Station Squatting (Player Railroading)

[Alikar]

After having read various threads on railroading, and speaking with a fellow DM on his previous party I have come across what I believe to be a new idea that I call Station Squating.

Station Squatting is the act of a player or group of players to ignore plot threads and instead focus their time on frivolous activities.

The reason I feel this is a problem is that the DM often spends a large amount of time working on a campaign for the players and should find it frustrating when the group essentially ignores the work they put into it. What I mean by this is not that the players are ignore the DMs plot or going off and adventure in an unexpected location, but instead the players are acting like NPCS. An example is a group of players shopping for clothing or starting their own business. Now while this can be interesting diversion, I think its a problem if it comes up consistently. Should not the players be Heroes and not Bakers? Especially for something like DnD?

That said I like cake... mmm cake...

TO NEW READERS TO THIS POST:

Its apparent that I was unclear with what station squatting means in my original post. So here is a clarified version:

Station Squatting is not ignoring the DM plot, its refusing to be adventures in a game about adventuring.

 

[doppelganger]

An example is a group of players shopping for clothing or starting their own buisness. Now while this can be interesting deversion, I think its a problem if it comes up consistently. Should not the players be Heroes and not Bakers? Especially for something like DnD?

Station Squatting. I like that.

If players in an heroic adventure game (that was not explicitly about running a bakery) I was DMing tried that. I would burn their bakery to the ground.

 

[Alikar]

Station Squatting. I like that.

If players in an heroic adventure game (that was not explicitly about running a bakery) I was DMing tried that. I would burn their bakery to the ground.

I rather liked that article, it does basically describe the problem with Station Squatting.

 

[roguerouge]

Station squatting is a complement to the DM's world building. Enjoy it.

 

[Grazzt]

Station Squatting. I like that.

If players in an heroic adventure game (that was not explicitly about running a bakery) I was DMing tried that. I would burn their bakery to the ground.

nice article. Definitely to the point. And yeah- I'd probably burn the bakery to the ground too, after first murdering any workers the PC has hired (perhaps just by having them burn up in the bakery).

 

[Sysbase]

After having read various threads on player rail roading, and speaking with a fellow DM on his previous party I have come across what I believe to be a new idea that I call Station Squating.

Station Squating is the act of a player or group of players to ignore plot threads and instead focus their time on frivalous activities.

The reason I feel this is a problem is that the DM often spends a large amount of time working on a campaign for the players and should find it frustrating when the group essentially ignores the work they put into it. What I mean by this is not that the players are ignore the DMs plot or going off and adventure in an unexpected location, but instead the players are acting like NPCS. An example is a group of players shopping for clothing or starting their own buisness. Now while this can be interesting deversion, I think its a problem if it comes up consistently. Should not the players be Heroes and not Bakers? Especially for something like DnD?

That said I like cake... mmm cake...

Don't let this hamper you. There definitely things you can do to get around this. I know it sucks

 

[mach1.9pants]

AWESOME article. Made me laugh. A lot.

I don't DM at all in that style, my players are heroes, wealthy and successful. But what a great come back to the whinger! Good to see someone who doesn't toe a 'party' line when blogging

 

[Alikar]

Don't let this hamper you. There definitely things you can do to get around this. I know it sucks

I have yet to encounter it personally, but for future reference what did you have in mind? I mean I can easily burn, trash, and destroy anything thing of the players. However, I would rather convince them to move on in a plot orientated nature. Then again, maybe burning the bakery is destiny.

 

[Lanefan]

Station squatting is a complement to the DM's world building. Enjoy it.

Hear, hear.

I'd rather have players do this than just sit there and wait to be fed a story. Besides, the station they're squatting in can provide its own story hooks if you like...one of their employees, for example, is an Assassin in hiding from the law...

Lanefan

 

[SiderisAnon]

Frankly, I love it when my players stop to build a business or otherwise add to the game world. (As long as they're not doing it when they have a limited time to get something done, like save the world.) I had one campaign where the businesses the party created ended up driving most of the campaign after a while.

That said, it's certainly not everyone's play style. However, if your players are spending a lot of time on stuff like that and you don't want to, just talk to them. Maybe they have different expectations. Maybe these are things they really enjoy doing or think are a required part of the game.