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"Railroading" is just a pejorative term for...
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<blockquote data-quote="Jan van Leyden" data-source="post: 5397968" data-attributes="member: 20307"><p>Well, the first question is whether the group wants to emphasize a/the story or the complete freedom given to each PC and hence the players. This style question has no wrong answer, but the group should try to reach an agreement.</p><p></p><p>With the emphasis placed on story, there are still different way to realize this. </p><p></p><p>The GM may distill the story down to two, three sentences and give the players lots of free reign, steering the action only by placing subtle clues. She can modify the story according to the players' ideas and actions. Think of the murder mystery with only the victim, the crime scene, and some idea of the murderer and different possible motviations are defined at first. </p><p></p><p>The PCs can freely investigate, and the GM modifiy the story and set the free parameters according to the players' ideas. Is this a railroad?</p><p></p><p>Personally I prefer the string of pearls model. The thread which organizes the pearls, is well defined. The junctions between the pearls are pretty much fixed, maybe even unavoidable. But within each pearl, the PCs can act however the players want. If one takes care to design the pearls large enough, the players will hardly notice being on a railroad.</p><p></p><p>To generalize, the calssical dungeon adventures like "go, retrieve the Chalice of Malice from the Dungeon of Alice" or "free the fair princess from the clutches of the dragon" can be described as pearls in this sense. The junction to the next pearl is clear and not even concealed in any way, though within the pearl the players are their characters faith' smith.</p><p></p><p>Railroading is a highly subjective term. When the players complain about it, the GM should discuss this feeling with them and the group should try to find their solution.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jan van Leyden, post: 5397968, member: 20307"] Well, the first question is whether the group wants to emphasize a/the story or the complete freedom given to each PC and hence the players. This style question has no wrong answer, but the group should try to reach an agreement. With the emphasis placed on story, there are still different way to realize this. The GM may distill the story down to two, three sentences and give the players lots of free reign, steering the action only by placing subtle clues. She can modify the story according to the players' ideas and actions. Think of the murder mystery with only the victim, the crime scene, and some idea of the murderer and different possible motviations are defined at first. The PCs can freely investigate, and the GM modifiy the story and set the free parameters according to the players' ideas. Is this a railroad? Personally I prefer the string of pearls model. The thread which organizes the pearls, is well defined. The junctions between the pearls are pretty much fixed, maybe even unavoidable. But within each pearl, the PCs can act however the players want. If one takes care to design the pearls large enough, the players will hardly notice being on a railroad. To generalize, the calssical dungeon adventures like "go, retrieve the Chalice of Malice from the Dungeon of Alice" or "free the fair princess from the clutches of the dragon" can be described as pearls in this sense. The junction to the next pearl is clear and not even concealed in any way, though within the pearl the players are their characters faith' smith. Railroading is a highly subjective term. When the players complain about it, the GM should discuss this feeling with them and the group should try to find their solution. [/QUOTE]
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