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<blockquote data-quote="Nagol" data-source="post: 6170108" data-attributes="member: 23935">I had similar problems with groups in the past.&nbsp; What I've adopted is an post-session &quot;after-action&quot; OOC conversation with the players where I ask what choices they saw, contrast with (some) genre-appropriate choices I saw and ask for reasons choosing the choices they did make.&nbsp; I not judging players' play, but rather trying to understand areas where the play group and I differ on genre assumptions, game assumptions, or where I did not convey the information I thought I did.It helps pick up game expectation differences, helps alleviate genre assumption gaps, and can be used to highlight areas where the party decision-making is sub-optimal without a requiring in-game negative reinforcement like a TPK or major failure of player goals.As for in-game avenues to explore, it depends on the group.Assuming the group is interested in this genre, but reasonably inexperienced I'd probably give them some in-game prodding.<ul>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Have them overhear some NPCs talking about getting help from sages while their in town on something unrelated.&nbsp; </li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Have a friendly NPC with access to some of their oldest clues piece some of it together (to the point the PCs could have with the information in front of them) and come to them with his revelation and recommend a subject matter expert who may know more.&nbsp; </li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Have a less friendly NPC offer to sell intel at 100% markup over the sage cost and have the PCs be able to find out where he got it and the true cost.&nbsp; </li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Have the local bar-keep say he couldn't help but overhear their conversation and there's nobody better than X at answering that sort of question short of the divinities themselves and they should mention his name for special pricing (the bar-keep gets a 5% referral fee of course).&nbsp; </li>
<li data-xf-list-type="ul">Have a sage on topics they should be interested in ask them for help on an unrelated matter.&nbsp; His introduction should include his specialty.</li>
</ul></blockquote>

[QUOTE="Nagol, post: 6170108, member: 23935"] I had similar problems with groups in the past. What I've adopted is an post-session "after-action" OOC conversation with the players where I ask what choices they saw, contrast with (some) genre-appropriate choices I saw and ask for reasons choosing the choices they did make. I not judging players' play, but rather trying to understand areas where the play group and I differ on genre assumptions, game assumptions, or where I did not convey the information I thought I did. It helps pick up game expectation differences, helps alleviate genre assumption gaps, and can be used to highlight areas where the party decision-making is sub-optimal without a requiring in-game negative reinforcement like a TPK or major failure of player goals. As for in-game avenues to explore, it depends on the group. Assuming the group is interested in this genre, but reasonably inexperienced I'd probably give them some in-game prodding. [LIST] [*]Have them overhear some NPCs talking about getting help from sages while their in town on something unrelated. [*]Have a friendly NPC with access to some of their oldest clues piece some of it together (to the point the PCs could have with the information in front of them) and come to them with his revelation and recommend a subject matter expert who may know more. [*]Have a less friendly NPC offer to sell intel at 100% markup over the sage cost and have the PCs be able to find out where he got it and the true cost. [*]Have the local bar-keep say he couldn't help but overhear their conversation and there's nobody better than X at answering that sort of question short of the divinities themselves and they should mention his name for special pricing (the bar-keep gets a 5% referral fee of course). [*]Have a sage on topics they should be interested in ask them for help on an unrelated matter. His introduction should include his specialty.[/LIST] [/QUOTE]

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