D&D General Sandbox and/or/vs Linear campaigns

[Laurefindel]

What does “scripted” mean in this context? That linear adventures are “scripted” while sandbox adventures are not? And/or does part of being “scripted” mean there is a specific goal for a particular adventure but specific goals are just happy accidents in sandbox play? Something else?

In this context, I meant scripted as the only predetermined outcome concluding of the adventure, achieved by resolving a series of predetermined steps planned and prepared solely toward this goal

 

[Reynard]

In this context, I meant scripted as the only predetermined outcome concluding of the adventure, achieved by resolving a series of predetermined steps planned and prepared solely toward this goal

That's a railroad* rather than just a linear adventure.

*if it is fun, then it is a roller-coaster.

 

[payn]

One thing the boards have made clear to me, to many, linear means crap until proven otherwise, and sandbox gets the benefit of the doubt as ideal until its proven otherwise.

 

[Umbran]

One thing the boards have made clear to me, to many, linear means crap until proven otherwise, and sandbox gets the benefit of the doubt as ideal until its proven otherwise.

Well, that's not surprising - if one is a fan of something, that something is viewed as superior to other things.

 

[payn]

Well, that's not surprising - if one is a fan of something, that something is viewed as superior to other things.

I suppose, I'm just more used to talking up my thing then down not my thing. Its not a matter of fact to me, but preference.

 

[Reynard]

I suppose, I'm just more used to talking up my thing then down not my thing. Its not a matter of fact to me, but preference.

I don't think most people have been explicitly talking down linear adventures -- although their is the usual conflation of linear and railroad. I do think that those of us who prefer sandboxes try and defend them against the common charges of sandboxes not actually being possible at all, or impossible to play because players get analysis paralysis or whatever.

Linear adventures are great, IMO, for groups like my Monday night gang that just want to get together and play. People want to have a whiskey and stab some monsters, maybe put on a funny voice. Not all linear play is casual, of course, but linear play is good for casual engagement.

 

[AlViking]

I don't think most people have been explicitly talking down linear adventures -- although their is the usual conflation of linear and railroad. I do think that those of us who prefer sandboxes try and defend them against the common charges of sandboxes not actually being possible at all, or impossible to play because players get analysis paralysis or whatever.

Linear adventures are great, IMO, for groups like my Monday night gang that just want to get together and play. People want to have a whiskey and stab some monsters, maybe put on a funny voice. Not all linear play is casual, of course, but linear play is good for casual engagement.

I prefer playing and running sandbox games but I have no issue with linear games either. I run a linear game for one of my groups because it works best for them.

 

[Laurefindel]

That's a railroad* rather than just a linear adventure.

*if it is fun, then it is a roller-coaster.

I tend to see linear vs sandbox as a scale rather than a binary question. Railroad is the end of the linear scale, but you can have a mostly linear game that isn’t a complete railroad.

Similarly, sandbox games are rarely purely sandbox; some level of linearity is typically introduced to give some direction to the game, if only toward to the end.

 

[Remathilis]

One thing the boards have made clear to me, to many, linear means crap until proven otherwise, and sandbox gets the benefit of the doubt as ideal until its proven otherwise.

Sandbox is considered the older and more pure style of play, having existed prior to Hickman's Revolution and the rise of story-based adventuring. Every OS-style game pushes sandbox style play, while modern games (5e and PF2e) push adventure-path style design. And Enworld looks on all-things OS fondly, so that benefit extends to sandbox play.

 

[payn]

Sandbox is considered the older and more pure style of play, having existed prior to Hickman's Revolution and the rise of story-based adventuring. Every OS-style game pushes sandbox style play, while modern games (5e and PF2e) push adventure-path style design. And Enworld looks on all-things OS fondly, so that benefit extends to sandbox play.

All of which I have no problem with. However, almost immediately as I made the comment about talking down playstyles instead of talking up preference, it happens again.