Search results

Glad you understand! More seriously, it just strikes me as deeply useless to say there are different kinds of railroading. If it isn't a problem- it really isn't railroading, now is it? If the players are accepting of a GM's prodding in a certain linear direction as in much of Beyond the...

I'd just like to say that I think the advice to start with a published module, while not necessarily a bad idea, isn't particularly necessary. In the end, if you can't create adventures and guide campaigns yourself, you'll be stuck with published scenarios forever- my advice is to pick up some...

Like herding cats.

Horse patooey. Railroading is the arbitrary imposition of a single or select few choices onto player actions. Unlimited choice is completely unworkable in any game and I'd find it analytically useless to have "good" and "bad" railroading. There is no such thing as "good" railroading.

That example- with the docks, and the escaping bad guy- is a perfect example of railroading. The DM presents them with a problem. They find a way to solve it- one not part of the DM's plan- and the DM tries to stop it. Bad. Tsk tsk. Easy enough to let them try to capture the guy- and then...

It is easy enough to say "This thing is supernatural evil" and this thing is "supernaturally good" without an alignment system, especially without one for humans, who are only "Good" or "Evil" in certain genres.

1. Discuss issues. If it's a "style" problem, then a good GM can make some changes. Do this especially if it is isolated to you. (if everyone else loves the GM, then it's probably just a difference of preference) 2. Offer to GM- do this especially if everyone is dissatisfied with the current...

I don't get it. A guy with a very different moral code than some of the other characters? That's what we call conflict, folks. Likewise, a guy who has to reconcile the practicalities of the world with the dictates of his ethical code and divine obligations? That is what we call conflict and it...

Well, Call of Cthulhu is the game I cut my teeth on, and I think it's probably the finest RPG ever. Unknown Armies is marvelously well designed and probably the most complete rulebook I've ever seen. At the moment, my weapon of choice is Unisystem (particularly unisystem lite), and so I'd...

Sorry for the double. I'm impatient... Anyway, there's probably a few more tidbits of wisdom I can impart. For example, even if you're reasonable good at GMing and you have great players, there will still be bad/poor/mediocre or otherwise "off" sessions. You might be tired. You might be hung...

Aaaragh! Lost my post...damn computers. Anyway, starting over... GMing is learned via experience. If you suck at it, chances are you'll get better. Almost all new GMs suck, and those that don't are merely mediocre. It takes time to get it right, and it takes good players. Uncle Figgy (do a...

The alignment system is useful for two major reasons. 1. As a training wheel for new players who might not be inclined to naturally develop character personalities. This I find is rarely necessary, but I'm stuck running online games and have thus far avoided "newbies." 2. As a method for...