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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 2751603" data-attributes="member: 22779">I have to admit that I tried to run a more "open" game the last time and failed miserably.  I was using the Scarred Lands setting of Shelzar and intended to run a fairly mature themed game.  It bombed.  I just couldn't seem to get the players interested in the setting no matter what I did.  I developed NPC's and they ignored them.  I flat out asked what they would like to do and they gave me blank looks.  I dangled hook after hook in front of them and nothing happened.  Until I started actively pushing in one direction or another, the game just stalled.I'll admit that I'm very weak when it comes to NPC's, but sheesh.  The next time I try that, I'm going to have to do a LOT more set up than what I did.  And start with players who actually want to play in the setting rather than treating it as vanilla DnD.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f641.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":(" title="Frown    :("  data-smilie="3"data-shortname=":(" />On the other hand, I suppose my current game in the World's Largest Dungeon could be considered very open ended.  Other than the fact that they have to escape someday, everything they do is entirely up to them.  The Dungeon doesn't really care what route they take or what actions.  It simply reacts.  I've been reading the World's Largest Thread and other groups that are in the same area as I am are having entirely different experiences.  I suppose that makes for an "open" game.</blockquote>

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