Comments on: Avoid Those Railroads, Even Where They Start http://dndnerd.com/avoid-those-railroads-even-where-they-start Ramblings of a Nerd who likes to play D&D Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:00:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Yax http://dndnerd.com/avoid-those-railroads-even-where-they-start#comment-2419 Yax Mon, 30 Jul 2007 06:00:34 +0000 http://dndnerd.com/avoid-those-railroads-even-where-they-start#comment-2419 I am a big fan of this technique. The players decide how they know each other when they create their characters. That way there is no way I'll deal with a group of characters that hang out together just because we're playing a game. I might even ask them to tweak their characters if I'm not satisfied with the result. That doesn't mean there is no conflict between the characters. There's usually a lot of conflict and tension between old friends that have to be together all the time. I am a big fan of this technique. The players decide how they know each other when they create their characters. That way there is no way I’ll deal with a group of characters that hang out together just because we’re playing a game. I might even ask them to tweak their characters if I’m not satisfied with the result.

That doesn’t mean there is no conflict between the characters. There’s usually a lot of conflict and tension between old friends that have to be together all the time.

]]> By: Wolfcat http://dndnerd.com/avoid-those-railroads-even-where-they-start#comment-2331 Wolfcat Sat, 21 Jul 2007 08:29:08 +0000 http://dndnerd.com/avoid-those-railroads-even-where-they-start#comment-2331 It's always hard, especially when you start DMing and want to get the show on the road. First, there are two factors on the player's side: 1. player personality, 2. character alignment. Player personality is obvious: the player is happy to go along with the DM, especially at the beginning of the adventure where the way you introduce the world indicates what the player should do, and they want to get the show on the road as much as you do. 2. Character alignment seems most important in the good-evil spectrum: For example, in the latest campaign, my character did not resist an old man begging for help trying to save the world because he is good. Good characters aren't hard to motivate, usually. Neutral and Evil characters are better with bribes: Ocelot basically offered you anything because he figured you'd all be dead, but he was rich enough to plausibly promise it. Attention-capturing is a double-bladed sword: at the beginning of the aquatic session there was an explosion and the sounds of battle to draw the characters to the scene. Everybody decided to ignore it for the sake of their own hides. It wasn't a problem - if anything, it was easier to use NPCs to convey the information - but only the good guys rushed to help. Lawful is easier for the DM, especially for Paladin or Samurai (or monk, or cleric, or fighter...) characters who obey some kind of master's orders. Chaotic...is once again probably better with bribes. PS: Ahh, the winter campaign...we weren't just mercenaries; we were mercilessly evil murderers, two soldiers taking orders from Loki. It’s always hard, especially when you start DMing and want to get the show on the road. First, there are two factors on the player’s side: 1. player personality, 2. character alignment.
Player personality is obvious: the player is happy to go along with the DM, especially at the beginning of the adventure where the way you introduce the world indicates what the player should do, and they want to get the show on the road as much as you do.
2. Character alignment seems most important in the good-evil spectrum: For example, in the latest campaign, my character did not resist an old man begging for help trying to save the world because he is good. Good characters aren’t hard to motivate, usually. Neutral and Evil characters are better with bribes: Ocelot basically offered you anything because he figured you’d all be dead, but he was rich enough to plausibly promise it. Attention-capturing is a double-bladed sword: at the beginning of the aquatic session there was an explosion and the sounds of battle to draw the characters to the scene. Everybody decided to ignore it for the sake of their own hides. It wasn’t a problem - if anything, it was easier to use NPCs to convey the information - but only the good guys rushed to help.
Lawful is easier for the DM, especially for Paladin or Samurai (or monk, or cleric, or fighter…) characters who obey some kind of master’s orders. Chaotic…is once again probably better with bribes.

PS: Ahh, the winter campaign…we weren’t just mercenaries; we were mercilessly evil murderers, two soldiers taking orders from Loki.

]]> By: Delwynndwn http://dndnerd.com/avoid-those-railroads-even-where-they-start#comment-2292 Delwynndwn Thu, 19 Jul 2007 06:40:26 +0000 http://dndnerd.com/avoid-those-railroads-even-where-they-start#comment-2292 I actually completely forgotten about that one! :oops: That can work very well too. I think I did that for a Winter one-shot that I ran about a year ago. It ended up with the entire group starting out two groups. One group were people who were already residents of a town, while the other group were basically mercenaries who wanted cash. Oh, and then there was the one character who was a missionary. She went to that town to try to convert the populace to her religion. Unfortunately for her, she had to contend with the already entrenched religion. :twisted: I actually completely forgotten about that one! :oops:

That can work very well too. I think I did that for a Winter one-shot that I ran about a year ago. It ended up with the entire group starting out two groups. One group were people who were already residents of a town, while the other group were basically mercenaries who wanted cash.

Oh, and then there was the one character who was a missionary. She went to that town to try to convert the populace to her religion. Unfortunately for her, she had to contend with the already entrenched religion. :twisted:

]]> By: Jeff Miller http://dndnerd.com/avoid-those-railroads-even-where-they-start#comment-2287 Jeff Miller Thu, 19 Jul 2007 06:10:03 +0000 http://dndnerd.com/avoid-those-railroads-even-where-they-start#comment-2287 There is another way that I found after dealing with uncooperative platers or those who expected a bribe to cooperate. At character creation time, tell them: Your characters have been companions for a few years now and are just getting out into the big bad world. Figure out how you how you met and why you are together now. There is another way that I found after dealing with uncooperative platers or those who expected a bribe to cooperate.

At character creation time, tell them:

Your characters have been companions for a few years now and are just getting out into the big bad world. Figure out how you how you met and why you are together now.

]]> By: Delwynndwn http://dndnerd.com/avoid-those-railroads-even-where-they-start#comment-2286 Delwynndwn Thu, 19 Jul 2007 06:03:19 +0000 http://dndnerd.com/avoid-those-railroads-even-where-they-start#comment-2286 While "Bride the characters" seems rather funny, that was entirely a typo. Big thanks to the friend who pointed that out for me. :) Anyhow, my bad. :oops: While “Bride the characters” seems rather funny, that was entirely a typo. Big thanks to the friend who pointed that out for me. :)

Anyhow, my bad. :oops:

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