Comments on: PWW: Challenging the Inner Half-Orc http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/ Like Hanging at the Cash Register of your Favorite Game Store Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:01:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: PM http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/comment-page-1/#comment-1029 PM Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:32:55 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/#comment-1029 Thanks for the comments fellas... I have to admit I'm a little surprised with what I read, but I'm glad to see I'm not alone to think that custom stories can be easier to run. My only problem right now, is that ChattyDM keeps revealing my plot devices in his posts. I need to uncover how he finds out about my plans... I don't even have written notes yet. Thanks for the comments fellas… I have to admit I’m a little surprised with what I read, but I’m glad to see I’m not alone to think that custom stories can be easier to run.

My only problem right now, is that ChattyDM keeps revealing my plot devices in his posts. I need to uncover how he finds out about my plans… I don’t even have written notes yet.

]]> By: ScottM http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/comment-page-1/#comment-1006 ScottM Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:52:36 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/#comment-1006 I think you're smart to run your own game, since you'll be intimately familiar with what's going on-- and the motivations of the bad guys, etc. That'll help you improvise when the PCs wander outside the lines. The best advice I can give you: make the opponents motivated. If they have a purpose, you can pause the game for a moment and think about what they're seeing from their point of view. If they want stuff to happen they'll strike sparks with the PCs... which will keep them from getting lost and twiddling their thumbs. I specifically advise against solving a static mystery-- make sure there's someone who will act if the PCs don't. Otherwise you can get in the trap of the PCs not acting head on... and the NPCs never noting the PCs because they're not acting against them. I think you’re smart to run your own game, since you’ll be intimately familiar with what’s going on– and the motivations of the bad guys, etc. That’ll help you improvise when the PCs wander outside the lines.

The best advice I can give you: make the opponents motivated. If they have a purpose, you can pause the game for a moment and think about what they’re seeing from their point of view. If they want stuff to happen they’ll strike sparks with the PCs… which will keep them from getting lost and twiddling their thumbs.

I specifically advise against solving a static mystery– make sure there’s someone who will act if the PCs don’t. Otherwise you can get in the trap of the PCs not acting head on… and the NPCs never noting the PCs because they’re not acting against them.

]]> By: ChattyDM http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/comment-page-1/#comment-1005 ChattyDM Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:39:50 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/#comment-1005 Players being honest? What a strange concept! You just gave me the best idea Dean! I will write a mini-trope article about cheating players, I swear I will! Players being honest? What a strange concept!

You just gave me the best idea Dean!

I will write a mini-trope article about cheating players, I swear I will!

]]> By: Dean http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/comment-page-1/#comment-1004 Dean Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:08:04 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/#comment-1004 My biggest suggestion is to keep a notebook with you. I tend to improvise an awful lot, if for no reason other than I think *very* differently than folks who play in my group(s). Keeping track of what you had Agent X agree to can get confusing, especially if you don't get to play regularly. So keep track of things as you go along and it will keep you and your players honest. My biggest suggestion is to keep a notebook with you. I tend to improvise an awful lot, if for no reason other than I think *very* differently than folks who play in my group(s). Keeping track of what you had Agent X agree to can get confusing, especially if you don’t get to play regularly. So keep track of things as you go along and it will keep you and your players honest.

]]> By: Yax http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/comment-page-1/#comment-1002 Yax Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:02:50 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/#comment-1002 I think most - ok, some - of what you're saying makes sense to me. Storytelling / game mastering is much more an art than a science. I think your enthuasiasm will make up for whatever rookie mistakes you might do. Just have fun and don't worry about your first game - I'm sure everyone will have fun. Also, I wrote this about published adventures: http://www.dungeonmastering.com/campaigns-adventures/what-makes-a-published-dd-adventure-useful I think most - ok, some - of what you’re saying makes sense to me.

Storytelling / game mastering is much more an art than a science. I think your enthuasiasm will make up for whatever rookie mistakes you might do. Just have fun and don’t worry about your first game - I’m sure everyone will have fun.

Also, I wrote this about published adventures:
http://www.dungeonmastering.com/campaigns-adventures/what-makes-a-published-dd-adventure-useful

]]> By: ChattyDM http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/comment-page-1/#comment-1001 ChattyDM Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:58:07 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/#comment-1001 Pixelbitching! I Love that word and what it represents. Yeah PM, if you can pull that obstacle out of the way, it's going an easier ride. Good luck... Looking forward to the next part. I'm speed reading through Robin Laws Rules of Good Gamemastering so we can discuss it. Pixelbitching! I Love that word and what it represents.

Yeah PM, if you can pull that obstacle out of the way, it’s going an easier ride.

Good luck… Looking forward to the next part.

I’m speed reading through Robin Laws Rules of Good Gamemastering so we can discuss it.

]]> By: Graham|ve4grm http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/comment-page-1/#comment-998 Graham|ve4grm Tue, 11 Dec 2007 07:28:03 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/#comment-998 On the note of clues and such, I have a blog post brewing for later this week that might be incredibly relevant for you. It'll be up once my exams get more manageable. Stay tuned. On the note of clues and such, I have a blog post brewing for later this week that might be incredibly relevant for you.

It’ll be up once my exams get more manageable. Stay tuned.

]]> By: Tommi http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/comment-page-1/#comment-997 Tommi Tue, 11 Dec 2007 07:07:28 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/#comment-997 Ditto about running published adventures. They are for the weak. Or the smart. Whichever. The biggest threat here is pixelbitching, which means that there is only a single solution to a problem and game will stop until the players discover it. If players come up with a credible idea, always let it work. Their sense of triumph far outweights what would be gained by finding the "real" solution. And their idea is usually at least as good. If they simply have no ideas, do anything to get the game moving. Orcs/ninjas/men with shotguns usually work in a pinch. All general advice about making the clues obvious and leaving at least three of them pointing to every relevant fact and so on apply. Ditto about running published adventures. They are for the weak. Or the smart. Whichever.

The biggest threat here is pixelbitching, which means that there is only a single solution to a problem and game will stop until the players discover it.

If players come up with a credible idea, always let it work. Their sense of triumph far outweights what would be gained by finding the “real” solution. And their idea is usually at least as good.
If they simply have no ideas, do anything to get the game moving. Orcs/ninjas/men with shotguns usually work in a pinch.

All general advice about making the clues obvious and leaving at least three of them pointing to every relevant fact and so on apply.

]]> By: Yan http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/comment-page-1/#comment-996 Yan Tue, 11 Dec 2007 02:57:02 +0000 http://chattydm.net/2007/12/10/pww-challenging-the-inner-half-orc/#comment-996 Well, I never ran a publish adventure. The only time I tried it , I hated it. So from first hand experience I can say that you don't need a published adventure to DM just don't expect miracle on your first run though... ;) Well, I never ran a publish adventure. The only time I tried it , I hated it. So from first hand experience I can say that you don’t need a published adventure to DM just don’t expect miracle on your first run though… ;)

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