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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SteveC" data-source="post: 2955243" data-attributes="member: 9053">The best way not to railroad is to create characters and situations that your players care about. That's really all you need.If you start with a pre-made plot (such as an adventure path) tell your group about it and let them make characters who will care about it. If they don't like the idea, don't run the adventure path. Of course, this works better before you buy one, but still...If you're going to create the game yourself, let your players tell you what they want the game to be about and listen to them. Build character beliefs and conflicts right into the game.The true master (which I am most decidedly not) walks the line between these two extremes: he has a plot in mind, or more appropriately a direction he wants the game to go, but that direction largely comes from and is influenced by the players.In the original post, if characters care about the baron, or if they secretly want the gem, then there's a built in reason to adventure. If some characters want to advance their position with the baron, and some want to keep the gem to finance their own enterprises, so much the better.--Steve</blockquote>