Thasmodious
First Post
I'm talking about freedom, man. Puttin' your conceptions aside and just experience RPG life, man. Let the players do the heavy lifting, just kick back and take it all in, roll some dice, and see what happens, man.
Ok, so not quite like that, but the last couple of years, my GM style has become increasingly freeform to the point where I plan next to nothing narratively or structurally and run a game where the players really dictate the action. It's not the same thing as sandbox, with its site-based adventuring (if the PCs go here, this happens or they encounter this) although some elements of sandbox show up. And it's pretty far removed from narrative GMing, although the PCs manage to get involved in plenty of plot lines.
What I most enjoy about the form is the freedom (both for the GM and the players) and challenge of thinking on my feet and focusing prep on tools that allow me to do so as fluidly as possible. I'm curious how many others GM in a similar vein and what they see as the strengths and weaknesses of this style (could we call it GMing Commando, or Freeballin'?). And any tips, tricks and tools they'd like to share? Critical discussion of the merits or demerits of the style are very welcome as well.
Ok, so not quite like that, but the last couple of years, my GM style has become increasingly freeform to the point where I plan next to nothing narratively or structurally and run a game where the players really dictate the action. It's not the same thing as sandbox, with its site-based adventuring (if the PCs go here, this happens or they encounter this) although some elements of sandbox show up. And it's pretty far removed from narrative GMing, although the PCs manage to get involved in plenty of plot lines.
What I most enjoy about the form is the freedom (both for the GM and the players) and challenge of thinking on my feet and focusing prep on tools that allow me to do so as fluidly as possible. I'm curious how many others GM in a similar vein and what they see as the strengths and weaknesses of this style (could we call it GMing Commando, or Freeballin'?). And any tips, tricks and tools they'd like to share? Critical discussion of the merits or demerits of the style are very welcome as well.