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<blockquote data-quote="Jack Colby" data-source="post: 4632470" data-attributes="member: 54634">I guess railroading could be seen as forcing players down a particular path even though they don't want to do it.&nbsp; So if your group is enjoying what they're doing I don't think it counts.However, I think if you're depriving players of succeeding or failing on their own merits then you are doing something wrong.&nbsp; For example, if the PCs can't die no matter how badly they screw things up (or aren't even allowed to screw things up) because the planned &quot;story&quot; doesn't allow for it.&nbsp; I would feel robbed of the playing experience if a DM &quot;fudged&quot; when I made mistakes or decisions.&nbsp; I think there need to be consequences of player actions or the game feels boring and pointless.&nbsp; Might as well just write a story if it doesn't deviate no matter what.&nbsp; You can make me feel like I have a choice... but I want actual choice.Theoretically railroading could be entertaining I suppose, for the right types of players.&nbsp; But in general it is bad practice, and that is not just current thinking or some kind of fad.&nbsp; It goes back to the start of DMs trying to use the game as a vehicle for their personal fantasy storytelling needs... the game was not created as a vehicle for storytelling.&nbsp; Keep that in mind and you don't get railroading problems.&nbsp; Don't make it do something it wasn't designed for.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Jack Colby, post: 4632470, member: 54634"] I guess railroading could be seen as forcing players down a particular path even though they don't want to do it. So if your group is enjoying what they're doing I don't think it counts. However, I think if you're depriving players of succeeding or failing on their own merits then you are doing something wrong. For example, if the PCs can't die no matter how badly they screw things up (or aren't even allowed to screw things up) because the planned "story" doesn't allow for it. I would feel robbed of the playing experience if a DM "fudged" when I made mistakes or decisions. I think there need to be consequences of player actions or the game feels boring and pointless. Might as well just write a story if it doesn't deviate no matter what. You can make me feel like I have a choice... but I want actual choice. Theoretically railroading could be entertaining I suppose, for the right types of players. But in general it is bad practice, and that is not just current thinking or some kind of fad. It goes back to the start of DMs trying to use the game as a vehicle for their personal fantasy storytelling needs... the game was not created as a vehicle for storytelling. Keep that in mind and you don't get railroading problems. Don't make it do something it wasn't designed for. [/QUOTE]

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