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"Railroading" is just a pejorative term for...
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<blockquote data-quote="Remathilis" data-source="post: 5398201" data-attributes="member: 7635"><p>There is railroading and there is railroading.</p><p></p><p>There are some players/groups who want plot-hooks and storylines to give them a sense of narrative flow. To them, they like the fact Frodo HAS to take the ring to Mordor and that is his quest of that Luks HAS to defeat Vader to become a Jedi. It gives the campaign a focus and tells a story akin to narrative fiction.</p><p></p><p>Some react violently to this very notion and wish to have the freedom (as real life offers) to handle several different events at the same time; they want to carve a kingdom out of the wilderness, explore the 4th level of the Dungeon of Terror, slay Ashheart the Dragon, while stopping the Slaver Ring working out of Portview all at the "relative" same time. There is not destiny, not overarching plot, except what I create as my epic deeds to be sung in my Keep as I lounge under Ashheart's mounted head on my wall. </p><p></p><p>Moreso than sandbox and railroad, I think the terms "open event" vs. "narrative flow". Open event implies events happen as you experience them and continue to happen depending on your action/inaction, thus the player creates his own "story" based on his deeds and actions. Narrative flow implies an overarching narrative that can encompass sidetracks (Luke rescuing Han from Jabba) but ultimately boils down to a single event (confronting Vader). </p><p></p><p>The other difference: open event implies players are in charge of the narrative (with the DMs job to be scene-setter and chief poop-stirrer) vs. narrative flow putting the narrative on the DM, with the players as main actors in the plot.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Remathilis, post: 5398201, member: 7635"] There is railroading and there is railroading. There are some players/groups who want plot-hooks and storylines to give them a sense of narrative flow. To them, they like the fact Frodo HAS to take the ring to Mordor and that is his quest of that Luks HAS to defeat Vader to become a Jedi. It gives the campaign a focus and tells a story akin to narrative fiction. Some react violently to this very notion and wish to have the freedom (as real life offers) to handle several different events at the same time; they want to carve a kingdom out of the wilderness, explore the 4th level of the Dungeon of Terror, slay Ashheart the Dragon, while stopping the Slaver Ring working out of Portview all at the "relative" same time. There is not destiny, not overarching plot, except what I create as my epic deeds to be sung in my Keep as I lounge under Ashheart's mounted head on my wall. Moreso than sandbox and railroad, I think the terms "open event" vs. "narrative flow". Open event implies events happen as you experience them and continue to happen depending on your action/inaction, thus the player creates his own "story" based on his deeds and actions. Narrative flow implies an overarching narrative that can encompass sidetracks (Luke rescuing Han from Jabba) but ultimately boils down to a single event (confronting Vader). The other difference: open event implies players are in charge of the narrative (with the DMs job to be scene-setter and chief poop-stirrer) vs. narrative flow putting the narrative on the DM, with the players as main actors in the plot. [/QUOTE]
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