How do you like your campaigns - focused or freeform?

[Quasqueton]

How do you prefer your campaigns (as DM or Player)?

10 would be something like following the Age of Worms adventure path, or an extended (whole campaign length) Slavers series plot.

0 would be something like exploring the 20 levels of Castle Greyhawk, or roaming the world doing whatever takes the group’s interest at that moment.

Quasqueton

 

[Umbran]

As a DM, I probably prefer the 5 to 8 range.

As a player, I'm not picky.

 

[Mouseferatu]

I voted 8, but I think the more accurate answer is "in the 7 to 10 range." I prefer campaigns that are heavily plot/story-focused, but still allow room for individual character goals and plot arcs, and that include a few adventures/side quests not tied to the main plot.

 

[wayne62682]

I voted 8. I play D&D for heroic stories and interesting plots; now, every little adventure doesn't have to be related but I want there to be some semblance of a story there, not a bunch of random adventures. In short, I prefer episodes that are linked together, rather than each and every one being seperate (aside from featuring the same main characters) within the same environment like most episodes of a TV series.

 

[wmasters]

In the top half. I guess I like to have a motivation and storyline to follow. I could have voted anywhere from 6 to 10, I'd be happy anywhere on that scale, but plumbed for an 8.

That said, once in a while a one shot freeform style thing is good fun. I think an entire campaign of it would drive me round the bend though.

 

[Woas]

Around 5. I've done games that were 0 to 2ish and it seemed like nothing every "got done". Just one odd adventure after the other. You really need motivated players an a very focused DM for this.

I've also done 9-10ish games. These are good and I don't mind playing in them. However to DM, i'm more of a 5-7ish type guy.

 

[Masquerade]

As a DM, improvisation is one of my weaknesses. However, I've played with some great DMs for whom this wasn't a problem. When DMing, my answer is something like 8, but as a player, I think I'd prefer closer to a 5.

Great poll, by the way.

 

[The_Gneech]

Honestly, I prefer a pretty rambling kind of campaign ... long-term plots chafe after a while. Plus, the other GM in the group keeps trying to run every campaign like a Big Fat Fantasy where you get a prophecy at 1st level and then spend the next 20 levels waiting around for it to come true (and woe betide the player whose character has plans of their own). So these days I'm particularly wishing for a more free-form game.

I want to hear a handful of rumors and go after the one that sounds interesting to me -- I want to carve out my own barbarian kingdom! But no, I have to go collect the Seven MacGuffins of Ultimate Destiny, because the GM says so.

-The Gneech

 

[Desdichado]

I voted 6. I like some focus, but I really want that focus to arise from the actions and characters presented. Something like the Age of Worms just is, and it doesn't really matter what characters run through it, it changes very little. I don't really like that.

At the same time, I don't want to run around without focus. It's a balancing act a good GM has to do: tailer and craft the focus around the PCs that he has.

 

[Steel_Wind]

I'm running Age of Worms right now - so that's a 10. But a little bit of wiggle room where necessaray is good. So "9" it is.