Friendship is Dragons
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Page 848 - Candid Hate
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I've came up with several ideas midseason, and I've learned not to just add them in because sometimes my mind just makes things overpowered and over complicated.
It happens often. The best thing a GM can do is to just pay attention and appear to be letting events roll. Part of what you want is to encourage players to roleplay and interact with each other and the NPC's, so as long as they are, you just sit back and let the conversation roll.
This is also a great cover for taking what the players are coming up with and weaving it into the story you're telling, especially if their idea is better than what you had. That way, they can feel good about having guessed the plot, and the players like you for having come up with a story they wanted to be part of.
This is also a great cover for taking what the players are coming up with and weaving it into the story you're telling, especially if their idea is better than what you had. That way, they can feel good about having guessed the plot, and the players like you for having come up with a story they wanted to be part of.
I'm trying to stay home because in-laws family here seems not to feed guests regularly. it's 2pm and still waiting on lunch.
Honestly, if party came up with "coolest version of what you playing", for me that means they are of rails. Which is already frustrating as it is. And I was doing rewrites of my plans so often, that now I am not planing anything for the first session at all. I just roll with it and based on what happened I build the rest of campaign.
For the first part I was like, "Dude, rails aren't even a part of the game and are completely unnecessary to enjoy it."
But then you said the second thing, and I was like, "Oh, they've already seen the light. All hail freeform D&D, may I one day be able to play you."
But then you said the second thing, and I was like, "Oh, they've already seen the light. All hail freeform D&D, may I one day be able to play you."
This is why I believe in building the rails a session or two at a time, after asking the party where they want to go. "You're going on rails... just tell me where you want those rails to go."
I usually try to change plans if the players stumble on a better idea. it is a cooperative game. :)
"Don't you hate it when your characters come up with a cooler version of the session you're already playing, and you suddenly have to figure out how to either work it in or one-up them without them realizing anything's been changed under the hood?"
No... because that means I don't have to write plot. I mean, I didn't write the plot anyway, but now I /really/ don't have to come up with it.
No... because that means I don't have to write plot. I mean, I didn't write the plot anyway, but now I /really/ don't have to come up with it.
My sentiments exactly. When my players guess something that's way cooler than what I actually had planned, I smile enigmatically and steal it, usually making a couple tweaks to make it look like they just got really close. :P
I'd like to see the dragon from session 2 participate in the best young flyer's competition...
I even ran a ten part campaign where I only wrote the first and last scenario, and had the players run the other eight sessions, while giving the "guest storyteller" a briefing about the region they were traveling through and elements that "had" to be in the episode.
This is how I do it:
PC: Someone stole the ruby! It must be Admiral Monocle!
DM: Well, why would you think that?
PC: It's so obvious!
Then Admiral Monocle comes into town to pick up a gift for his daughters birthday or something while my planned thieves make a get-away. Guess who the players decide to tail?
PC: Someone stole the ruby! It must be Admiral Monocle!
DM: Well, why would you think that?
PC: It's so obvious!
Then Admiral Monocle comes into town to pick up a gift for his daughters birthday or something while my planned thieves make a get-away. Guess who the players decide to tail?
Props to Admiral Monocle for bringing back waxed moustaches.
I'm sure I would, except I've only ever run a single session and that wasn't very relevant toward the described scenario.
Honestly? No, I don't mind it if players/characters come up with a better idea for me than what's going on. There are a few times someone has bothered to think ahead, and I reward that investment by making use of it.
But only if it's at least 20% cooler.
But only if it's at least 20% cooler.
In writing, I call this "Suicide of the Author," when the audience's idea is so much better than your own, you adopt it in place of what you had in mind.
I've been known to do this during my sessions. I tend to keep things a little open-ended, because with my playgroup, a rigid campaign is just asking for frustration. When someone proposes something promising, not only does it offer a way to concertize the campaign, the proposer gets to feel good for calling it.
I've been known to do this during my sessions. I tend to keep things a little open-ended, because with my playgroup, a rigid campaign is just asking for frustration. When someone proposes something promising, not only does it offer a way to concertize the campaign, the proposer gets to feel good for calling it.
Don't you? Anyone...?