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<blockquote data-quote="rounser" data-source="post: 2960133" data-attributes="member: 1106">Okay, we probably agree then.&nbsp; I think I was using the term &quot;linear&quot; in the sense of the campaign goes like this:A -&gt; B -&gt; C -&gt; D -&gt; E -&gt; F...and nothing PCs can do changes that...rather than something that looks more like a flow diagram with contingencies, AND, OR and XOR conditions, and loops....or in the case of an improvisational DM, not even specified to that degree.&nbsp; The PCs do indeed go in a line along such a flow diagram (but that line's not predetermined).I think these are the auspices under which the game is usually played.&nbsp; If the players and DM are in agreement that the course of the campaign is set in stone, then the PCs won't challenge that, and will happily just buy their ticket and get on the train.&nbsp; Technically it's still railroading IMO, and I find it hard to buy the argument that it's not just because players are passively accepting every plot hook (regardless of whether they really find it compelling) and aren't challenging it.&nbsp; I think people want the label to disappear when this is the case purely because the &quot;railroad&quot; label has negative connotations, but if players and DM have accepted that the campaign is designed that way, where's the bad wrong fun?&nbsp; A campaign can be a complete railroad and still be fun, as the game's history has proved countless times.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="rounser, post: 2960133, member: 1106"] Okay, we probably agree then. I think I was using the term "linear" in the sense of the campaign goes like this: A -> B -> C -> D -> E -> F ...and nothing PCs can do changes that...rather than something that looks more like a flow diagram with contingencies, AND, OR and XOR conditions, and loops....or in the case of an improvisational DM, not even specified to that degree. The PCs do indeed go in a line along such a flow diagram (but that line's not predetermined). I think these are the auspices under which the game is usually played. If the players and DM are in agreement that the course of the campaign is set in stone, then the PCs won't challenge that, and will happily just buy their ticket and get on the train. Technically it's still railroading IMO, and I find it hard to buy the argument that it's not just because players are passively accepting every plot hook (regardless of whether they really find it compelling) and aren't challenging it. I think people want the label to disappear when this is the case purely because the "railroad" label has negative connotations, but if players and DM have accepted that the campaign is designed that way, where's the bad wrong fun? A campaign can be a complete railroad and still be fun, as the game's history has proved countless times. [/QUOTE]

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