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<blockquote data-quote="Thasmodious" data-source="post: 4205675" data-attributes="member: 63272">You're making an invalid set of assumptions here.&nbsp; A challenge like this doesn't grow in a vacuum.&nbsp; The DM doesn't demand the PCs seek an audience with the Duke to gain his trust.&nbsp; The PCs, through the scenarios leading up to that moment in game, are at a point where they have chosen to seek an audience with the Duke, in order to convince him to lend them aid/money/troops/resources.&nbsp; The only way they can do that is to gain his trust.&nbsp; You can't intimidate the duke into giving you gold, soldiers, and equipment.&nbsp; You could try, but it would be a failure.&nbsp; If you tried really well, and successfully scared the pants off him, you might leave his chamber with a promise of aid.&nbsp; But you'd be dead or arrested before you hit the castle gate.&nbsp; And that would make the challenge a failure. There are no absolutes and there is no railroading in the example given.&nbsp; The PCs have a variety of ways to accrue the successes needed to convince the duke.&nbsp; And if they fail, the game continues.&nbsp; It's just like any other encounter.&nbsp; There are conditions that result in win and conditions that result in fail.&nbsp; The PCs are free to try and win in the manner they see fit.&nbsp; It is not railroading if their choices lead to failure.&nbsp; That's actually kind of a core mechanic to gaming in general.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Thasmodious, post: 4205675, member: 63272"] You're making an invalid set of assumptions here. A challenge like this doesn't grow in a vacuum. The DM doesn't demand the PCs seek an audience with the Duke to gain his trust. The PCs, through the scenarios leading up to that moment in game, are at a point where they have chosen to seek an audience with the Duke, in order to convince him to lend them aid/money/troops/resources. The only way they can do that is to gain his trust. You can't intimidate the duke into giving you gold, soldiers, and equipment. You could try, but it would be a failure. If you tried really well, and successfully scared the pants off him, you might leave his chamber with a promise of aid. But you'd be dead or arrested before you hit the castle gate. And that would make the challenge a failure. There are no absolutes and there is no railroading in the example given. The PCs have a variety of ways to accrue the successes needed to convince the duke. And if they fail, the game continues. It's just like any other encounter. There are conditions that result in win and conditions that result in fail. The PCs are free to try and win in the manner they see fit. It is not railroading if their choices lead to failure. That's actually kind of a core mechanic to gaming in general. [/QUOTE]

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