Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="Haltherrion" data-source="post: 5446099" data-attributes="member: 18253">I think there are some players and refs who feel something more on the sandbox end of things is a purer, better form of gaming but that doesn't mean most gamers necessarily subscribe to that. I think the sandbox crowd tends to be more vocal but not very prevalent.&nbsp;Published scenarios remain popular and they vary from somewhat railroady to very railroady. Someone must be buying and enjoying them.&nbsp;In my own experience, on the railroad to sandbox spectrum I tend to between a little railroady to somewhat sandboxish (the median more on the sanbox side but not hard over). But I enjoy a wide range of games across the spectrum. The most common other ref in our group runs a very railroad-ish game and I've always enjoyed those as well. Honestly, I think he creates more memorable situations than I do but it is hard to evaluate as a player in one game and a ref in the other.&nbsp;The trick is, as usual, to stay away from the extremes. A true, deep railroad isn't going to be much fun. Might as read a book or watch a movie but a game that provides a clear story and fairly clear direction while letting you solve it how you want? Can be loads of fun with the right setting and for the record, not so different from the better CRPGs that many paper and pencil gamers also enjoy.&nbsp;Similarly, a sandbox game where the players set direction can be a lot of fun. And as you note, something too sandboxish might be actually quite dull. Ref: &quot;What do you do next?&quot; Players: &quot;I don't know, what is there to do?&quot; REf: &quot;Hey, I just create the setting you need to find something to do.&quot; Players, not always verbalized: &quot;Heck, the setting may be clear in your head but I don't really know where to start. And besides, the last five things I tried to do all ended up going no where. This is boring.&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Haltherrion, post: 5446099, member: 18253"] I think there are some players and refs who feel something more on the sandbox end of things is a purer, better form of gaming but that doesn't mean most gamers necessarily subscribe to that. I think the sandbox crowd tends to be more vocal but not very prevalent. Published scenarios remain popular and they vary from somewhat railroady to very railroady. Someone must be buying and enjoying them. In my own experience, on the railroad to sandbox spectrum I tend to between a little railroady to somewhat sandboxish (the median more on the sanbox side but not hard over). But I enjoy a wide range of games across the spectrum. The most common other ref in our group runs a very railroad-ish game and I've always enjoyed those as well. Honestly, I think he creates more memorable situations than I do but it is hard to evaluate as a player in one game and a ref in the other. The trick is, as usual, to stay away from the extremes. A true, deep railroad isn't going to be much fun. Might as read a book or watch a movie but a game that provides a clear story and fairly clear direction while letting you solve it how you want? Can be loads of fun with the right setting and for the record, not so different from the better CRPGs that many paper and pencil gamers also enjoy. Similarly, a sandbox game where the players set direction can be a lot of fun. And as you note, something too sandboxish might be actually quite dull. Ref: "What do you do next?" Players: "I don't know, what is there to do?" REf: "Hey, I just create the setting you need to find something to do." Players, not always verbalized: "Heck, the setting may be clear in your head but I don't really know where to start. And besides, the last five things I tried to do all ended up going no where. This is boring." [/QUOTE]

Verification