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<blockquote data-quote="ExploderWizard" data-source="post: 5440759" data-attributes="member: 66434">Location based adventures can make for some great campaigns. Assuming that the DM has provided a detail rich setting to explore the only real &quot;plot&quot; needed is a reason for the PC's to visit the area. &nbsp;IMHO the best motivations for doing anything are ones that are shared with equal enthusiasm by both the player and the character. This is easy to do if the activities are fun for the player and rewarding for the character. &nbsp;The primary motivation in older editions was treasure. The lure of treasure drew adventurers to faraway places that normal folk dared not go. Other reasons for visiting someplace could certainly exist but most players would be hooked by the metion of treasure alone. &nbsp;The characters liked treasure because wealth brings status and influence. The players were every bit as motivated because treasure was the primary source of XP and thus power. &nbsp;Flash forward to more recent editions and present the same scenario. The exploration of an unknown area and the promise of possible treasure just isn't so exciting. The characters might be interested in the treasure but the players won't be so excited unless there is plenty of creatures to fight and major plot related (quest XP) reasons to go. &nbsp;The further exploration is from a driving motivation (XP) the less exciting it will be for the players. A DM needs to put the rewards where he/she wants the activity focus to be. BD&amp;D &amp; AD&amp;D put it on treasure. 3.X put it on combat. 4E put it on quests and the encounter. &nbsp;It would be possible to place that focus on discovery and exploration in any edition. Suppose the PCs got the majority of their XP for discovering secret places and learning lore about such areas. Combat and specific quests could still be part of the XP system just not the major part.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="ExploderWizard, post: 5440759, member: 66434"] Location based adventures can make for some great campaigns. Assuming that the DM has provided a detail rich setting to explore the only real "plot" needed is a reason for the PC's to visit the area. IMHO the best motivations for doing anything are ones that are shared with equal enthusiasm by both the player and the character. This is easy to do if the activities are fun for the player and rewarding for the character. The primary motivation in older editions was treasure. The lure of treasure drew adventurers to faraway places that normal folk dared not go. Other reasons for visiting someplace could certainly exist but most players would be hooked by the metion of treasure alone. The characters liked treasure because wealth brings status and influence. The players were every bit as motivated because treasure was the primary source of XP and thus power. Flash forward to more recent editions and present the same scenario. The exploration of an unknown area and the promise of possible treasure just isn't so exciting. The characters might be interested in the treasure but the players won't be so excited unless there is plenty of creatures to fight and major plot related (quest XP) reasons to go. The further exploration is from a driving motivation (XP) the less exciting it will be for the players. A DM needs to put the rewards where he/she wants the activity focus to be. BD&D & AD&D put it on treasure. 3.X put it on combat. 4E put it on quests and the encounter. It would be possible to place that focus on discovery and exploration in any edition. Suppose the PCs got the majority of their XP for discovering secret places and learning lore about such areas. Combat and specific quests could still be part of the XP system just not the major part. [/QUOTE]

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