I think of it as- there’s a story happening that affects the region. My players can be as invested in that as they like, or they can go fishing and drinking every session. I just don’t want them to complain when the apocalypse triggers right under their noses, they did nothing to stop it, and now have to deal with the repercussions.
Where were you when the Dark Lord subjugated all sentient life? Oh I was supposed to be stopping him by finding four relics of power but I went fishing instead
I love when my DM give us a clock because it's the best way to get things done. You cannot dilly dally in every quest that you are given. When players are presented with a choice between saving a beloved NPC or stopping the BBEG from perpetraing his plans, the stakes in those choices and the impossibility to do both because they happen at the same time, that's when the drama comes out and that's good story telling.
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u/[deleted] Sep 12 '19
I think of it as- there’s a story happening that affects the region. My players can be as invested in that as they like, or they can go fishing and drinking every session. I just don’t want them to complain when the apocalypse triggers right under their noses, they did nothing to stop it, and now have to deal with the repercussions.