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<blockquote data-quote="Janx" data-source="post: 5007702" data-attributes="member: 8835">As I apparently didn't clearly state it, I make a plot that the PCs WILL be interested in.&nbsp; After the first session, all subsequent sessions are based on feedback from the players on exactly what they planned to do based on the outcome of the last session.Therefore, when I say the players are invested in a plot, or are following a plot, the players have chosen to go do it.Based on that, what seems to not be getting through to some of you, is that when the party has CHOSEN to race to ThereVille to stop the villain, they are locked in.&nbsp; Not by chains or DM fiat, but by virtue of the priority of their chosen goal.A cat will almost always blink when struck with a hammer.&nbsp; A paladin will almost always volunteer to rescue the princess.Few of us wake up and decide to skip going to work and go to the museum.&nbsp; Few of us decide to take a side trek to Iowa to explore it while driving to the mall.&nbsp; People are predictable and people tend to take actions that move them closer to their goal.Once you decide to go save the princess, barring a change, a rational party will continue to make choices that lead to that goal.&nbsp; All other options that don't lead to chosen goals are nullified as choices.This is the effect I'm talking about.&nbsp; If you're playing a sandbox where nothing really matters, then of course, your players are free to choose anything.&nbsp; But then, none of it really matters, not even to the PCs.I run a game where the world has stuff happening, and the PCs get caught up in it.&nbsp; Some of what happens is because of what NPCs are doing, some of it happens because of what PCs are doing.&nbsp; If the PCs are passive, the NPCs start doing more until the PCs get motivated.&nbsp; If the PCs are active, they'll drive events in the game, forcing NPCs to react.I also don't run a game for evil NPCs.&nbsp; Maybe a sandbox is a better format for evil, those types have no ties or loyalty to anything.&nbsp; But give me a good party, it's pretty predictable what they'll do.&nbsp; Thus, they have no choice by virtue of who they are.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Janx, post: 5007702, member: 8835"] As I apparently didn't clearly state it, I make a plot that the PCs WILL be interested in. After the first session, all subsequent sessions are based on feedback from the players on exactly what they planned to do based on the outcome of the last session. Therefore, when I say the players are invested in a plot, or are following a plot, the players have chosen to go do it. Based on that, what seems to not be getting through to some of you, is that when the party has CHOSEN to race to ThereVille to stop the villain, they are locked in. Not by chains or DM fiat, but by virtue of the priority of their chosen goal. A cat will almost always blink when struck with a hammer. A paladin will almost always volunteer to rescue the princess. Few of us wake up and decide to skip going to work and go to the museum. Few of us decide to take a side trek to Iowa to explore it while driving to the mall. People are predictable and people tend to take actions that move them closer to their goal. Once you decide to go save the princess, barring a change, a rational party will continue to make choices that lead to that goal. All other options that don't lead to chosen goals are nullified as choices. This is the effect I'm talking about. If you're playing a sandbox where nothing really matters, then of course, your players are free to choose anything. But then, none of it really matters, not even to the PCs. I run a game where the world has stuff happening, and the PCs get caught up in it. Some of what happens is because of what NPCs are doing, some of it happens because of what PCs are doing. If the PCs are passive, the NPCs start doing more until the PCs get motivated. If the PCs are active, they'll drive events in the game, forcing NPCs to react. I also don't run a game for evil NPCs. Maybe a sandbox is a better format for evil, those types have no ties or loyalty to anything. But give me a good party, it's pretty predictable what they'll do. Thus, they have no choice by virtue of who they are. [/QUOTE]

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