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How should a GM handle refused plots
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<blockquote data-quote="Nagol" data-source="post: 7095970" data-attributes="member: 23935"><p>For D&D, I run a sandbox. Opportunities get rejected all the time. Maybe 1 in 3 get picked up.</p><p></p><p>My first strategy is to not get invested at the opportunity stage. I save my emotional energy for those things the players have expressed an interest in pursuing. So now I only feel the wound you're referencing when the players decide to abandon the situation after starting to pursue it which still happens frequently enough. As an open situation in the world, I look at the plausible trajectory of the situation. Will it fade back into the background until someone else deciphers the ancient tablet? Are the active players that will cause the situation to roll along without the players' input? If there are, I add milestones to my campaign timeline and entries in my loose end pile for inspiration and development ofr future opportunities.</p><p></p><p>If something is rejected, I'll listen to the players table talk and strategize. I'll take a look at the situation and see if there are natural opportunities to re-introduce the opportunity and assess the realistic chance the players will respond differently. Here are the primary underlying rationales for most refusals in rough order of likelihood of successful reintroduction. </p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Sometimes things are refused because the players are focused on something with a higher priority and don't want the distraction.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Other times its because the NPC / clue didn't do a good job catching their attention.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Other times it's because the perceived risk/reward ratio seems too high.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">It can be because the player do not feel the opportunity fits their strengths.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Finally, the group might be experiencing some form of intra-party conflict and the opportunity has become a combat point.</li> </ul><p></p><p>If I can't figure out why they refused, I ask them as part of an after-session debrief. I make sure the players understand I'm just trying to understand what they were thinking and turning the opportunity down is perfectly fine (some players often get the idea I want them to do something when I'm really just presenting the world so its a tendency I struggle to discourage).</p><p></p><p>If the opportunity has other natural introduction points and I think it is likely to receive a better reception, I'll add likely points to the future timeline and hope for the best later. If not, c'est la vie.</p><p></p><p>I never try to "force" the PCs through a refused plot -- though future developments without their presence may come back and bite them in the butt; but that's typically well-telegraphed "Gee, perhaps we shouldn't have ignored the ambitious necromancer as he went to open that portal thingy. Now that the town is on fire and surrounded by the demonic horde where are we going to get free drinks? I know! Let's head to Freeton! I'm sure this mess will be cleaned up by the authorities in no time!" Reskinning can work if you want to salvage a few situations and can plausibly introduce them elsewhere. Normally, I just write them off and save my notes for future inspiration, or not.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Nagol, post: 7095970, member: 23935"] For D&D, I run a sandbox. Opportunities get rejected all the time. Maybe 1 in 3 get picked up. My first strategy is to not get invested at the opportunity stage. I save my emotional energy for those things the players have expressed an interest in pursuing. So now I only feel the wound you're referencing when the players decide to abandon the situation after starting to pursue it which still happens frequently enough. As an open situation in the world, I look at the plausible trajectory of the situation. Will it fade back into the background until someone else deciphers the ancient tablet? Are the active players that will cause the situation to roll along without the players' input? If there are, I add milestones to my campaign timeline and entries in my loose end pile for inspiration and development ofr future opportunities. If something is rejected, I'll listen to the players table talk and strategize. I'll take a look at the situation and see if there are natural opportunities to re-introduce the opportunity and assess the realistic chance the players will respond differently. Here are the primary underlying rationales for most refusals in rough order of likelihood of successful reintroduction. [LIST] [*]Sometimes things are refused because the players are focused on something with a higher priority and don't want the distraction. [*]Other times its because the NPC / clue didn't do a good job catching their attention. [*]Other times it's because the perceived risk/reward ratio seems too high. [*]It can be because the player do not feel the opportunity fits their strengths. [*]Finally, the group might be experiencing some form of intra-party conflict and the opportunity has become a combat point. [/LIST] If I can't figure out why they refused, I ask them as part of an after-session debrief. I make sure the players understand I'm just trying to understand what they were thinking and turning the opportunity down is perfectly fine (some players often get the idea I want them to do something when I'm really just presenting the world so its a tendency I struggle to discourage). If the opportunity has other natural introduction points and I think it is likely to receive a better reception, I'll add likely points to the future timeline and hope for the best later. If not, c'est la vie. I never try to "force" the PCs through a refused plot -- though future developments without their presence may come back and bite them in the butt; but that's typically well-telegraphed "Gee, perhaps we shouldn't have ignored the ambitious necromancer as he went to open that portal thingy. Now that the town is on fire and surrounded by the demonic horde where are we going to get free drinks? I know! Let's head to Freeton! I'm sure this mess will be cleaned up by the authorities in no time!" Reskinning can work if you want to salvage a few situations and can plausibly introduce them elsewhere. Normally, I just write them off and save my notes for future inspiration, or not. [/QUOTE]
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