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Judgement calls vs "railroading"
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<blockquote data-quote="Ilbranteloth" data-source="post: 7105400" data-attributes="member: 6778044"><p>So this assertion, which [MENTION=42582]pemerton[/MENTION] has made as well, is one I object to for no specific reason. It just bugs me. </p><p></p><p>I think it's because of the statement that "the players are trying to figure out what's in the DMs notes." And I disagree.</p><p></p><p>The characters are trying to accomplish their goals, whatever they may be. Some of that is probably to uncover various mysteries of life, and mysteries in their life. The only one that can provide those answers is the DM.</p><p></p><p>Just because I know something that the players don't doesn't mean the players are "playing to find out." The players might find out, they might not. They might not care to find out. </p><p></p><p>For example, I'm adopted. I have no interest in searching out my biological "parents." They aren't my parents.</p><p></p><p>I have a secret backstory, and I don't care. Just because the DM has thought of secret backstory for the characters doesn't mean that it will ever come into play.</p><p></p><p>More importantly, it should only come into play if: </p><p></p><p>They player wants it to; and/or</p><p>It adds something of value to the campaign.</p><p></p><p>So regardless of what I might have thought regarding a character's secret backstory 2 years ago, it isn't "real" until it comes into play. And guess what? Many times that secret backstory changes over time too. What popped into my head during a session 2 years ago is a note I make, and I play with it. Can I do something with this? Can it add something interesting to the campaign? Where might it lead? Is it really compelling?</p><p></p><p>When one of my players declared his character was divorced, I didn't really think about it. Then, when I was looking for a way to tie a particular NPC into the story a little tighter, because he was going to be a foil for that particular character, it occurred to me that it's his hated ex-brother-in-law, whom he had stated had something to do with the divorce.</p><p></p><p>And guess what, all backstory unknown to the player/character is secret backstory. Whether it's authored in the moment, or it occurs to the DM earlier on, it's still secret backstory for that character. Just as [MENTION=42582]pemerton[/MENTION] asserts that authoring the fiction doesn't alter the fiction.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ilbranteloth, post: 7105400, member: 6778044"] So this assertion, which [MENTION=42582]pemerton[/MENTION] has made as well, is one I object to for no specific reason. It just bugs me. I think it's because of the statement that "the players are trying to figure out what's in the DMs notes." And I disagree. The characters are trying to accomplish their goals, whatever they may be. Some of that is probably to uncover various mysteries of life, and mysteries in their life. The only one that can provide those answers is the DM. Just because I know something that the players don't doesn't mean the players are "playing to find out." The players might find out, they might not. They might not care to find out. For example, I'm adopted. I have no interest in searching out my biological "parents." They aren't my parents. I have a secret backstory, and I don't care. Just because the DM has thought of secret backstory for the characters doesn't mean that it will ever come into play. More importantly, it should only come into play if: They player wants it to; and/or It adds something of value to the campaign. So regardless of what I might have thought regarding a character's secret backstory 2 years ago, it isn't "real" until it comes into play. And guess what? Many times that secret backstory changes over time too. What popped into my head during a session 2 years ago is a note I make, and I play with it. Can I do something with this? Can it add something interesting to the campaign? Where might it lead? Is it really compelling? When one of my players declared his character was divorced, I didn't really think about it. Then, when I was looking for a way to tie a particular NPC into the story a little tighter, because he was going to be a foil for that particular character, it occurred to me that it's his hated ex-brother-in-law, whom he had stated had something to do with the divorce. And guess what, all backstory unknown to the player/character is secret backstory. Whether it's authored in the moment, or it occurs to the DM earlier on, it's still secret backstory for that character. Just as [MENTION=42582]pemerton[/MENTION] asserts that authoring the fiction doesn't alter the fiction. [/QUOTE]
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