I find it useful to imagine that I hold the same view as the PCs, and then interrogate myself on the question “what if I’m wrong?”. Specifically, asking how I would be able to tell if I’m wrong (i.e. what signs might or might not exist that would help to set me right), or ways that my intended solution to a problem could have ripple effects beyond what I expect.

I’m of the view that in life, we never really solve problems, we just transmute them into different problems that are easier to manage under our particular circumstances. The new problems created by a solution aren’t necessarily going to be evident immediately; sometimes it takes time for the sticking points of a solution to present themselves.

Smart NPCs are a big part of making this work. If the players are on one side of a political issue, and there’s an NPC who is in direct opposition to them, then if that NPC is smart, they’ll be thinking ahead about what the players are likely trying to do. The NPC might not be able to stop the PCs from implementing their solution of choice, but might reasonably be able to figure out how to subvert this solution for their own ends (or figure out how to reverse or overcome the obstacle that this solution may present for the NPC)