Cohesion vs Railroading

[Zelda Themelin]

I would like to say, as a fledgling GM, that if my players were slowly suffocating to death under my style, that I'd want them to speak up. Seriously. Don't go into insult-mode, but do point out what's making you chafe.

--Dora

True. I like your point. However, in this case these people weren't fledgling GM:s, they were very experienced people, very in love with their style, and with total inablity to change. They would just go "whatever" at any nice or more direct critique and proceed as before. Heh, it was not about lack of telling. And it was not just me telling them. However, as often, people have their good points, and in these cases outweighted the bad ones for years.

They still dm to many new people, but all their original players have moved on. It's just those styles burn out players, those dm:s kept bashing in their glory. It is great for a while, but gets tiring after a while.

I just wanted to point out, after hearing few some very "warning sight" type opinions from barsoomcore, that there is dark side to this otherwise good style of dm:ing.

I don't suspect barsoomcore is actutally so much into "driving pc:s nuts" type plots. But there is only so much to be learned from by reading his story hours.


Important thing about rpg:s is that there shoud be some harmony between what dm likes, and what players like. It doen't have to hold true each and every time of course. But on the longer stand.

I prefer both dm-control and freedom. Without any so called "railroading", games become awfully plotless. PC:s just doing stuff, and dm reacting is not my idea of good game.

But there is not really one true style. Heh, I've even known people who prefer seeking that right pixel to click kind of games.

 

[barsoomcore]

there shoud be some harmony between what dm likes, and what players like

Absolutely. That's more important than railroading or not, or active/reactive, or anything. If you're all getting along and you're all having fun, you're doing it right.

 

[shilsen]

shilsen: I was using "ulterior" to mean "not altruistic". My bad, sorry.

I thought that might be it, but didn't want to assume. It's just that I can't sleep if I haven't picked at least one nit per day. It's a gift

If you're all getting along and you're all having fun, you're doing it right.

This should be the No.1 rule where gaming advice is concerned.

Incidentally, this thread really does have a lot of good advice for DMs. Anyone have a link to that great thread Mark set up, with links to other threads with useful info for DMs? This one should be linked on it.

 

[DongShenYin]

When I actually get around to looking for players, I'm going to post up a brief summary of the campaign. That way, people who are looking for a game will have an idea of what sort of tone, style and goals are involved. Hopefully, that will help save us from unpleasant surprises.

--Dora