What is "railroading" to you (as a player)?

[Hriston]

To what degree? Where do "campaign constraints" turn into "railroad"?

When they are imposed by someone other than the player, and they control the PC's decisions or opportunities for decisions in any way which, in the player's opinion, breaks the agreements and expectations which govern play for that group.

 

[Reynard]

When they are imposed by someone other than the player, and they control the PC's decisions or opportunities for decisions in any way which, in the player's opinion, breaks the agreements and expectations which govern play for that group.

I mean, "We want to go to Sigil," vs "This campaign is set in ancient Ireland."

There is a line. "The GM says No," can't be the definition of "railroading". That is just silly.

 

[Umbran]

When they are imposed by someone other than the player, and they control the PC's decisions or opportunities for decisions in any way which, in the player's opinion, breaks the agreements and expectations which govern play for that group.

You know, I have issues with this being only two states, and only one party gets any input on what state you are in.

RPGs are endeavors in which people have to cooperate. Cooperation generally means nobody involved always gets exactly what they want. So, granting some space in there is probably in order.

 

[Hriston]

I mean, "We want to go to Sigil," vs "This campaign is set in ancient Ireland."

There is a line. "The GM says No," can't be the definition of "railroading". That is just silly.

What's silly is that you're positing a group where play has been predicated on the expectation of being able to go to Sigil even though the (presumably agreed upon) campaign setting is ancient Ireland. This group needs a session zero!

 

[Micah Sweet]

What's silly is that you're positing a group where play has been predicated on the expectation of being able to go to Sigil even though the (presumably agreed upon) campaign setting is ancient Ireland. This group needs a session zero!

If that specific example is a point of contention, then yes, absolutely.