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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 5145009" data-attributes="member: 18280">Duelling anecdotes, and all that.  <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/laugh.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":lol:" title="Laughing    :lol:" data-shortname=":lol:" />I started DMing on Christmas Day 1979, and in the time that has followed I spent 4 years in the US Army, moved a few times after, and finally moved to Canada.  I've run and played in many games in Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana, Louisiana, West Virginia, California, and Ontario, and possibly a few more places that I can't think of at the moment.  Over the course of this, I've run games for literally hundreds of players, including campaigns with more than 40 participants and games with more than a dozen seated at the table.During this time, I have discovered that there are players who, given a well-run sandbox game, are not interested.  But, IME, they are in the vast minority.  I have met many players who thought they didn't like the style until they tried it.  Overwhelmingly, it is my experience that a well-run sandbox is the preferable game environment.  I would estimate it in the range of 10 to 1.Obviously, not every game system is designed to run a sandbox well.  Also obviosuly, not every setting is equally conducive to a sandbox.  I would hate to try to run Doctor Who as a sandbox, for example!  <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/laugh.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":lol:" title="Laughing    :lol:" data-shortname=":lol:" />I have never had difficulties making players care about the setting.  I have known players that others have had difficulties with in this regard, that I have not, so I tend to chalk up the difference to whether or not the DM makes the setting count.You cannot force a horse to drink, but a thirsty horse will drink more often than not, if you can lead it to water.  Unfortunately, the various DMGs to date have had little to say on imparting this skill!  There have been some good articles in Dragon over the years, however.  <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />It may be that you have had bad luck with the players Fate has thrown at you.  It may also be that I have had extraordinarily good luck in the same.  Actually, I know I have had extraordinarily good luck, because I have certainly had some fantastic players over the years!  The RCFG playtest group is certainly all one could hope for in a group -- a full table of smart, amusing, and involved personalities!In short, my experience differs from yours.  My opinions are coloured by my experience, but I can't really say that my experience is more "universal" than anyone else's.Again, duelling anecdotes.  <img src="http://www.enworld.org/forum/images/smilies/laugh.png"  class="smilie" loading="lazy" alt=":lol:" title="Laughing    :lol:" data-shortname=":lol:" />RC</blockquote>

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