Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Green1" data-source="post: 6704092" data-attributes="member: 6800543">Ask 5 folks, get 5 answers!To quote the Architect out of The Matrix, the problem is choice.It is impossible to have all things written up for all possibilities. A good map of stuff in the region is a good idea to have with you and there are generic MM stuff. But,  you are not going to have an entire world statted. (Take that back. I knew one guy who had statted an entire small city's entire population in 2e. But, that way lies madness)Yes, if the campaign contains ANY combat (and just diplomacy games are fun, done right), there is some NPC or creatures that are destined to be fought. These things are in the world and may need to be taken care of for the party's agendas.But choice... The choice of rather an encounter will happen or not depends on the motivations of PCs and NPCs. I would like to hope I give my PCs a lot of leeway into determining what is a threat or take actions to choose threats or anticipate it somewhat. There are situations that a fight WILL happen. But, there are always possibilities around it. Some chances, though, may be slim. If you want to get somewhere and you are low level, for instance. A few zombies are in the way of the chalice of whatever the party is dead set on. No avoiding it unless you have power that makes the zombies meaningless except as flavor. And you can just say forget the chalice and go off being bandits, too. Town gaurd after you for stealing? Your PC made the choice to steal.Choice. Any DM that railroads needs to seriously consider adding more sandbox. A lot of work, but more rewarding if you can pull it off.But, I do say there is room for not much choice. One shots and convention sized sessions need a bit more linear structure to keep things moving for time constraints. It is unfortunate, but the nature of the beast.</blockquote>

Verification