Comments on: The Campaign Starts in 3, 2, 1… http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1 The Game Mastering Blog Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:00:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Scott Martin http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1/comment-page-1#comment-11570 Scott Martin Wed, 29 Dec 2010 01:27:43 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=6291#comment-11570 Watson> Levi's articles [Long Knives and Broken Places] have been fixed. Thanks for calling it to my attention!<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('11570','Scott Martin'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Watson> Levi’s articles [Long Knives and Broken Places] have been fixed. Thanks for calling it to my attention!
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]]> By: WatsonSE http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1/comment-page-1#comment-10723 WatsonSE Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:42:16 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=6291#comment-10723 This is an excellent article. However, some of the links seems to go to sites that are no longer available. Anyone that have the information in "Levi’s broken places situation maker" or the "long knives worksheet" available?. Or have the information been moved to a different web site? Thanks.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10723','WatsonSE'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> This is an excellent article. However, some of the links seems to go to sites that are no longer available.

Anyone that have the information in “Levi’s broken places situation maker” or the “long knives worksheet” available?. Or have the information been moved to a different web site?

Thanks.

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]]> By: Richichi Adventure Seeds : Guang Keshar http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1/comment-page-1#comment-10018 Richichi Adventure Seeds : Guang Keshar Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:13:32 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=6291#comment-10018 [...] The Campaign Starts in 3, 2, 1… (gnomestew.com) [...]<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('10018','Richichi Adventure Seeds : Guang Keshar'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> [...] The Campaign Starts in 3, 2, 1… (gnomestew.com) [...]
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]]> By: Scott Martin http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1/comment-page-1#comment-9316 Scott Martin Mon, 19 Apr 2010 04:24:45 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=6291#comment-9316 The Tomb Show is doing a podcast series this month on <a href="http://thetome.podbean.com/2010/04/18/tome-ep-131-skill-challenge-advice/" rel="nofollow">skill challenges</a>. Gamefiend is also doing a <a href="http://at-will.omnivangelist.net/2010/04/the-skillcast-episode-1-introduction/" rel="nofollow">podcast</a> on skill challenges.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('9316','Scott Martin'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> The Tomb Show is doing a podcast series this month on skill challenges.

Gamefiend is also doing a podcast on skill challenges.

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]]> By: evil http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1/comment-page-1#comment-9307 evil Fri, 16 Apr 2010 03:34:27 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=6291#comment-9307 <a href='#comment-9301' rel="nofollow">@Scott Martin</a> - Once upon a time I was the guy who prepped a lot for the start of a campaign, right up until the day where I prepped for six months on a campaign that every single one of my players said wasn't worth moving forward on. Ouch, I thought... Also, but of possible interest to Foolster41, the AD&D "The Complete Book of Villains" has a great list of character traits (good and bad) which can really help spice up an basic NCP or feature character. This is where I pull most of my generic NPCs from.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('9307','evil'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> @Scott Martin – Once upon a time I was the guy who prepped a lot for the start of a campaign, right up until the day where I prepped for six months on a campaign that every single one of my players said wasn’t worth moving forward on. Ouch, I thought…

Also, but of possible interest to Foolster41, the AD&D “The Complete Book of Villains” has a great list of character traits (good and bad) which can really help spice up an basic NCP or feature character. This is where I pull most of my generic NPCs from.

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]]> By: Scott Martin http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1/comment-page-1#comment-9301 Scott Martin Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:32:26 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=6291#comment-9301 <a href='#comment-9285' rel="nofollow">@Foolster41</a> - If nothing else, good low life names never hurt. Hope the links help. <a href='#comment-9300' rel="nofollow">@evil</a> - I know that some GMs prep hard before their first session, then find that they players only get through a fraction of their prepared material, leaving less to prep for the next time. Your way sounds like it works great-- making more reference material as the whole group gets more invested.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('9301','Scott Martin'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> @Foolster41 – If nothing else, good low life names never hurt. Hope the links help.

@evil – I know that some GMs prep hard before their first session, then find that they players only get through a fraction of their prepared material, leaving less to prep for the next time. Your way sounds like it works great– making more reference material as the whole group gets more invested.

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]]> By: evil http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1/comment-page-1#comment-9300 evil Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:10:51 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=6291#comment-9300 <a href='#comment-9281' rel="nofollow">@Scott Martin</a> - Most of my players like my improv style, but I've met some who haven't. To be frank, you're right, I do tend to kick ideas around in my head and let them simmer. As I get farther into a campaign, I do require more prep, just because keeping records of dozens of characters is tough to do in one's head. Improv is my key to a great game, especially at the beginning.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('9300','evil'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> @Scott Martin – Most of my players like my improv style, but I’ve met some who haven’t. To be frank, you’re right, I do tend to kick ideas around in my head and let them simmer. As I get farther into a campaign, I do require more prep, just because keeping records of dozens of characters is tough to do in one’s head. Improv is my key to a great game, especially at the beginning.
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]]> By: Foolster41 http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1/comment-page-1#comment-9285 Foolster41 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 03:36:35 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=6291#comment-9285 Some good stuff here. I'm working on a star wars campaign (the theme is "scum and villainy", with everyone are low-lifes.), and I've got quite a bit of prep, but I know somethings going to happen where I'll need to think fast, so this is useful stuff. I'm going to keep this as reference.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('9285','Foolster41'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Some good stuff here. I’m working on a star wars campaign (the theme is “scum and villainy”, with everyone are low-lifes.), and I’ve got quite a bit of prep, but I know somethings going to happen where I’ll need to think fast, so this is useful stuff. I’m going to keep this as reference.
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]]> By: Scott Martin http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1/comment-page-1#comment-9281 Scott Martin Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:35:08 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=6291#comment-9281 <a href='#comment-9279' rel="nofollow">@evil</a> - I wonder how much prep you've done in your head, even if it's not written on paper. It sounds like you do a great job with improvising-- do you think your players know and like your all improvised style? Or do you have them fooled and they think you put in hours of prep?<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('9281','Scott Martin'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> @evil – I wonder how much prep you’ve done in your head, even if it’s not written on paper. It sounds like you do a great job with improvising– do you think your players know and like your all improvised style? Or do you have them fooled and they think you put in hours of prep?
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]]> By: evil http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1/comment-page-1#comment-9279 evil Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:02:15 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=6291#comment-9279 I'm notorious for not prepping my games and doing almost everything on the fly, as my characters rip through towns and dungeons. For the first game of a new series, I always have two things ready, even if I don't have anything else: the antagonist and a hook-type fight. If I have an antagonist with some depth, then I don't necessarily need a major villain that intrigues the PCs. Plus, since everyone likes things blowing up, putting a fight together that players have some interest in at the very beginning of the game can do wonders to grab players.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('9279','evil'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I’m notorious for not prepping my games and doing almost everything on the fly, as my characters rip through towns and dungeons. For the first game of a new series, I always have two things ready, even if I don’t have anything else: the antagonist and a hook-type fight. If I have an antagonist with some depth, then I don’t necessarily need a major villain that intrigues the PCs. Plus, since everyone likes things blowing up, putting a fight together that players have some interest in at the very beginning of the game can do wonders to grab players.
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]]> By: Kurt "Telas" Schneider http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1/comment-page-1#comment-9278 Kurt "Telas" Schneider Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:05:05 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=6291#comment-9278 <a href='#comment-9276' rel="nofollow">@Scott Martin</a> - I'd start with the assumption that you have SOMETHING prepped... I don't have the intestinal or testicular fortitude to attempt this from a blank piece of paper.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('9278','Kurt \"Telas\" Schneider'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> @Scott Martin – I’d start with the assumption that you have SOMETHING prepped… I don’t have the intestinal or testicular fortitude to attempt this from a blank piece of paper.
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]]> By: Scott Martin http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1/comment-page-1#comment-9276 Scott Martin Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:48:06 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=6291#comment-9276 <a href='#comment-9272' rel="nofollow">@Noumenon</a> - Factions to NPCs can go either way; if you have a struggle for the throne and ideas for several good characters, start with the characters you have in mind. From there, you can figure out which NPCs are working together-- they're your factions. If you have someone acting alone, it sounds like it's time to figure out what support they have... <a href='#comment-9273' rel="nofollow">@Kurt "Telas" Schneider</a> - That'll get things cooking, and be responsive to the PC's actions! If you're comfortable improvising, that could be all that you improvise from for the first session.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('9276','Scott Martin'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> @Noumenon – Factions to NPCs can go either way; if you have a struggle for the throne and ideas for several good characters, start with the characters you have in mind. From there, you can figure out which NPCs are working together– they’re your factions. If you have someone acting alone, it sounds like it’s time to figure out what support they have…

@Kurt “Telas” Schneider – That’ll get things cooking, and be responsive to the PC’s actions! If you’re comfortable improvising, that could be all that you improvise from for the first session.

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]]> By: Kurt "Telas" Schneider http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1/comment-page-1#comment-9273 Kurt "Telas" Schneider Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:52:38 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=6291#comment-9273 Excellent ideas for last minute campaign prep. Another option: Prep a fight, because that's what everyone wants, at least initially. Include at least two factions, and leave it open-ended. Make it up as you go (if you have to), and <b>take excellent notes</b>, because the events of the first session will determine much of your initial campaign.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('9273','Kurt \"Telas\" Schneider'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Excellent ideas for last minute campaign prep.

Another option: Prep a fight, because that’s what everyone wants, at least initially. Include at least two factions, and leave it open-ended. Make it up as you go (if you have to), and take excellent notes, because the events of the first session will determine much of your initial campaign.

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]]> By: Noumenon http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-campaign-starts-in-3-2-1/comment-page-1#comment-9272 Noumenon Mon, 12 Apr 2010 09:22:59 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=6291#comment-9272 <i>Important: The first day of a campaign usually requires a bigger push from the GM, since the players don’t know the setting yet.</i> Nice of you to point out what I was doing wrong two weeks <I>after</i> I started the campaign... don't think I got the tone right either, should have got right into the dungeon crawl. Would you <I>really</i> do the factions thing if you were down to your last day of prep? I tend to focus on individual NPCs.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('9272','Noumenon'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Important: The first day of a campaign usually requires a bigger push from the GM, since the players don’t know the setting yet.

Nice of you to point out what I was doing wrong two weeks after I started the campaign… don’t think I got the tone right either, should have got right into the dungeon crawl.

Would you really do the factions thing if you were down to your last day of prep? I tend to focus on individual NPCs.

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