TerraDave
5ever, or until 2024
The Grumpy Celt said:That is the lie to the players – people who are spending their time with you. That is the contempt of the players. ...
You are grumpy.
The Grumpy Celt said:That is the lie to the players – people who are spending their time with you. That is the contempt of the players. ...
buzz said:I can sympathize with this when a primary goal is immersion. What I (and I think some others) are trying to say, though, is that if you do some talking before the game gets going, all of this herding technique and OOC talking stuff should not be necessary.
phindar said:Throwing up an impassable mountain range or a quarantined plague zone is a major campaign addition, its something that's going affect all their future actions (and it presumes that the GM hasn't already laid out the general terrain). It seems like having an impassable mountain range (or whatever) show up when you need it and then never be a factor again would be a bigger hit to verisimilitude than simply saying, "I haven't prepped that," or running a smaller encounter to eat up the rest of the session.
There's a new article called "Campaign Control: Keeping Them on a Leash" that helps Game Masters to keep the players in the plotted area while keeping the illusion of freedom to the players.
While I don't like the advice personally, I could see how the DM saying "Sorry, you can't go there" would ruin the game for some people.
I don't think the solution is to limit their actions, however. I think the solution lies in two parts:
1. Get the players to tell you, in advance, what their character's goals are. That way you can prep for them.
Rise! Rise! I command! You have only been dead for 11 years, you can still breath again!I don't like "railing" my PCs but I did lift and steal the Monte Cook system of a GM Intrusion where I offer a Hero Point (Like Inspiration) to the Player if the accept the GM intrusion. My intrusion can be a clue or a narrative direction. The play can always refuse but even if they refuse it shines a light on the situation.