Hi I am running my second game for a mixed group all of them are new (3 played once before in my last game the other two are entirely new to D20). A problem I ran into last time was times when my players are outside of constrained areas. They were fine in dungeons or places with defined walls but I run into issues when the PC find themselves in a desert,forest, or other very open environment.
Because they are new they need a little nudging because they aren't yet confident with what they can do in a game. I find times when they are able to go from point A to B or C is much easier than putting them at the middle of a Cartesian plain and saying have fun. Any suggestions to help me "urge" them along into exploring on their own as well as progressing the story without having the plot train steamrolling them constantly. Thanks for the advice : )
|
Give them a map to follow.
In the beginning, the map can be very specific about where to go. In later sessions the maps can be more and more vague.
Another option is to not bother to spend real-time with the PCs moving through the forest. I've been known to say, "It'll take you 4 days to get there" and the players are fine with that. If the game session is going a little slow, I might spice things up with a random encounter (dragons on the prowl for their next meal are always good for that, but it's best to have them prepped in advance).