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What best describes railroading as you understand it?
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<blockquote data-quote="Primitive Screwhead" data-source="post: 2967879" data-attributes="member: 20805"><p>Are you suggesting that a GM can run a game without manipulating the players in any way shape or form?</p><p></p><p>No focusing of the players attention to an area due to description provided {or notable lack thereof}?</p><p>No leading of the players with NPC interation that provides 'clues' as to the 'better' way to go?</p><p></p><p>Given the media of the game we play it is impossible to run a game where a turn of a phrase does not change how the players react to the described encounter.</p><p></p><p>I think this debate is merely an aspect of the difference in which definition of 'manipulation' we are using. Just because manipulation <em>can</em> be used in insiduous and unfair manners to acheive a goal of an individual over the goals of the group doesn't mean that all manipulation is badfun.</p><p></p><p> Blunt and obtuse manipulation for the purpose of fitting into the GM's idea of how the game should go leads to complaints about rail-roading.</p><p> Skillful and artful manipulation for the purpose of challanging and entertaining leads to memorable games that are fondly recalled years after the fact. </p><p></p><p>T'is interesting how extreme a response I get based on a reading of one word <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/laugh.png" class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":lol:" title="Laughing :lol:" data-shortname=":lol:" /></p><p>Consider, use of a different wording would have gotten a different result...er.. would that mean I would have manipulated you to respond as you did?</p><p></p><p>But, as RC stated upthread, this thread has served its purpose to show the 'norm' of opinion. Mine seems to be an aberrant viewpoint based on a more cynical outlook on life.</p><p>After all, Everything has its cost, everyone has ulterior motives, and its never a question of being paranoid...its a question of if you are paranoid <strong>enough</strong>.</p><p></p><p>As usual, YMMV</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Primitive Screwhead, post: 2967879, member: 20805"] Are you suggesting that a GM can run a game without manipulating the players in any way shape or form? No focusing of the players attention to an area due to description provided {or notable lack thereof}? No leading of the players with NPC interation that provides 'clues' as to the 'better' way to go? Given the media of the game we play it is impossible to run a game where a turn of a phrase does not change how the players react to the described encounter. I think this debate is merely an aspect of the difference in which definition of 'manipulation' we are using. Just because manipulation [i]can[/i] be used in insiduous and unfair manners to acheive a goal of an individual over the goals of the group doesn't mean that all manipulation is badfun. Blunt and obtuse manipulation for the purpose of fitting into the GM's idea of how the game should go leads to complaints about rail-roading. Skillful and artful manipulation for the purpose of challanging and entertaining leads to memorable games that are fondly recalled years after the fact. T'is interesting how extreme a response I get based on a reading of one word :lol: Consider, use of a different wording would have gotten a different result...er.. would that mean I would have manipulated you to respond as you did? But, as RC stated upthread, this thread has served its purpose to show the 'norm' of opinion. Mine seems to be an aberrant viewpoint based on a more cynical outlook on life. After all, Everything has its cost, everyone has ulterior motives, and its never a question of being paranoid...its a question of if you are paranoid [b]enough[/b]. As usual, YMMV [/QUOTE]
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What best describes railroading as you understand it?
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