August 13: What makes a successful campaign?
Matt: In my personal experience the players are the best ingredient in a successful campaign. I, as a DM, start very slow, trying to make players (and their character) confortable with the reality I created, after a couple of intro session I put something strange in their routine and then… Everything starts! The final is obviously open and I don’t like railroad (but in some case they’re necessary) so I put everything in players’ hands hoping they don’t screw everything up!
Alex: I think a long term campaign should start as railroad and then slowly become more and more a sandbox game; anyway always remember to keep the main track vivid and coherent. Also a good GM should have in mind the end of the saga since the beginning, even though many changes could happen during the game (they will likely help filling the story with details rather than hinder it).
Manuel: Many things, maybe elasticity in the plot and NPC’s who return after long time.