Agamon
Adventurer
Hmmm, I don't think "open" and "goal" are mutually exclusive types of campaigns. A game with complete and utter freedom to do anything you want with no real goal is as bad as a game that railroads form checkpoint to checkpoint. There's gotta be a happy medium, though which point you lean to makes for different games.
As a DM and a player, I prefer a mix of the styles. In my current campaign, things happen in the environment around the PCs, and they can react to them or not, which suggests openness. However the sessions are mixed with objective-based adventures and open sessions where the PCs can do as they please. Each PC has his or her own personal goals, and there's an overall "uber-plot" series of events that will likely lead to the climax of the campaign.
This suggests an openness, I suppose, but many of the sessions are often individually goal-based, leading, directly or indirectly, to the campaign's eventual end.
So, I'd say give the players some freedom, but give them something to work towards, as well. Also, if the players are newbies, they're less likely to use the freedom you give without a few pushes. It's better to give them a few roads to choose, giving them the freedom to choose without the burden of coming up with something themselves.
As a DM and a player, I prefer a mix of the styles. In my current campaign, things happen in the environment around the PCs, and they can react to them or not, which suggests openness. However the sessions are mixed with objective-based adventures and open sessions where the PCs can do as they please. Each PC has his or her own personal goals, and there's an overall "uber-plot" series of events that will likely lead to the climax of the campaign.
This suggests an openness, I suppose, but many of the sessions are often individually goal-based, leading, directly or indirectly, to the campaign's eventual end.
So, I'd say give the players some freedom, but give them something to work towards, as well. Also, if the players are newbies, they're less likely to use the freedom you give without a few pushes. It's better to give them a few roads to choose, giving them the freedom to choose without the burden of coming up with something themselves.
