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It's all about timing. When some of the players I know discover that in order to save the world they must act soon then they feel more railroaded. If they uncover a plot that will take years to unfold then they will still feel just as satisfied if they defeat it (after all, they did still save...

What if Darth Vader is actually a badass alien underneath his spacesuit (just one of many different sets of easily removable body armor)? Around the time of ESB (1980) the movie Alien had just come out and people had no idea what 'Game Over Man, Game Over!' meant. So what if Darth Vader...

So a friend and I were having a conversation about the Empire Strikes Back the other day, which resulted in a little griping about George Lucas and the prequels. We laughed a little about stormtroopers on dewbacks (how often do we see soldiers in Iraq riding camels?) and as we often do we...

I apologize for using the term Narrativist. Maybe the GDS Dramatist is more appropriate here? *shrug* Either way the point of the thread was more for issues that have come up with sandboxes, and I wanted to start off by explaining briefly what the different styles are.

Perhaps if taken to the extreme on either side. It's really a matter of time and setting. If you have an invasion of monsters every single day it becomes an issue. But if it's every few years then there's no reason why players can't explore the world during moments of peace. Along the theory...

Some of the players I know who like sandbox play would not enjoy that setting. Is there a reason why there must be so many plots and issues that are shaking up the world? In my experience some players would prefer to create the drama and action themselves rather than have it concocted by the...

In this case the GM introduces static elements into the world that players can explore freely. The group maps out the uncharted wilderness while discovering adventure sites. No DM plots are needed because whatever the players are doing becomes the plot. Not a direct analogy, but MMO worlds...

One litmus test of game style is 'what's on your table'. If you have few if any maps of the world it's probably more narrative. If you spend a lot of time looking at 'hex' maps (or any overland map) to figure out what you're doing, it's probably more simulationist. Finally, if you're really...

That's always an interesting side topic. What exactly do you tolerate as a 'railroad'? Some of the people I game with have a near zero tolerance level. They define railroading as any event that causes their character, in character, to feel compelled to act. For example, let's say the players...

Question 1: What types of games are you playing right now? Site-based freeform: Simulationist, site based adventures. PCs are free to explore in a generally static sandbox. Sessions can often take place in large, open areas (wilderness). Event-based metaplots: Narrativist, story driven...

What are some of your deal breakers when playing an RPG? What are some actions or series of actions that someone at the table has declared that caused other people (players or DMs) to stop or prevent the actions from occuring? One category includes implausible actions. A player wants his...

What was the last character you made who was intentionally 'pathetic'? What rule system did you use, and how did you royally screw him over? Why did you create the character? Were you looking for a tactical challenge? How did the character play out? I ask this because, honestly, I've never...

Wild Country (Anarchy). A significant number of people live outside of the boundaries of the core four nations. Despite lacking a great deal of clearly defined power and strength, these small groups have the freedom to travel the world without following the rigid laws of the other nations...

Anyone have any world building tips for using the four iconic D&D fantasy classes (cleric, fighter, rogue, wizard) as the foundations of the game world? Starting with a traditional medieval fantasy theme of 'the now fragmented fallen empire', here are four different nations, each based on the...

Like others have said, in D&D this is basically giving players a 'time out'. They suck because they died, for whatever reason, so now they have to sit through encounters where they can't do squat and need to cross their fingers that their sorry asses don't die again.

I was wondering if anyone is running any campaigns influenced by 1980's toy hero cartoons. Examples include: Masters of the Universe G.I. Joe Transformers Thundercats M.A.S.K. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Some of the things I personally enjoyed about these cartoons, as a youngster, include...

Another thought is to modify player options based on role. 1.) Leader. This role is distinct because they can remove failures. 2.) Defender. This role is distinct because it has more healing surges. 3.) Striker. This role could be more distinct with a +2 bonus on attack skill checks from its...

According to RAW: "At your option, you can prevent a pinned opponent from speaking. " So using that information, do you think rules as intended would allow a pin to prevent a bite attack or a breath weapon? Would you allow any benefit considering the rules as intended for preventing speech?

I know this may sound like a 'house rule' discussion, but it seems like a lot of modules will handle certain fights by reducing healing surges as the result of a skill challenge failure. A typical example is investigating a thieves guild. A module presents the challenge as the adventurers...

What were the hints for Spelljammer? The Astral Sea?