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Post by captaincrumbcake on Sept 3, 2017 13:14:51 GMT -5
comments...
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Post by mao on Sept 3, 2017 14:18:39 GMT -5
I am the Imperial Emperor of Railroads, the overall plot must be followed but There is always room for improv
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Post by Admin Pete on Sept 3, 2017 18:19:36 GMT -5
I voted for some combination of both. I put in the framework of things that I think will be fun and the players decide what they want to pursue and that's when the improvisation comes in.
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Post by scottanderson on Sept 3, 2017 20:19:03 GMT -5
It really depends on the campaign parameters, doesn't it?
For instance:
Campaign One: here's the map of the world. You start at this dot over here in hex 0312. Who are you? Where do you want to go? What do you want to do?
Campaign Two: here's a megadungeon and here are your pregens.
Campaign Three: you are the Heroes of the Lance and we are going g to play through the DL modules.
These three campaigns are going to feature vastly different amounts of improv. In fact, the improv inherent to the third campaign is probably of a dampening and course-correcting sort, meant to reduce agency rather than amplify it.
So it seems hard to give a good answer to the poll I will come back to it when I have given it more fruitful thought.
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Post by finarvyn on Sept 4, 2017 5:50:07 GMT -5
Scott nailed it here -- the campaign often dictates my DM style.
For years I never used purchased modules. Some adventures were very much "you are on a map" style and others were very "here is the dungeon; explore" things. When I wrote a plotline it was often simplistic and vague so that the players could interpret as needed and we would all wing it as we played through the thing.
Nowadays I often DM my way through a 5E Adventurer's League campaign where everything has to be scripted. Not as much fun as the good old days, but it's what the local game store wants.
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Post by The Bear Hawk on Sept 4, 2017 7:46:05 GMT -5
Captain, My Captain! How are you defining your terms? What do you mean by 100% Intentional? Do you mean railroad or a designed world? |
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Post by Maximum Forest Ranger on Sept 4, 2017 7:59:16 GMT -5
I am the Imperial Emperor of Railroads, the overall plot must be followed but There is always room for improv Do you have a regular ongoing campaign with several players? |
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Post by mao on Sept 4, 2017 8:24:50 GMT -5
Actually I wrapped up a 31 yr long game a couple of years ago(ending w 2 original players) I'm just getting back to my new campain w the same group after a long break, so yes.
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Post by Jame Rowe on Sept 4, 2017 10:18:17 GMT -5
I tend to use modules a lot, more out of writers block than anything else.
That said, I'm happy to free form it, since I want to enjoy the game and make sure my players have a good time than worry about strict by the rules play.
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Post by scottanderson on Sept 4, 2017 11:17:34 GMT -5
There's nothing wrong with using modules. You can even encourage player agency by seeding modules around a hex map.
I'm thinking about using Orlains, Stallanford and Hommlett as villages near the starting town so that wherever the players decide to stop, there will be a nice adventure waiting.
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Post by ripx187 on Sept 4, 2017 13:59:03 GMT -5
My biggest issue with the game is being able to control the flow, at least on my end. I don't want to have too many times where I am forced to stop the game because I am looking facts up, having a player look up a spell, or how a mechanic works are one thing, but I believe that the DM had best have their ducks in a row. I prefer to have the players set the pace of the game, yet maintain my ability to speed it up or slow it down to make them uncomfortable. Flow is something that is very important to me.
I, as the DM, will make this game world mine. I have a style of play that is unique to me, but I will choose the places to put my signature in there. I use random generators during prep, but write them in afterward, bringing them to life. I create my own random tables, that right there is a mixture of writing and dice, but they stay within the theme of my game.
I enjoy history, social studies, and folklore, these elements will be in there, but I want to play these games too, and I can't if everything is set in stone. I want just enough detail to create an illusion, the players will find things in these elements that I had never seen, they are building the world with me through their choices and actions, and you can't do that with an inflexible world.
I learned how to DM from modules that took a novel approach to gaming. I'm sure that if I sat down and wrote a version of my games that you could play at your table than I would end up with the same thing. But, while I'm running them, they are not that way at all. I start out with a basic scetch that doesn't become a full living world until we are playing.
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Post by ripx187 on Sept 4, 2017 14:10:43 GMT -5
Recycling is something that we have to do. Why draw a map just to throw it away?
My club meets once a month to play, and I always suspected that I could game with the same map over and over again and they would never know the difference, but I decided to test the theory. I had drawn them a player map of the village that they spent most of their time in, but when they discovered the ruins of a village that they had been seeking they wanted to draw their own map of it. I just described the same map and they drew it and never caught on until I told them. I even started with the major feature of the village, a large circular park in the center of town, figuring that would tell them that I didn't care what this ruined village looked like, and they didn't catch on until they put both maps side by side, then they called me a dick.
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Post by True Black Raven on Mar 17, 2018 11:42:23 GMT -5
captaincrumbcake, before I answer the poll, I have to ask, what do you mean by 100% Intentional? Do you mean that you use a well developed world and you are completely prepared or do you mean that it is a railroad and the players had better follow the script? I could see the definition going either way, so wanted to know what you intended (pun intended).
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Post by captaincrumbcake on Mar 17, 2018 12:21:41 GMT -5
captaincrumbcake , before I answer the poll, I have to ask, what do you mean by 100% Intentional? Do you mean that you use a well developed world and you are completely prepared or do you mean that it is a railroad and the players had better follow the script? I could see the definition going either way, so wanted to know what you intended (pun intended). See the ScottAnderson post up-thread. Also, I hope everyone understands I am referring to their current campaign-style. |
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Post by True Black Raven on Mar 17, 2018 13:29:33 GMT -5
captaincrumbcake , before I answer the poll, I have to ask, what do you mean by 100% Intentional? Do you mean that you use a well developed world and you are completely prepared or do you mean that it is a railroad and the players had better follow the script? I could see the definition going either way, so wanted to know what you intended (pun intended). See the ScottAnderson post up-thread. Also, I hope everyone understands I am referring to their current campaign-style. Thank you. My answer is 100% (home-brew designed) Random, as I never use modules, not even to piggy back on. |
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Post by Dartanian on Mar 26, 2018 22:55:01 GMT -5
If the poll were not locked I would vote other as I just do my own thing and let the chips fall where they may.
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Post by mormonyoyoman on Mar 26, 2018 23:37:22 GMT -5
My style was lawfully chaotic.
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Post by Admin Pete on Mar 27, 2018 10:26:02 GMT -5
My style was lawfully chaotic. I think you used an extra L at the beginning of awfully. Typo right? |
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Post by mormonyoyoman on Mar 27, 2018 10:35:19 GMT -5
My style was lawfully chaotic. I think you used an extra L at the beginning of awfully. Typo right? Maybe I meant chaoticly lawful. |
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Post by Yaleric on Jun 29, 2018 20:31:15 GMT -5
I see this is locked, but my style is old school.
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Post by Warrior Twin One on Aug 20, 2018 23:59:05 GMT -5
If the poll were not locked I would vote other as I just do my own thing and let the chips fall where they may. This works for me. |
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Aug 21, 2018 0:08:04 GMT -5
I unlocked the poll so vote, so sayeth the Ebon Hearted one.
Whatever the situation needs got my vote.
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Post by Warrior Twin One on Aug 21, 2018 0:59:35 GMT -5
I unlocked the poll so vote, so sayeth the Ebon Hearted one. Whatever the situation needs got my vote. Thank youm voted other. |
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Post by Warrior Twin Two on Aug 22, 2018 9:51:12 GMT -5
I unlocked the poll so vote, so sayeth the Ebon Hearted one. Whatever the situation needs got my vote. Thank you I voted other. As did I. |
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Post by oldskolgmr on Nov 4, 2021 23:19:44 GMT -5
I use a prewritten or thought out start material. I prefer to have a plot device guiding the players, but that never fails to change radically the moment play begins.
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Post by The Perilous Dreamer on Nov 5, 2021 22:38:23 GMT -5
I voted other since my game is 100% open ended sandbox, the OD&D default method.
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Post by clooney on May 3, 2022 22:56:38 GMT -5
I voted for 4, but I have little that is planned out.
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Post by Ibizan Zamway on May 4, 2022 0:50:55 GMT -5
Voted for option 3.
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Post by Q. F o s t e r on May 4, 2022 1:08:22 GMT -5
Some of both.
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Post by Snuffy Smith on May 4, 2022 11:19:18 GMT -5
I would call it 100% winging it, but that does not mean it is all random either.
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