D&D (2024) DMG 2024: Is The Sandbox Campaign Dead?

[Maxperson]

In my experience, most players prefer a railroad.

Linear, not a railroad. Railroads are bad, because players are forced down paths against their will. Linear can be good, because players are given an A to B to C to D approach to the game and can know where to go if they choose to engage that adventure.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Linear, not a railroad. Railroads are bad, because players are forced down paths against their will. Linear can be good, because players are given an A to B to C to D approach to the game and can know where to go if they choose to engage that adventure.

Is it still a railroad if the players don't know the path they're "choosing" is the only path?

 

[Reynard]

Linear, not a railroad. Railroads are bad, because players are forced down paths against their will. Linear can be good, because players are given an A to B to C to D approach to the game and can know where to go if they choose to engage that adventure.

Is it still a railroad if the players don't know the path they're "choosing" is the only path?

If they enjoy it, it's a rollercoaster.

 

[KYRON45]

Growing up I only engaged with TSR products but soon rejected the style of game they pushed at the time. I don't think people adhere to the letter of the rules as much as you seem to think. Meanwhile, they need to start somewhere.

Rules are dumb.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Rules are dumb.

A fan of Free Kreigspeil then?

 

[KYRON45]

A fan of Free Kreigspeil then?

I only just barely know what that is.

I think getting hung up in the rules and definitions and "how i see its" is why everyone in these threads seems so angry all the time.

RPGs are the greatest game in the history of the world and everyone ruins it by compartmentalizing everything.
It just gets so tedious that almost on que by the 10th or 20th response to any thread everyone is arguing about how their version of what's going on is right and no one else knows what they are talking about.

My coffee is still only in my first stomach so, i may not know what's going on yet this morning.

 

[Maxperson]

If they enjoy it, it's a rollercoaster.

Nah. They can opt out and go to the next ride coming back to this one if they want later, or maybe not. That's why it's linear. If you are forcing them onto the coaster and they can't opt to get off, then you are railroading and it's a bad thing.

 

[Maxperson]

Is it still a railroad if the players don't know the path they're "choosing" is the only path?

Yes. Absolutely. They just may not know it and are being robbed of choice due to illusionism. That's worse in my opinion, because they don't even know that they should quit the game and go to a DM who won't railroad them.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Yes. Absolutely. They just may not know it and are being robbed of choice due to illusionism. That's worse in my opinion, because they don't even know that they should quit the game and go to a DM who won't railroad them.

If they like the path they're on, I'd argue there's no reason for them to quit.

Not what I would do, but I can see it.

 

[Reynard]

Yes. Absolutely. They just may not know it and are being robbed of choice due to illusionism. That's worse in my opinion, because they don't even know that they should quit the game and go to a DM who won't railroad them.

I think player agency is the most important aspect of RPGs, so I agree with you on illusionism. But one aspect of player agency is choosing to get on the train.