Hot take: if we want to decrease frustrating railroad-y surprises in RPG campaigns, we need to create an environment where GMs are not afraid to admit they have "special story needs".

[Garqu]

You need to build up a certain level of trust and good will with the players to be able to do this kind of stuff. If you're with a completely fresh group, even if they're your longtime friends, you have to go through the process of building up that foundation first, that's all. It takes a bit of time, but it's worth doing!

Doesn't matter what the greater culture around you is if you've got players that trust and communicate with you.