How do you like your adventures - focused or freeform?

[Sejs]

Seven plus, personally. I like my games to have something going on in them other than just 'okay, you're adventurers.. go find some adventure or something'.

A directed, flowing plot doesn't in any way prohibit personal story arcs or character development. You can easily have your cake and eat it too.

 

[Greg K]

A long time ago, I stopped preparing more than a few hooks for adventures and some general notes about each hook as fully fleshing out adventures was proving to be a waste of time. Too often my players have gone off in unexpected directions mid-game and the new direction become the focus for that session (and possibly the next few that follow). However, I have no complaints. The players taking initiative and doing the unexpected not only keeps me on my toes, but has resulted in many of the best sessons.

Now, there are metaplots and NPCs pursuing their own goals. If the players ignore hooks related to metaplots or certain NPCs, it may come back to bite the players in the butt at a later date- things don't stop just because the players do not get involved.