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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Scott Christian" data-source="post: 8050121" data-attributes="member: 6901101">Valid opinion and more than fair. I would still describe the air as different, but instead of smelly locker room (as the other rooms were), I would describe it as moldy and still, as one might find in a damp cave.I appreciate the standard procedure in a game. I think we have all fallen into it at one time or another. But what I find, is there are players that always seem to want to break from the procedure. Maybe it's not thorough enough or they feel like they are missing something? Maybe they don't like the repetitiveness of it? Maybe they are antsy because in the procedure set up the bard is the one always rolling? Or a combination of all three. I really don't know, but as much as I have seen standard procedures start, I have seen almost all fall apart. Then it becomes a huge time sink.I do appreciate this. A good dungeon crawl, survival, dungeon roleplay. (That sounds naughty, but not intended.) Mapping and random encounters awesome. Field testing magic items - hilarious! All good stuff. But I have two buts to this:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">For most dungeons, the story lies elsewhere. The dungeon may help tell it, but it is hard to have an entire storyline take place in a dungeon. I get it, there are exceptions. But, for the most part, it is a piece of a setting that helps tell the story. So if it just that, I don't understand the need to spend six months on it (if you played twice a month). I feel like the same thing could be accomplished in two sessions.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">I understand that the dungeon is the actual story. But if the characters are travelling through a forest, is that the actual story? If they are finding a pass through the mountains, is that the actual story? If they are hanging out in a city, is that the actual story? Or make it even smaller, if they visit a huge tavern, is the tavern the actual story? Or are these things accomplished in a few sessions?</li> </ul>I appreciate a DM that just lets the players choose whatever path they want. To let one arc drop and be replaced by another. It takes skill and a lot of work to do it well. (Side Note: The ones making stuff up off the top of their head always seems to become a cluster after a few months.) I have a DM right now that is the best I have ever seen at this style of play. But what I see from the players' side is restlessness. There may be infinite objectives out there for our characters, but if all of them are going to play out with or without us, and our choices only influences one or two, then it always feels like a losing battle or we always feel like we are behind. Not saying this is your table, it is just my experiences with this style of play. In the end, it is the reason the thousands of published adventures exist - to complete a story arc.(Last Side Note: No offense to your table. I am sure you are awesome and your players are great too. If you guys are having fun, then I am all for it! It's just my own experiences at that kind of table to have never seen it work as well as it does in theory, or in my mind for that matter.)</blockquote>

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