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<blockquote data-quote="Majoru Oakheart" data-source="post: 6197523" data-attributes="member: 5143">This is the issue at hand, I think.&nbsp; The world railroading means absolutely nothing because 50 people will define it 50 different ways.I've said this before and I'll say it again, railroading has become the boogieman of the RPG world.&nbsp; Everyone agrees it's bad.&nbsp; But what exactly it is?&nbsp; No one knows.I've seen people say &quot;You won't let me jump over that 100 foot pit.&nbsp; You're railroading me.&nbsp; You only put the pit there because you didn't want me to go that direction.&nbsp; You made it big enough so that I'd accept that I can't go that direction.&nbsp; You could have chosen NOT to put the pit there but you put it there so I'd do what you wanted me to.&nbsp; You are a bad DM.&nbsp; I'm supposed to be able to do whatever I want without restriction.&quot;The problem is that a DM can't actually run a game if railroading is defined that narrowly.I propose that we stop making railroading out to be a boogieman.&nbsp; Some of the best games I ever played were heavily railroaded but the players didn't care.&nbsp; Some of the worst games I've ever played had no railroading at all and ended up directionless and boring.&nbsp; Then again, I've had the reverse experience in both of those situations.Let's say that railroading is just another tool in a DMs toolbox that can be good or bad depending on the execution.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Majoru Oakheart, post: 6197523, member: 5143"] This is the issue at hand, I think. The world railroading means absolutely nothing because 50 people will define it 50 different ways. I've said this before and I'll say it again, railroading has become the boogieman of the RPG world. Everyone agrees it's bad. But what exactly it is? No one knows. I've seen people say "You won't let me jump over that 100 foot pit. You're railroading me. You only put the pit there because you didn't want me to go that direction. You made it big enough so that I'd accept that I can't go that direction. You could have chosen NOT to put the pit there but you put it there so I'd do what you wanted me to. You are a bad DM. I'm supposed to be able to do whatever I want without restriction." The problem is that a DM can't actually run a game if railroading is defined that narrowly. I propose that we stop making railroading out to be a boogieman. Some of the best games I ever played were heavily railroaded but the players didn't care. Some of the worst games I've ever played had no railroading at all and ended up directionless and boring. Then again, I've had the reverse experience in both of those situations. Let's say that railroading is just another tool in a DMs toolbox that can be good or bad depending on the execution. [/QUOTE]

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