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<blockquote data-quote="Byrons_Ghost" data-source="post: 2103705" data-attributes="member: 7396">First off, let me say that I pretty much agree with what Torm said. People are getting so desperate to avoid railroading that it's leading to the absence of any sort of backstory in modules. Telling the players what's going on and why they're going on the adventure isn't railroading; it's giving them the information they need to play the game. Or do you expect them- especially the newbies- to just hear rumors about a plague and decide to go investigate? IME this is a longshot, especially for a group that hasn't played together before. Eventually you can come up with an interactive world where they can wander as they like and pick and choose what plots to pursue. But in the beginning of things, the DM needs to get the ball rolling, or there won't be a campaign at all.In this case, since the players have expressed an interest in playing out the first encounter, have them meet each other for the first time at the Baron's place, where he's briefing them on the mission, introduces them, etc etc. Keep it short, maybe 15-20 minutes to get them the info they need and let them interact a little. Then send them off to the mines. Give them an encounter along the road if you don't want to dump them into the tunnels immediately, but by all means get the plot moving as quickly as possible. You don't want to have the PCs all sitting around in a tavern waiting to meet each other, because it probably won't happen.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Byrons_Ghost, post: 2103705, member: 7396"] First off, let me say that I pretty much agree with what Torm said. People are getting so desperate to avoid railroading that it's leading to the absence of any sort of backstory in modules. Telling the players what's going on and why they're going on the adventure isn't railroading; it's giving them the information they need to play the game. Or do you expect them- especially the newbies- to just hear rumors about a plague and decide to go investigate? IME this is a longshot, especially for a group that hasn't played together before. Eventually you can come up with an interactive world where they can wander as they like and pick and choose what plots to pursue. But in the beginning of things, the DM needs to get the ball rolling, or there won't be a campaign at all. In this case, since the players have expressed an interest in playing out the first encounter, have them meet each other for the first time at the Baron's place, where he's briefing them on the mission, introduces them, etc etc. Keep it short, maybe 15-20 minutes to get them the info they need and let them interact a little. Then send them off to the mines. Give them an encounter along the road if you don't want to dump them into the tunnels immediately, but by all means get the plot moving as quickly as possible. You don't want to have the PCs all sitting around in a tavern waiting to meet each other, because it probably won't happen. [/QUOTE]

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