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I also define most published campaigns as linear, which is not the same. True Railroading, for me, means the denial of player choice. The only published example I can think of offhand (I suspect there are others) happens in Waterdeep Dragon Heist and it's a doozy :

One of the biggest problems with a discussion on railroading is actually getting any number of people to agree on what they define as railroading. There have been a number of threads on this board, and that agreement is elusive.

Kitchen sink does not equal generic! The whole point of Eberron is that it has all of the "standard" D&Disms (at the time) but with a twist - and then extra added on that. For example, I love the Eberron take on gnomes - they hoard knowledge and use it as a weapon. Properly executed - they're...

G The quickest ways to drive me from the campaign is to show nothing the PCs do matter! When I DM, one of the things I like most is watching the PCs influence and even completely upend/blow-up the world I have presented to them. If I haven't made sure to present plenty of opportunities to do...

Personally, I strongly dislike a PC such as this at the table. 1. While not always, more often than not, they're spotlight hogs. Their time with the DM takes WAY longer than the other PCs; 2. More often then not, their time is focused on "personal" fun vs. fun for the table and since gaming...

From a gaming perspective, that's my thought as well. How is this going to make the PCs lives interesting?

I would say being a Dragonborn, didn't play into it itself - being "other" did a bit. He went with the adopted angle. Grew up as the adopted son of local blacksmith. Fell in with a group when they banded together helping save lives when an awoken Demigod was rampaging through the city (he was...

When 5e came out, I had had no experience at all with Dragonborn, and honestly, after looking them over, I found them as a PC race pretty strange and kind of unpalatable. But when one of my players asked to play a Dragonborn for the then new campaign, I said ok. His character went on to have...

I've found that initial restrictions (race, class, whatever) rarely actually have much to do with how much affect PCs have on the world going forward. One of the worst campaigns I have ever had the misfortune of playing in - the DM allowed ANYTHING as playable, if a player wanted it, it was...

My 5e has options, lots and lots of options, the more options present the more potential for power issues. 5e also has A LOT of people combing through all of those options and presenting builds etc. that exploit and magnify the power issues. But you know what? I've been running (and lately...

But that's the question. Is coming in as a new player to a Dragonlance game (say it's set right during the War of the Lance) and insisting, to a group you hadn't played with yet, that you want to play a draconian, reasonable? I don't know about you, but when starting with a new group, I...

I do think, in the right campaign, it could be really interesting. Where the DM intends to explore the whole concept of a manufactured slave race born out of one of the biggest betrayals of the setting. But the whole point would be leaning into the concept, where likely multiple (or better...

I'm not sure banning draconian or even draconian adjacent PCs is arbitrary in a Dragonlance game. I'm EXTREMELY permissive, but I would definitely have a conversation with a player that wanted to do that. And I would explain how it would certainly have an effect on the group's interactions...

One reality/danger of message board discussions is stated opinions tend to retreat toward extremes. When, in reality, things are MUCH more nuanced.

My group is pretty established and has been stable for years. We have already had several discussions on what's going to happen before an "official" session 0 and we're all up to date on books allowed etc. If I were to actually be looking for new players, Yeah, I'd give a firm outline/rundown...

When I start a campaign I have a session 0. Part of session 0 is character generation and I have the group agree on an initial theme (past ones have been employees of Morgrave University, Members of the Greyhawk adventurer's guild, stuff like that). Makes sure everyone is on the same page. And...

L This is why I love my current group! I've been a "forever DM" for many years, only getting to play very rarely. But my current group, we rotate DMs regularly (whenever a plot arc is finished, when the curren DM feels like switching, etc.). It's been really nice not being stuck in one role.

Bit late to the thread, but just wanted to state, this weird bait and switch, nondisclosure, absolutely happens. A long time ago, I was invited into a campaign - wasn't D&D it was Deadlands. Emailed the GM and asked what kind of character is appropriate etc. He emails back that it's a...

The weapon says any, but then goes to Rapier, is it supposed to be Rapier only? Second attack only happens IF 25+ damage? So basically only for a rogue, that has a decent sneak attack and doesn't get unlucky? I agree, it's actually a bit underpowered if it's meant to be a big time ability...

2024 HAS the bloodied condition, right in the Players Handbook. And there are monsters in the 2024 MM that use it (like the boar and flesh golem). Edit: and there are feats and subclasses that use it too.