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Judgement calls vs "railroading"
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<blockquote data-quote="Imaculata" data-source="post: 7052625" data-attributes="member: 6801286"><p>My players also have a habit of doing this. They'll come across something that they just can't leave alone, and place themselves on this quest. This makes it very easy for me as a DM to prepare for the next session (because I know where they want to go), and it makes it easy for me to set up plot developments.</p><p></p><p>For example, I had a circus come into town, with an epic magic show in a harbor. I knew my players would want to go see it, and this is where I planned an assassination of their closest ally, the Marquis, along with a big battle.</p><p></p><p>The Marquis was always going to die, because they had no way to know the villains had set up explosives underneath where he was sitting. But the villains were also trying to get away with a valuable chest, which wasn't guaranteed to succeed.</p><p></p><p>The Marquis had to die, because it moved the plot forward. Sure, the players could attempt to resurrect him. But it would be my call if his spirit would want to return. And I know the players understand that his death makes for a much more exciting story. But is this a railroad? I don't think it is. Not all scripted events in a campaign are a case of railroading. Because none of the players' choices are being obstructed by me. That is what railroading is in my opinion: A form of obstruction.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Imaculata, post: 7052625, member: 6801286"] My players also have a habit of doing this. They'll come across something that they just can't leave alone, and place themselves on this quest. This makes it very easy for me as a DM to prepare for the next session (because I know where they want to go), and it makes it easy for me to set up plot developments. For example, I had a circus come into town, with an epic magic show in a harbor. I knew my players would want to go see it, and this is where I planned an assassination of their closest ally, the Marquis, along with a big battle. The Marquis was always going to die, because they had no way to know the villains had set up explosives underneath where he was sitting. But the villains were also trying to get away with a valuable chest, which wasn't guaranteed to succeed. The Marquis had to die, because it moved the plot forward. Sure, the players could attempt to resurrect him. But it would be my call if his spirit would want to return. And I know the players understand that his death makes for a much more exciting story. But is this a railroad? I don't think it is. Not all scripted events in a campaign are a case of railroading. Because none of the players' choices are being obstructed by me. That is what railroading is in my opinion: A form of obstruction. [/QUOTE]
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