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<blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 5587089" data-attributes="member: 22779">Honestly, I agree with Janx here.&nbsp; Once the DM has initiated a threat, and that threat will negatively impact the PC's if they don't deal with it, I'm finding it pretty weak to say, &quot;Well, it's not really railroading because you could just suck up the negative consequences&quot;.Now, the point upthread that if the DM declares a threat must be dealt with in a specific way is a railroad - that I totally agree with.&nbsp; That's most certainly a railroad.&nbsp; I think everyone agrees there.But, if the dragon armies are advancing, the players cannot ignore it.&nbsp; They have no choice but to deal with it in some manner.&nbsp; Sure, they could fight, join the army, try to sneak through, whatever, but, what they don't have is the option to not deal with it.Isn't the negation of options railroading by definition?If the players initiate something, that's not a railroad, by definition, but, if the DM initiates a threat that the PC's cannot avoid dealing with in some manner, isn't that a railroad?Now, as far as the carrotstick approach goes, well, that's why it's not a railroad.&nbsp; After all, the PC's can choose to ignore the offer.&nbsp; Ignoring the offer carries no negative consequences, other than they don't get the reward.&nbsp; OTOH, the PC's cannot ignore the DM generated threat because that will directly, negatively, impact the characters.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Hussar, post: 5587089, member: 22779"] Honestly, I agree with Janx here. Once the DM has initiated a threat, and that threat will negatively impact the PC's if they don't deal with it, I'm finding it pretty weak to say, "Well, it's not really railroading because you could just suck up the negative consequences". Now, the point upthread that if the DM declares a threat must be dealt with in a specific way is a railroad - that I totally agree with. That's most certainly a railroad. I think everyone agrees there. But, if the dragon armies are advancing, the players cannot ignore it. They have no choice but to deal with it in some manner. Sure, they could fight, join the army, try to sneak through, whatever, but, what they don't have is the option to not deal with it. Isn't the negation of options railroading by definition? If the players initiate something, that's not a railroad, by definition, but, if the DM initiates a threat that the PC's cannot avoid dealing with in some manner, isn't that a railroad? Now, as far as the carrotstick approach goes, well, that's why it's not a railroad. After all, the PC's can choose to ignore the offer. Ignoring the offer carries no negative consequences, other than they don't get the reward. OTOH, the PC's cannot ignore the DM generated threat because that will directly, negatively, impact the characters. [/QUOTE]

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