say what they think, feel or say? Cut it and let them show it.
• Does my character suddenly know or do something impossible? Ask whether the story set that up.
• Is anything left for the other side to decide? If not, add a question, a risk or a gap.

The same habits make every reply better, which is why writing better replies leans on attempts rather than results.

When it is fine

In a solo story you are allowed to write it however you like. With a narrator-style character such as the Narrator, you are effectively co-author, and declaring "the bridge collapses behind us" is world-building, not cheating. Power fantasies where your character is meant to be overwhelming can be fun too. The rule of thumb: control the world as much as you want, but leave the other character's choices to them. Viktor Sable, an enemy prince who would rather duel you than kill you, is a good place to practise leaving the outcome open, and fight scenes has more on pacing a duel.

Questions people ask