Comments on: TV Case Study: Lost http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/tv-case-study-lost The Game Mastering Blog Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:00:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dire Emu http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/tv-case-study-lost/comment-page-1#comment-4883 Dire Emu Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:46:53 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=2779#comment-4883 I'd also like to prop up this article. Great stuff and it really got me thinking. In my current game the plot seems to have become a bit muddied and that muddiness seems to have stagnated the action a bit by inducing a certain hesitance in the players. Using some of what you mention here, that muddiness may actually serve as a great platform for a greater mystery to be revealed. -Eli<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('4883','Dire Emu'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I’d also like to prop up this article. Great stuff and it really got me thinking.

In my current game the plot seems to have become a bit muddied and that muddiness seems to have stagnated the action a bit by inducing a certain hesitance in the players. Using some of what you mention here, that muddiness may actually serve as a great platform for a greater mystery to be revealed.

-Eli

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]]> By: Crushnaut http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/tv-case-study-lost/comment-page-1#comment-4824 Crushnaut Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:58:31 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=2779#comment-4824 Great article. I was actually going to suggest that you do a series like this! I just finished watching all the current episodes of the series Supernatural. It follows a very distinct formula, and I have started a campaign with my friends based in part on the formula that this show uses.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('4824','Crushnaut'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Great article. I was actually going to suggest that you do a series like this! I just finished watching all the current episodes of the series Supernatural. It follows a very distinct formula, and I have started a campaign with my friends based in part on the formula that this show uses.
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]]> By: phil.gs http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/tv-case-study-lost/comment-page-1#comment-4821 phil.gs Thu, 12 Mar 2009 18:18:24 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=2779#comment-4821 Another technique that Lost exploits is only showing us snippets of what's going on. A traditional mystery relies on the protagonists to figure out what happened in the past. This technique has events unfolding concurrently with the action that we (as the audience or the PCs) see. When I've used this technique, I start off by outlining the events that are separate from the PCs actions. So let's say that the President's daughter is kidnapped by the mafia with help from the Vice President. Then the Yakuza, who are rivals of the mafia, kidnap the VP because they want to ransom the first daughter for their own ends. Then add in the PCs. So in this case, the party is brought in to rescue the President's daughter. They have a few leads, but before they can do anything, the VP disappears. Is he guilty? Is he another victim? What do they do when a few Yakuza turn up dead and a mob war starts? It keeps the players on edge, because they don't know what will happen next. It also draws them into the game more. Not only is the mystery heightened, but it's clear that people other than their characters are taking action (which is how things operate in the real world).<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('4821','phil.gs'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> Another technique that Lost exploits is only showing us snippets of what’s going on. A traditional mystery relies on the protagonists to figure out what happened in the past. This technique has events unfolding concurrently with the action that we (as the audience or the PCs) see.

When I’ve used this technique, I start off by outlining the events that are separate from the PCs actions. So let’s say that the President’s daughter is kidnapped by the mafia with help from the Vice President. Then the Yakuza, who are rivals of the mafia, kidnap the VP because they want to ransom the first daughter for their own ends.

Then add in the PCs. So in this case, the party is brought in to rescue the President’s daughter. They have a few leads, but before they can do anything, the VP disappears. Is he guilty? Is he another victim? What do they do when a few Yakuza turn up dead and a mob war starts?

It keeps the players on edge, because they don’t know what will happen next. It also draws them into the game more. Not only is the mystery heightened, but it’s clear that people other than their characters are taking action (which is how things operate in the real world).

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]]> By: DarthKrzysztof http://www.gnomestew.com/gming-advice/tv-case-study-lost/comment-page-1#comment-4817 DarthKrzysztof Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:05:25 +0000 http://www.gnomestew.com/?p=2779#comment-4817 I have a PC who is keeping a journal, and in each entry I'm coming up with a backstory element that's relevant to what's happening now. That's all Lost's fault. The show's cliffhanger endings also merit study for any GM who's partial to, or interested in, the technique. Lost was a major influence on my Cold Blood campaign, and none of my players watched it, so I got away with a lot. ;)<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('4817','DarthKrzysztof'); return false;">Reply</a> </div> I have a PC who is keeping a journal, and in each entry I’m coming up with a backstory element that’s relevant to what’s happening now. That’s all Lost’s fault.

The show’s cliffhanger endings also merit study for any GM who’s partial to, or interested in, the technique.

Lost was a major influence on my Cold Blood campaign, and none of my players watched it, so I got away with a lot. ;)

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