In my first ever session, my players took things off the rails HARD. When I heard what they thought my rails were, I realised my rails were too dumb to ever work in the first place. Thankfully, I was able to bullshit my way to a session that was more fun than what I had planned.
Now, if things go off the rails, I’m only upset at myself for having rails to begin with. I’d rather have an open road you can travel on as you please than a set of rails that takes you in a single direction. The players might decide to drive off-road, but it’s less cataclysmic than a derailing, and they’re less likely to do it if they have a destination in mind.
In my first ever session, my players took things off the rails HARD. When I heard what they thought my rails were, I realised my rails were too dumb to ever work in the first place. Thankfully, I was able to bullshit my way to a session that was more fun than what I had planned.
Now, if things go off the rails, I’m only upset at myself for having rails to begin with. I’d rather have an open road you can travel on as you please than a set of rails that takes you in a single direction. The players might decide to drive off-road, but it’s less cataclysmic than a derailing, and they’re less likely to do it if they have a destination in mind.
That’s evolution, my friend. Peak DM mindset.
I’m actually glad my first session was so bad. It made me learn that lesson early, and it’s hard to forget.