WISH: Secrets
Sometimes the plot of a game requires a GM to keep secrets. Is it better for the GM and other players to keep most out-of-character knowledge secret, or to assume that players are capable of keeping in-character and out-of-character knowledge separate? Where and how do you draw the line as a GM and/or player between what secrets should be kept and which ones are OK to reveal?

I believe in trusting the players and try to let them be involved in everything of the story even listening in on parts that they are not involved with. I have the good fortune to play with soe excellent roleplayers who are quite capable of remembering what their character does and I believe they enjoy the game more by getting to see the whole story.

In the last couple of "episodes" of Changeling: The Shattered Crystal I started and ended the adventures by describing short scenes that none of the PCs were involved with. Just like a lot of adventure shows on television start out with the teaser of a villian preparing his next dastardly plot or ebhind the scenes characters discussing the actions of the main characters, I gave the players a teaser of what is to come or what is actually going on behind-the-scenes and with it a little bit of information that their characters didn't have. Instead of losing suspense by giving away the mysteries, I tried to give the players just enough to keep them interested without giving away the big mysteries; a teaser of the over-all plot and things to come.

The only times that I believe in keeping secrets are when the plot is a mystery and the bit of information is a significant clue that may give it away to everyone before the suspense has been built up properly or when the characters are actively working against eachother. Then I'll have secret conferences with players. Of course, if the characters are conspiring against eachother, the players will usually ask to pull the GM aside.