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<blockquote data-quote="Scott Christian" data-source="post: 8713241" data-attributes="member: 6901101">Like all sandboxes, it is an illusion. They are no different than linear adventures. The only difference is someone wanted to make a name for their supposed playstyle. No offense to anyone. I mean that sincerely. But we are all kidding ourselves. This above example is a perfect example:DM: Want to deal with orc raiders?Players: No.DM: Well I will make you deal with them by having them wreak havoc on your campaign.Players: Not interested.DM: Oh yea! What about now. Now you have to deal with them or lose your homebase!Or...DM: The Captain of the Guards has asked you to scout an orc threat which is camping right next to one of the outer villages under his protection.Players: We tell the captain we can't as there are some ruins we wanted to explore.DM: It turns out those ruins are right next to the orc encampment. Perhaps kill two birds with one stone?Players: No. That might be too dangerous.DM: OK. (Players show up and the orcs are also investigating the ruins.)Many would consider one sandboxing and the other railroading. But in reality, they are the same - playing. And I get it. If you are going to do an entire campaign impromptu, use theater of the mind, or take breaks so you can draw up maps on the fly, have to look at player notes to see what you said one month ago, always let your players just go wherever they want without any nudging, and just use random tables - then maybe you are doing something different. But, in my experience, I have never seen it - even with the most adamant &quot;sandbox&quot; DMs.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Scott Christian, post: 8713241, member: 6901101"] Like all sandboxes, it is an illusion. They are no different than linear adventures. The only difference is someone wanted to make a name for their supposed playstyle. No offense to anyone. I mean that sincerely. But we are all kidding ourselves. This above example is a perfect example: DM: Want to deal with orc raiders? Players: No. DM: Well I will make you deal with them by having them wreak havoc on your campaign. Players: Not interested. DM: Oh yea! What about now. Now you have to deal with them or lose your homebase! Or... DM: The Captain of the Guards has asked you to scout an orc threat which is camping right next to one of the outer villages under his protection. Players: We tell the captain we can't as there are some ruins we wanted to explore. DM: It turns out those ruins are right next to the orc encampment. Perhaps kill two birds with one stone? Players: No. That might be too dangerous. DM: OK. (Players show up and the orcs are also investigating the ruins.) Many would consider one sandboxing and the other railroading. But in reality, they are the same - playing. And I get it. If you are going to do an entire campaign impromptu, use theater of the mind, or take breaks so you can draw up maps on the fly, have to look at player notes to see what you said one month ago, always let your players just go wherever they want without any nudging, and just use random tables - then maybe you are doing something different. But, in my experience, I have never seen it - even with the most adamant "sandbox" DMs. [/QUOTE]

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