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Memes Roleplaying

Lunchtime Poll #31: Time Is an Illusion, Lunchtime Doubly So

In Lunchtime Poll #31 Li asks:

I’ve said before that I tend to think of roleplaying as improv theater to a certain extent, and pacing is an important part of any production. To a certain extent, I think that if the timing is managed well, it’s invisible to the players. So, what are your thoughts on pacing?

Pacing, done well, is wonderful. Unfortunately, when I GM, I’m usually busy juggling other things and attempts at controlling it are often doomed. There’s a perfectly functional solution– make the players responsible for it. The “if you think it’s dramatic, join in”, is a good way to hook people and keep their interest even while off-screen. Sure, plausability can stretch, but if everyone’s excited, let plausibility break.

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Memes Roleplaying

Lunchtime Poll #30: Whaddaya Got?

Li asks

What’s the last board, card, or roleplaying game you bought, and what do you think of it?

My last purchase was Power Grid, a board game by Rio Grande. We’ve played twice (only once through more than Phase 1) and messed up the victory conditions a little. It was a lot of fun– I think it will be one of the more played games for a while. Slick, competitive, but not excessively challenging. The two sided board looks like a great value, a good way to shake things up.

My most recent RPG purchase was a trio, but last night I read Primetime Adventures again. It looks solid and Actual Play has indicated it’s good for one shots as well as seasons, so I’ll be taking it up to the 4th of July gamefest Zack’s throwing.

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Memes Roleplaying

Lunchtime Poll #29: Us and Them

Another interesting question from Li:

Do you consider the GM part of the group, and why or why not?

I do consider the GM part of the group, though Julie’s comment about the style of the game does seem to apply. On the one hand, Dad’s definately a member of the group– socially, he’s as much a hub as any other person– but he’s not facing the same challenges in the same way. His role is different, but he’s working with us to make a story for the characters, so he’s a member of the group.

Part of the “group status” also comes from the way we get together frequently outside of roleplaying, where he’s just another player to crush (in boardgames, for example). Also, we rotate GMing (Kev’s stint begins this week), so that keeps him from ossifying as different.

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Game Group Memes Roleplaying

Character Questions

This comes from Heather Grove’s Burning Void blog

  • What was your character’s last nightmare? How much did it frighten her? What disturbed her most about it?
  • Does your character like or dislike her name? Why? If she dislikes it, what does she wish her parents had named her? If she changed her name at some point, what did she change it from, why, and has she been happy with her choice?
  • What snacks does your character have in her cupboards right now?

My answers are below; you can answer for your character in comments if you like.

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Memes

Lunchtime Poll #23: No Way to Run a Railroad

Li’s got the 23rd Lunchtime Poll up,

Is there a cure for railroading? If so, how do you go about curing yourself or your GM of this habit?

Railroading can be tough to cure– there are many sources with different responses required for each.

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Memes Roleplaying

Lunchtime Poll #22: We’re Engaged!

Li’s got a new Lunchtime Poll:

I dropped into the local gaming store the other day and heard a GM complaining to the long-suffering clerk that he had a player who just wouldn’t react to anything that happened in the game, up to and including major injury or plot twist. Another bystander suggested that perhaps the situation stemmed from the fact that the character was three hundred years old and simply had a chronic case of been-there/done that. This week’s Lunchtime Poll is going to assume that a) the disengagement is on the part of the player, not the character, and b) the GM is running a reasonably interesting game and fairly distributing the plot cookies. That said,

How to you re-engage the enthusiasm of a bored or jaded player?

The main trick is to hook the player by making the game about his desires– not the GM’s cool plots. Too many players make a complex character with an intricate backstory that’s never used. You come to resent making complex backgrounds.

I suggest making the next plot arc character centered (re-read those backgrounds, or ask questions to establish a background), then threaten the issues that are brought up. If the character talks up his loyalty, but also his love, make sure the two come into conflict. Making a choice about what’s important is essential for a character who is going to mature.

Alternately, if the problem is widespread (not just one player), run a short game [three or four sessions] in a different style to shake things up. Or have someone else GM for a bit– you’ll probably find parts of the system frustrating as a player that you’ll never think about as a GM.

A final solution would be to co-opt the player. Let him know that you’ve noticed that he’s not interested. If they’re a good roleplayer, you can either ask them to co-GM (roleplay NPCs, etc.), or let them in on the backstory (finally someone to confide in) and let them concentrate on the roleplay, rather than the mystery.

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Books Memes

Books meme

The Fahrenheit 451 Book Meme came from several directions– and I didn’t wait to be tagged. If I did, it would be a very long wait…

You are stuck inside “Fahrenheit 451.” Which book would you save?

Mmm, tough. It seems like it should be something inspiring, but maybe something good would be enough to get people thinking about books after the culture vanishes?

I’d go for Lackey’s The Last Herald Mage: Magic’s Promise. It shows wistful fantasy, acceptance of diversity, and a desire to take responsibility. Not high lit, but it makes me happy.

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Memes Roleplaying

Lunchtime Poll #21: Game Spinoffs

Lunchtime Poll #21: Game Spinoffs

What’s the best media tie-in game out there—Star Wars? Buffy? Take a position and explain it. Ladies and Gentlemen, start your opinions!

I own it, but haven’t played it. Despite that, I have to go with Decipher’s Star Trek. Its system is quite similar to the norm– 2d6+Stat bonus+skill, but the Narrator’s Guide is excellent. It gives concrete advice on how to structure an episode, how and why you’d want to choose different eras, practical advice on themes, and introspection on episodic versus campaign structure.

Character creation is pretty good, allowing you to select the character you want, plus it gives you enough picks to add some detail.

Honorable mention goes to WEG’s d6 Star Wars.

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Memes Roleplaying

Ire #18: Sic Transit Papem

Ire #18: Sic Transit Papem

Our latest IRE (I missed last week thanks to ACUS) will acknowledge the 800 pound elephant in the news; the death of Pope John Paul II.

So, the death of a major religious figure. How do you figure it into a game?

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Memes Roleplaying

Lunchtime Poll #20: Bait & Switch

Lunchtime Poll #20: Bait & Switch

You’ve got your character rolled up, a backstory with lots of plot hooks created, and you are perfectly equipped to survive in your environment. Only…you aren’t in your environment. Your GM has dropped you through a wormhole/dimension door/time warp/Stargate, and you are completely unprepared for so much as asking directions to the nearest bathroom-equivalent. From either a player or a GM perspective, discuss the pros and cons of a surprise setting switch.