Help - I'll try to run Asticlian Gambit (or not)

[Ezequielramone]

Well here's the thing. I DMed the first 3 adventures (Freedom!, Road to Urik and Arcane Shadows). The group is super engaged with the campaign. Next session we are supposed to start Asticlian Gambit. I only read on internet bad things about it being to much of rail-roaded.
Have anyone run it? Is it so bad as they say? Is it easy to adapt the story to avoid being so rail-road? Should I skip it and run Dragon's Crown? I don't have much time to prepare an adventure, so if I read the whole adventure and it's not worth it would be a waste for me.
In any case, what's your experience with this adventure?
Thanks in advance for your time.

 

[Ath'kethin]

Let me answer your question with a question: what's wrong with a railroad? Some of the most famous and revered modules in D&D history were little more.

For what it's worth, I don't remember the module being that much of a railroad, but then again, it's been over 20 years since I played it, and much depends on a DM. It's quite possible that the guy running it for my group back in the day was good enough that it never SEEMED like a railroad. Or if it was, it wasn't a problem.

So I say run it. Worst case scenario: your players have a slightly less fun time than the previous (and in theory, the next) one. If you're playing through them all, you might as well pay through them all.

 

[Seramus]

Railroads are fine as long as the tracks are invisible. Things only get awkward if players can see the tracks and actively try to jump them.