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Message: <blockquote data-quote="hawkeyefan" data-source="post: 7087328" data-attributes="member: 6785785">I don't think the structure forces a railroad, no. There are still multiple possible outcomes. I think the only element that may be considered to force a railroad would be "The GM has designed that the players almost certainly cannot defeat the orcs." That seems to be the one item where the DM has decided PC success or failure by fiat. But even that I don't think really forces a railroad....because the fact that the task is unwinnable by normal methods is made clear to the PCs, or at least they are given ample opportunity to learn that's the case. I think @<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=42582" target="_blank">pemerton</a> would insist that such a decision that the fight be unwinnable only be determined by some kind of failure on the PCs part, and that if it is simply decided by DM Judgment, then it's the GM "railroading" the PCs. Perhaps that assumption is wrong, and if so @<a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=42582" target="_blank">pemerton</a> can correct my guess work here. But I wouldn't categorize that as a railroad because there are still several options for the PCs to take, some of which may depend on how they approach the situation. We know the horde may not be defeated outright, but that does not mean that the PCs can't come up with a way to affect the direction of the fiction.In addition to the outcomes you listed, what about the below:- the PCs infiltrate the horde in some way, and target the leadership, removing the element of command from the force, which then collapses on itself with infighting- the PCs infiltrate the horde in some way, and use misdirection and other subterfuge to issue false orders, delaying the attack long enough for the town to fully evacuate- the PCs delay the horde per the above, while also seeking aid from allies established earlier in the game, allowing reinforcements enough time to arrive, creating a more even battleI mean, in discussion only, it's easy to limit the outcomes to a handful of options. But most games would likely have more options based on what's happened so far in the campaign.So ultimately, I don't think that the GM structuring the game in this way need be a railroad. Even if the GM decides that the horde cannot be defeated outright, I don't think that's a significant reduction in player agency to constitute a railroad, as long as multiple approaches to the problem and multiple possible outcomes exist.</blockquote>

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