Few campaigns have events that don't impact the PCs. Events happen because they will impact the campaign and the PCs, but that doesn't make the PCs part of the world. It doesn't exist except where it further's the ends of the campaign.
If the campaign is on rails, you know which parts of the world exist, or will exist when needed. In a sandbox, it exists immediately around the PCs.
It helps to ground your players if they have a background - family, history, friends and the like will help the DM make the PCs a part of the world, as apposed to a part from it, but not all players want that kind of depth or experience to their game.
I guess a part of, or apart from, depends on style of play - but it's certainly easier to run a campaign as he second type.
So, a part of or apart from? Which do you prefer and which do you find yourself mostly playing in?
I like the PCs as a part of the world, where the world goes on even if the PCs are somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteIt's more work for the DM, but I prefer it.
I try to make the PCs part of the world as well. I may not always succeed however.
ReplyDeleteAn idea I borrowed from the Forgotten Realms (and use when I run games in that world, but also my homebrew world) is using "current clack" or clacksheets, essentially newspapers. It notifies the PCs of activities going on in the larger world as well as offering up some rumors that can be followed up on if have interest.