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<blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 5126147" data-attributes="member: 18280">Not IME.It seems to me that, given a lot of &quot;exciting&quot; options, the players chose to go where one such option did not exist.&nbsp; The entire value of choosing your destination is that the destination you choose is not the same as the one you did not choose.&nbsp; Players often try to determine the unwritten rules of a setting.&nbsp; It could well be that they are simply trying to discover whether or not they are engaged in a sandbox -- can they go to Boretown?&nbsp; That settled, they may feel better about the hooks offered.&nbsp; It is far easier for good - or even moderately good - players to detect the &quot;illusion of choice&quot; than most GMs believe.It could be that they have some specific goal in mind.&nbsp; &quot;Can we get these dwarves to make us better armour in exchange for some task?&quot;&nbsp; The answer being Yes or No, they then move on.It could be that they are thinking &quot;So, these dwarves have no reason to be taking extra precautions right now?&nbsp; Let's see if we can give them one!&quot;&nbsp; Not all PCs are Lawful Good, after all, and the dwarves may have something worth stealing!The players might just like dwarves.There is nothing wrong with the GM simply saying &quot;Nothing much seems to be happening here.&nbsp; There is a Public Hall where you can stay, 5 gp each night for room and board.&nbsp; How many nights do you wish to stay?&quot;&nbsp; Then it is up to the players to either to make something happen, or to move on where something already is happening.Because that &quot;safe haven&quot; dwarf village?&nbsp; The one where nothing is happening?&nbsp; That is useful to have in a sandbox.&nbsp; The PCs should know of a place or two that is usually dull and safe.&nbsp; First off, it gives them a place to retreat to.&nbsp; Second, it is a good place to very rarely have something happen (be it a wedding, another celebration, a monster attack, or whatever), because it is there that the contrast will be felt the most.RC</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Raven Crowking, post: 5126147, member: 18280"] Not IME. It seems to me that, given a lot of "exciting" options, the players chose to go where one such option did not exist. The entire value of choosing your destination is that the destination you choose is not the same as the one you did not choose. Players often try to determine the unwritten rules of a setting. It could well be that they are simply trying to discover whether or not they are engaged in a sandbox -- can they go to Boretown? That settled, they may feel better about the hooks offered. [i]It is far easier for good - or even moderately good - players to detect the "illusion of choice" than most GMs believe.[/i] It could be that they have some specific goal in mind. "Can we get these dwarves to make us better armour in exchange for some task?" The answer being Yes or No, they then move on. It could be that they are thinking "So, these dwarves have no reason to be taking extra precautions right now? Let's see if we can give them one!" Not all PCs are Lawful Good, after all, and the dwarves may have something worth stealing! The players might just like dwarves. There is nothing wrong with the GM simply saying "Nothing much seems to be happening here. There is a Public Hall where you can stay, 5 gp each night for room and board. How many nights do you wish to stay?" Then it is up to the players to either to make something happen, or to move on where something already is happening. Because that "safe haven" dwarf village? The one where nothing is happening? That is useful to have in a sandbox. The PCs [I][B]should[/B][/I] know of a place or two that is [I][B]usually[/B][/I] dull and safe. First off, it gives them a place to retreat to. Second, it is a good place to very rarely have something happen (be it a wedding, another celebration, a monster attack, or whatever), because it is there that the contrast will be felt the most. RC [/QUOTE]

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