The many types of Sandboxes and Open-World Campaigns

[Reynard]

Over on rpg.net someone recently noted that
and I can't stop thinking about the implications.

Or, it's navel gazing that reinforces the GM's view of how the world should be and ultimately causes them to restrict player agency.

In other words: no individual take is likely to be true for every example of that thing.

 

[Committed Hero]

Or, it's navel gazing that reinforces the GM's view of how the world should be and ultimately causes them to restrict player agency.

In other words: no individual take is likely to be true for every example of that thing.

The posted specifically mentions it's to allow player agency, but you do you. What interests me is that it allows for not even having a group, and at the same time argues to leave some things in the air for player input.

 

[Reynard]

The posted specifically mentions it's to allow player agency, but you do you.

I was simply refuting the idea that worldbuilding is an inherent positive when it comes to player agency. GMs do it for different reasons.

 

[hawkeyefan]

Yeah, worldbuilding is a tool that can be used well or poorly, depending on what you want it to do. I tend to think that it's most useful at its broadest... like have some ideas and elements in mind. Consider them before play and in between sessions. But don't commit too strongly to any of them until they're actually introduced in play.

 

[Committed Hero]

I was simply refuting the idea that worldbuilding is an inherent positive when it comes to player agency.

Until that post I had never seen it portrayed this way.

 

[Reynard]

Until that post I had never seen it portrayed this way.

You have never heard about GMs that were too deeply interested in their world building and story design, such that they did not let the players have choice? You have never heard of railroading?

 

[Mannahnin]

You have never heard about GMs that were too deeply interested in their world building and story design, such that they did not let the players have choice? You have never heard of railroading?

I suspect he means the opposite, maybe? The idea that worldbuilding can be a way to exercise the creative muscles one needs to run a player-responsive campaign.

 

[Reynard]

I suspect he means the opposite, maybe? The idea that worldbuilding can be a way to exercise the creative muscles one needs to run a player-responsive campaign.

I agree that is a possibility -- just not that it is an inevitable outcome. I have met too many frustrated novelist GMs to believe that.

 

[Mannahnin]

Sure. I think most of us have. It's a bit of a novel take, but I appreciate the positive idea that GMs can indulge in worldbuilding as a hobby while viewing it as useful practice to help them run player-responsive games.

 

[Reynard]

Sure. I think most of us have. It's a bit of a novel take, but I appreciate the positive idea that GMs can indulge in worldbuilding as a hobby while viewing it as useful practice to help them run player-responsive games.

World building is a great hobby and the right kind of world building can certainly make improvisation easier while GMing. I just think it is largely disconnected from whether a particular GM is pro-player agency or not.

And just to be clear: I think player agency is the single most important element in TTRPGS because it is the one element that separates it from any number of other kinds of nerdy elf games. World building is like a distant 5th for me.