Comments on: The Rambling Gnomes: How to Start a Side Game in the Shadow of an Epic Campaign http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-rambling-gnomes-how-to-start-a-side-game-in-the-shadow-of-an-epic-campaign The Game Mastering Blog Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:00:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: MountZionRyan http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-rambling-gnomes-how-to-start-a-side-game-in-the-shadow-of-an-epic-campaign/comment-page-1#comment-2046 MountZionRyan Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:40:33 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=919#comment-2046 Cody, Good games do not have to be sprawling, multi-generational epics.Our group usually doesn't have anything that lasts more than 12 four-hour sessions. Or if we do, it gets broken down into 12 session story arcs. I think Martin has the key here. Go for something totally different. How about a zombie spaghetti western (Deadlands: Reloaded), or exploring the 'Verse (Firefly RPG). Entice players to a weekday alt game by pitching something that they can get into. Do you all like The Matrix? How about a Feng Shui game set in a matrix-clone. You mentioned Hollow Earth, sell it as League of Extraordinary Gentlemen meets Indiana Jones (what gamer/geek could resist that?) The miniseries idea is spot on. Run something short and focused to a) keep you from being overwhelmed and b)leave the players wanting more. Heck if you run HEX, leave them with a cliff hanger!<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2046','MountZionRyan'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Cody,
Good games do not have to be sprawling, multi-generational epics.Our group usually doesn’t have anything that lasts more than 12 four-hour sessions. Or if we do, it gets broken down into 12 session story arcs.
I think Martin has the key here. Go for something totally different. How about a zombie spaghetti western (Deadlands: Reloaded), or exploring the ‘Verse (Firefly RPG). Entice players to a weekday alt game by pitching something that they can get into. Do you all like The Matrix? How about a Feng Shui game set in a matrix-clone. You mentioned Hollow Earth, sell it as League of Extraordinary Gentlemen meets Indiana Jones (what gamer/geek could resist that?)

The miniseries idea is spot on. Run something short and focused to a) keep you from being overwhelmed and b)leave the players wanting more. Heck if you run HEX, leave them with a cliff hanger!

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]]> By: Martin Ralya http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-rambling-gnomes-how-to-start-a-side-game-in-the-shadow-of-an-epic-campaign/comment-page-1#comment-2037 Martin Ralya Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:59:56 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=919#comment-2037 @Grieve: Heh -- that was a random stock photo grab and about a minute's work in Photoshop (to clumsily draw the hats). I'm glad you like it, but I don't think legally I could turn it into a T-shirt. ;)<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2037','Martin Ralya'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> @Grieve: Heh — that was a random stock photo grab and about a minute’s work in Photoshop (to clumsily draw the hats). I’m glad you like it, but I don’t think legally I could turn it into a T-shirt. ;)
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]]> By: grieve http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-rambling-gnomes-how-to-start-a-side-game-in-the-shadow-of-an-epic-campaign/comment-page-1#comment-2036 grieve Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:23:36 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=919#comment-2036 I just have to say, that they nine gnomes image used to lead this article would make a great T-Shirt (hint hint).<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2036','grieve'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I just have to say, that they nine gnomes image used to lead this article would make a great T-Shirt (hint hint).
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]]> By: Newj http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-rambling-gnomes-how-to-start-a-side-game-in-the-shadow-of-an-epic-campaign/comment-page-1#comment-2030 Newj Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:46:33 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=919#comment-2030 If you want to do a short game session you may want to consider a Weekday game (assume the other players can make it). I have a Wednesday night game group that works well because we usually have our weekends filled with other stuffs. Every now and then we get together for a weekend game, but the main focus for that group is the 4-5 hours of gaming on Wednesday.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2030','Newj'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> If you want to do a short game session you may want to consider a Weekday game (assume the other players can make it). I have a Wednesday night game group that works well because we usually have our weekends filled with other stuffs. Every now and then we get together for a weekend game, but the main focus for that group is the 4-5 hours of gaming on Wednesday.
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]]> By: Cody Jones http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-rambling-gnomes-how-to-start-a-side-game-in-the-shadow-of-an-epic-campaign/comment-page-1#comment-2021 Cody Jones Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:08:57 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=919#comment-2021 Our DM's not much for taking breaks (the first Friday of each month is an open board gaming night, so that's break enough for him), plus I wouldn't want to actually replace Protolon on a Friday as to not upset the folks who can only make one Protolon session a month due to work, school, etc.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2021','Cody Jones'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Our DM’s not much for taking breaks (the first Friday of each month is an open board gaming night, so that’s break enough for him), plus I wouldn’t want to actually replace Protolon on a Friday as to not upset the folks who can only make one Protolon session a month due to work, school, etc.
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]]> By: Rafe http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-rambling-gnomes-how-to-start-a-side-game-in-the-shadow-of-an-epic-campaign/comment-page-1#comment-2020 Rafe Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:02:56 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=919#comment-2020 I think you guys covered the gamut of options. My personal preferences are for him to approach the DM and see if he wants to take a break and go bi-weekly for a few months; or to find new players for that specific game and keep the Protolon game unaffected. The second option might not give him quite what he wants if keeping the same players is a goal.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2020','Rafe'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I think you guys covered the gamut of options. My personal preferences are for him to approach the DM and see if he wants to take a break and go bi-weekly for a few months; or to find new players for that specific game and keep the Protolon game unaffected. The second option might not give him quite what he wants if keeping the same players is a goal.
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]]> By: Cody Jones http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/the-rambling-gnomes-how-to-start-a-side-game-in-the-shadow-of-an-epic-campaign/comment-page-1#comment-2019 Cody Jones Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:58:00 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=919#comment-2019 Thanks for the great comments, guys. No, I have no intention to ever dethrone Protolon or attempt to take its place - I'm just very jealous (in a good way) of its success. I'm starting to see how blessed I am to have such a long-running game to go on a weekly basis. Myself and the other budding GMs have lately fallen into the shorter miniseries of games mainly out of necessity, since we can't schedule weekly games on a consistent basis. That being said, I'm going to make my next miniseries short on purpose, which is something I've never done. I guess I've always had that mental block that any good campaign worth talking about has to be a long and sprawling magnum opus that spans across the years indefinitely. I look forward to the comments and advice on this one.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('2019','Cody Jones'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Thanks for the great comments, guys. No, I have no intention to ever dethrone Protolon or attempt to take its place – I’m just very jealous (in a good way) of its success. I’m starting to see how blessed I am to have such a long-running game to go on a weekly basis. Myself and the other budding GMs have lately fallen into the shorter miniseries of games mainly out of necessity, since we can’t schedule weekly games on a consistent basis.

That being said, I’m going to make my next miniseries short on purpose, which is something I’ve never done. I guess I’ve always had that mental block that any good campaign worth talking about has to be a long and sprawling magnum opus that spans across the years indefinitely.

I look forward to the comments and advice on this one.

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